WELSH STEP ONE AND STEP TWO LEAGUE LINE UPS FOR 2022/23

STEP ONE

CYMRU PREMIER 

(12 clubs) 

Aberystwyth Town 

Airbus UK Broughton - Promoted from Cymru North 

Bala Town 

Caernarfon Town 

Cardiff Metropolitan University 

Connah's Quay Nomads 

Flint Town United 

Haverfordwest County 

Newtown AFC 

Penybont 

Pontypridd Town - Promoted from Cymru South 

The New Saints 

Airbus UK Broughton return after last playing in the top tier in the 2019/20 season with Pontypridd Town's debut season in the Cymru Premier having finished as runner's up in the Cymru South where champion's Llantwit Major were denied a tier one licence by the Football Association of Wales. 

Pontypridd's manager Jonathan Jones resigned at the end of the 21/22 season to be replaced by Andrew Stokes who joins having lead Pontardawe to the Ardal SW title. He has also been a coach at the Swansea City academy prior to his spell with Pontardawe. 

STEP TWO 

CYMRU NORTH 

(16 clubs) 

Buckley Town 

Cefn Druids - Relegated from Cymru Premier

Chirk AAA - Promoted from Ardal North-East

Colwyn Bay 

Conwy Borough 

Gresford Athletic 

Guilsfield 

Holyhead Hotspur 

Holywell Town 

Llandudno 

Llanidloes Town 

Mold Alexandra - Promoted from Ardal North-West

Penrhyncoch 

Porthmadog - Promoted from Ardal North-West 

Prestatyn Town 

Ruthin Town

Cefn Druids return to step two after a six season spell in the top tier where in 2017/18 they won the Europa League play-off to play in European Competition for the second time in their history. 

Chirk AAA, Mold Alexandra and Porthmadog move up from Step Three. With Chirk AAA formed in 1876 and The Druids (1872) the division will have two of the oldest football clubs in Wales 

Porthmadog played in the top tier from 1992 to 1998 and 2003 to 2010. 

CYMRU SOUTH

(17 clubs) 

Abergavenny Town - Promoted from Ardal South-East

Afan Lido

Ammanford

Barry Town United - Relegated from Cymru Premier

Briton Ferry Llansawel 

Llansawel

Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC

Carmarthen Town

Cwmbran Celtic

Goytre United

Llanelli Town

Llantwit Major

Pontardawe Town - Promoted from Ardal South-West

Swansea University

Taff's Well

Trefelin BGC

Ynyshir Albions - Promoted from Ardal South-West

Barry Town United drop out of the top tier for the first time since the 2018/19 season - they finished 4th and 5th in 19/20 and 20/21 to qualify for the UEFA Europa League. 

Abergavenny Town, Pontardawe Town and Ynyshir Albions all move up from the Ardal Leagues. 

Last season's league champion's Llantwit Major were denied a place in the top tier and will compete once again in the Cymru South. Their manager Karl Lewis has left the club to join Briton Ferry Llansawel as head-coach under Manager Andy Hill. Several players have followed Lewis to Briton Ferry who finished in third place last season so will be considered as one of the title favourites for the 22/23 season. 

Abergavenny Town were formed in 2014 when local side Govilon changed their name following Abergavenny Thursdays demise in 2013. Abergavenny Thursdays had played in the inaugural League of Wales season in 92/93 and had dropped down to the Gwent County League Division Three for the last 10 seasons of their history. Town play at the Pen-Y-Pound stadium which was the former home of The Thursdays. 

ABERGAVENNY TOWN ARE CONTINUING THE HISTORY OF ABERGAVENNY THURSDAYS WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL IN THE TOWN FROM 1927 TO 2013. 

At Step Three we then have The Ardal Leagues (the word Ardal translates to district in English) which has four divisions - NE, NW, SE and SW. 

Then at Step Four there is the Mid Wales League East and West Division, North East Wales Football League Premier Division, North Wales Coast East Football League Premier Division, North Wales Coast West Football League Premier Division, Gwent County Premier Division, West Wales Premier League and South Wales Alliance Premier Division. 

I'll bring you more news on those division line ups when they are announced.