| Country | Cymru |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Relegation to | Bencampwriaeth |
| Domestic cup(s) | Cwpan Cymru & Cwpan Cynghrair |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League |
| Current champions | CPD Caerdydd (2019–20) |
| Most championships | CPD Caerdydd |
Logo of the Welsh Football Premiership
The Welsh football league operates as a pyramid structure with the Welsh Premiership (Uwch Gynghrair) supported by the Championship (Bencampwriaeth) and then Divisions 1 & 2 (Is-Adran 1 & 2)
In this manner the league mirrors the English system and prior to the mid 1980's there was an Anglo-Welsh inter club tournament.
The national team are known as the Four Lions due to the wearing of the national crest as the team badge
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru[]
The Uwch Gynghrair (Premiership) was founded following the conclusion of the 1994-95 season and replaced the previous divisional system. The league retained the same number of teams as the previous Adran Bêl-droed Un. The league had sixteen sides in it.
The current teams in the premiership are as below. CPD stands for Clwb Pel-Droed (football club)
- CPD Abertawe
- CPD Aberystwyth
- CPD Amwythig
- CPD Caerdydd
- CPD Caerfyrddin
- CPD Caernarfon
- CPD Caerodor
- CPD Caerwrangon
- CPD Casnewydd
- CPD Croesoswallt
- CPD Dinas Bangor
- CPD Llwydlo
- CPD Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr
- CPD Rhyl
- CPD Tref Y Barri
- CPD Wrecsam
Y Bencampwriaeth[]
The second tier of the Welsh football pyramid was formed at the same time as the Uwch Gynghrair and also consists of sixteen clubs.
- CPD Aberdaugleddau
- CPD Aberhonddu
- CPD Aberperyddon
- CPD Bae Colwyn
- CPD Caerfilli
- CPD Henffordd
- CPD Llanelli
- CPD Llanllieni
- CPD Machynlleth
- CPD Merthyr Tydful
- CPD Pont-y-Pridd
- CPD Porth Talbot
- CPD Rhyng Caerdydd
- CPD Tref y Bala
- CPD Tref y Penfro
- CPD Y Trallwng
League Format[]
Each of the 16 competitors in both the Pro League hosts every other team once in the regular season, for a total of 30 matches between August and April. A win earns three points and a draw earns one point. Teams are ranked by total points, then by total wins and finally by goal difference, number of scored goals, number of away goals and number of away wins. If teams are still level, a test-match is played in two legs to determine the final order in the standings.
The winner of the Uwch Gynghair qualifies for the Champions League with the second and third placed teams qualifying for the Europa League. The winner of the Cwpan Cymru also qualifies for the Europa League if not already qualified through the league position.
Alongside the main league are the two Cystadlaethau Cwpan (Cup Competitions)
Cwpan Cymdeithas Pêl-droed Cymru (Welsh Football Association Cup) or simply the Cwpan Cymru is the premier cup in Welsh football. Contested by all tiers of Welsh football, it consists of two preliminary rounds where the amateur and semi pro sides play. The winners from those two rounds progress to the First Round, where they are joined by the 16 side of the Bencampwriaeth. The 16 Uwch Gynghair join the competition at the Second Round. There are two further rounds before the competition progresses to the Quarter Finals, Semi Final and the Final itself. The winner of the Cup is entered into the Europa League unless it has already qualified through the league in which case the runner up qualifies.
The second cup competition is the Cwpan Cynghrair Cymru (League Cup) which is contested purely by the 32 professional teams of the Uwch Gynghair and the Bencampwriaeth. It consists of two rounds of home and away games, with the results being determined by the aggregate scores before proceeding to the quarter finals, semi final and League Cup final. The final series is a simple knockout format. The Cwpan Cynghrair awards the greater prize money of the two cups but does not give the winner a European spot.
