2025–26 Cymru Premier

Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season2025–26
Dates8 August 2025 – 17 May 2026
Matches played7
Goals scored16 (2.29 per match)
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 10 August 2025.

The 2025–26 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2024–25; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) is the 34th season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

Teams

The league consisted of twelve teams; the top ten teams from the previous season, one team promoted from the Cymru North, and one team promoted from the Cymru South. The New Saints entered the season as defending champions (for the fourth consecutive season). This was the final season to consist of twelve teams, with the league set to expand to sixteen teams from 2026 to 2027.[1]

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2024–25 season.

Increase Promoted to Cymru Premier Decrease Relegated from Cymru Premier

The promoted teams were the 2024–25 Cymru North champions Colwyn Bay (returning to the top flight after a single-season absence), and the 2024–25 Cymru South champions Llanelli Town (returning to the top flight for the first time since 2018–19).[2][3] They replaced the 2024–25 Cymru Premier bottom two teams Newtown and Aberystwyth Town (both relegated from the Cymru Premier for the first time in their histories).

Stadia and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity 2024–25 season
Bala Town Bala Maes Tegid 3,000 6th in Cymru Premier
Barry Town United Barry Jenner Park 2,650 7th in Cymru Premier
Briton Ferry Llansawel Briton Ferry Old Road 2,300 10th in Cymru Premier
Caernarfon Town Caernarfon The Oval 3,000 4th in Cymru Premier
Cardiff Metropolitan University Cyncoed Cyncoed Campus 1,620 5th in Cymru Premier
Colwyn Bay Old Colwyn Llanelian Road 3,000 1st in Cymru North
Connah's Quay Nomads Connah's Quay Cae-y-Castell, at Flint[a] 3,000 8th in Cymru Premier
Flint Town United Flint Cae-y-Castell 3,000 9th in Cymru Premier
Haverfordwest County Haverfordwest Bridge Meadow 2,100 3rd in Cymru Premier
Llanelli Town Llanelli Stebonheath Park 3,700 1st in Cymru South
Penybont Bridgend Bryntirion Park 3,000 2nd in Cymru Premier
England The New Saints England Oswestry Park Hall 2,034 1st in Cymru Premier
Promoted from the Cymru North and Cymru South

Notes:

  1. ^ Due to the tenancy problems with the owners of the Deeside Stadium, Connah's Quay Nomads will play their home matches at Cae-y-Castell in Flint.

Personnel and kits

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsor
Bala Town England national football team Steve Fisher England national football team Nathan Burke Italy Macron Aykroyd's
Barry Town United Wales national football team Steve Jenkins Wales national football team Callum Sainty Italy Macron RIM Motors
Briton Ferry Llansawel Wales national football team Andy Dyer Wales national football team Alex Gammond Italy Macron Woodpecker Garden Buildings
Caernarfon Town Wales national football team Richard Davies Wales national football team Darren Thomas England Surridge Sport Williams Timber Solutions
Cardiff Metropolitan University Wales national football team Ryan Jenkins Wales national football team CJ Craven United States Nike Nuffield Health
Colwyn Bay England national football team Michael Wilde Wales national football team Sam Hart England Hope + Glory KHS
Connah's Quay Nomads Republic of Ireland national football team John Disney Wales national football team Chris Marriott Germany Adidas Castle Green Homes
Flint Town United Wales national football team Lee Fowler Wales national football team Harry Owen Italy Macron Essity
Haverfordwest County Wales national football team Tony Pennock Wales national football team Dylan Rees England Tor Sports Gelli Mor
Llanelli Town Wales national football team Lee John Wales national football team Josef Hopkins Italy Macron Red Town Taverns
Penybont Wales national football team Rhys Griffiths Wales national football team Kane Owen Italy Macron Nathaniel Cars
The New Saints England national football team Craig Harrison England national football team Danny Redmond Italy Macron SiFi Networks

Managerial changes

Pre-season

Team Outgoing manager Manner Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of arrival
Connah's Quay Nomads England Billy Paynter Sacked 13 April 2025[4] Republic of Ireland John Disney 25 May 2025[5]
Bala Town England Colin Caton Resigned 3 June 2025[6] England Steve Fisher 10 June 2025[7]

During the season

Team Outgoing manager Manner Date of vacancy Week Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment
Round Position

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Caernarfon Town 2 1 1 0 8 3 +5 4 Qualification for the Championship Conference
2 Briton Ferry Llansawel 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 4
3 Barry Town United 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
4 The New Saints 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3
5 Penybont 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3
6 Cardiff Metropolitan University 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
7 Colwyn Bay 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 Qualification for the Play-Off Conference
8 Bala Town 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
8 Connah's Quay Nomads 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
8 Flint Town United 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
11 Haverfordwest County 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
12 Llanelli Town 2 0 0 2 1 8 −7 0
Updated to match(es) played on 16 August 2025. Source: Cymru Premier
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Matches won; 8) Away matches won.

Results

Home \ Away BAL BAR BFL CFT CMU CBY CQN FTU HAV LLT PEN TNS
Bala Town 1–1
Barry Town United 1–1
Briton Ferry Llansawel 1–1
Caernarfon Town 6–1
Cardiff Metropolitan University 2–2
Colwyn Bay 1–1
Connah's Quay Nomads
Flint Town United
Haverfordwest County 0–1
Llanelli Town 0–2
Penybont 0–2
The New Saints 0–3
Updated to match(es) played on 16 August 2025. Source: Cymru Premier
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round
Qualification to the Championship Conference
Qualification to the Play-Off Conference
Updated to match(es) played on 8 August 2025. Source: Cymru Premier

Championship Conference

The top six teams from the regular season enter the Championship Conference, playing every other team in the group for the third and fourth time (once at home and once away). Results from the regular season are carried over into this round.

Play-Off Conference

The bottom six teams from the regular season enter the Play-Off Conference, playing every other team in the group for the third and fourth time (once at home and once away). Results from the regular season are carried over into this round.

Conference League play-off

Teams placed 2nd–7th qualify for one-off play-off matches, with the winners earning the second spot in the 2026–27 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round; the higher-placed team per game receive home advantage. If the 2025–26 Welsh Cup winners finish in the top seven of the Cymru Premier, a spot will be vacated; the 2nd-placed team qualify automatically for the Conference League if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two of the Cymru Premier.

Season statistics

Top Goalscorers

Top Assists

Hat-trick

Clean sheets

Discipline

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cymru Premier expansion will see six teams promoted". BBC Sport. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Colwyn Bay win JD Cymru North title on last day of season". North Wales Pioneer. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Llanelli secure Cymru South title". BBC Sport. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Club Statement: Billy Paynter". Connah's Quay Nomads. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  5. ^ "John Disney named new Connah's Quay Nomads manager". Deeside.com. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Colin Caton departs Bala Town after historic 22-year tenure". Football Association of Wales. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Fisher and Valentine take over from Caton at Bala Town". BBC Sport. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.