2025–26 Cymru Premier
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8 August 2025 – 17 May 2026 |
← 2024–25 2026–27 → | |
The 2025–26 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2024–25; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) will be 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.
| Promoted to Cymru Premier | 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 |
| The New Saints | Oswestry[b] | Park Hall | 2,034 | 1st in Cymru Premier |
| ↑ | Promoted from the Cymru North and Cymru South |
Notes:
- ^ 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.
- ^ Located at England.
Personnel and kits
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Front shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bala Town | Steve Fisher | Macron | Aykroyd's | |
| Barry Town United | Andy Legg | Macron | RIM Motors | |
| Briton Ferry Llansawel | Andy Dyer | Alex Gammond | Macron | Woodpecker Garden Buildings |
| Caernarfon Town | Richard Davies | Darren Thomas | Surridge Sport | Williams Timber Solutions |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | Ryan Jenkins | CJ Craven | Erreà | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Colwyn Bay | Michael Wilde | Sam Hart | Hope + Glory | KHS |
| Connah's Quay Nomads | John Disney | Adidas | Castle Green Homes | |
| Flint Town United | Lee Fowler | Harry Owen | Macron | Essity |
| Haverfordwest County | Tony Pennock | Dylan Rees | Tor Sports | Gelli Mor |
| Llanelli Town | Lee John | Josef Hopkins | Macron | Red Town Taverns |
| Penybont | Rhys Griffiths | Kane Owen | Macron | Nathaniel Cars |
| The New Saints | Craig Harrison | Danny Redmond | Macron | SiFi Networks |
Managerial changes
Pre-season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connah's Quay Nomads | Billy Paynter | Sacked | 13 April 2025[4] | John Disney | 25 May 2025[5] |
| Bala Town | Colin Caton | Resigned | 3 June 2025[6] | 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 | Bala Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Championship Conference |
| 2 | Barry Town United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Briton Ferry Llansawel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Caernarfon Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Colwyn Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Play-Off Conference |
| 8 | Flint Town United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Haverfordwest County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Llanelli Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Penybont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | The New Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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
Positions by round
| Qualification to the Championship Conference | |
| Qualification to the Play-Off Conference |
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
- 2025–26 Cymru North
- 2025–26 Cymru South
- 2025–26 Welsh Cup
- 2025–26 Welsh League Cup
References
- ^ "Cymru Premier expansion will see six teams promoted". BBC Sport. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Colwyn Bay win JD Cymru North title on last day of season". North Wales Pioneer. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Llanelli secure Cymru South title". BBC Sport. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Club Statement: Billy Paynter". Connah's Quay Nomads. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "John Disney named new Connah's Quay Nomads manager". Deeside.com. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Colin Caton departs Bala Town after historic 22-year tenure". Football Association of Wales. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Fisher and Valentine take over from Caton at Bala Town". BBC Sport. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.