This means that the 32 professional clubs are guaranteed a minimum of
- 30 League Games
- 1 Cwpan Cymru Game (either Round One or Round Two)
- 4 Cwpan Cynghrair games
Giving a total of 35 games minimum a season. A club running for a League Triple should they appear in both finals would play 44 games
European Qualification[]
European qualification is based on the league finishing positions and the winner of the Cwpan Cymru. The winner of the League gains entry to the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League. The league runner up and third placed side gain entry to the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League with the Cwpan Cymru winner entering the Europa League in the Second Qualifying Round.
Promotion/Relegation[]
The bottom side of the Uwch Gynghrair is relegated automatically with the sides ranked 15th and 14th entering a home and away play off to remain in the Uwch Gynghrair. The loser also being relegated to the Bencampwriaeth.
The winner of the Bencampwriaeth is promoted to the Uwch Gynghrair automatically. The sides finishing second to fifth enter home and away play offs to decide who will also gain promotion.
The bottom placed team in the Bencampwriaeth is relegated to Adran Un y Gynghrair Bêl-droed (Football League Division One)
The 2013-2014 Season[]
The 2013-14 season was a landmark year for the Uwch Gynghrair. A new multi-million television broadcast deal pumped millions of Euros into the Welsh game and two Welsh clubs made it to the group stage of the Champions League which made this season the most successful since 1980 when CPD Caerdydd won the European Cup.
The 2019-20 Season[]
The 2019-20 campaign saw Caerdydd win their first league title in 4 years. Having strengthened their squad in the close season, their new goalscorer, Harri ap Ieuan scored seasons highest tally at 25 goals. The early season swung between Caerdydd, Caernarfon, Tref y Barri and Abertawe, with Tref y Barri top at the Christmas interval. The late winter and early spring rounds saw Caerdydd go on a 6 game winning streak which included derby wins over both Barri and Abertawe, with Abertawe hitting a poor run of form as the season drew to a close. The top two remained close until the end of the season with Caernarfon having a run of one win, one draw and two losses in the final four rounds, including a defeat to bottom of the table Caerfyrddin.
After a dismal season, Caerfyrddin was automatically relegated, with Caerwrangon and Wrecsam competing the in the relegation play-off. Played over two legs, Wrecsam won the tie 4-3 on aggregate.
With Tref y Barri winning the Cwpan Cymru earlier in the season and with them finishing in the league qualifying positions for inclusion in the Europa League, Aberystwyth took the additional place. As a result, Caernarfon and Aberystwyth entered the Europa League in the 1st Qualifying round with Tref y Barri entering in the 2nd round.
2019-20 League Table & Top Scorers[]
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caerdydd (C) | 30 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 19 | 43 | 80 |
| Caernarfon (RU) | 30 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 66 | 21 | 45 | 74 |
| Tref y Barri (CW) | 30 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 62 | 29 | 33 | 64 |
| Aberystwyth (RU) | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 61 | 25 | 36 | 63 |
| Abertawe | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 59 | 29 | 30 | 62 |
| Amwythig | 30 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 51 | 40 | 11 | 60 |
| Dinas Bangor | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 55 | 48 | 7 | 52 |
| Pen-y-Bont | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 48 |
| Caerodor | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 51 | 60 | -9 | 41 |
| Rhyl | 30 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 44 | 56 | -12 | 37 |
| Casnewydd | 30 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 31 | 50 | -19 | 29 |
| Croesoswallt | 30 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 39 | 54 | -15 | 23 |
| Llwydlo | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 41 | 67 | -26 | 23 |
| Wrecsam (RPO) | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 28 | 64 | -36 | 19 |
| Caerwrangon (RPO) | 30 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 68 | -39 | 9 |
| Caerfyrddin (R) | 30 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 26 | 75 | -49 | 8 |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harri ap Ieuan | Caerdydd | 31 |
| 2 | Thomas Selby | Amwythig | 28 |
| 3 | Fychan Bowen | Tref y Barri | 24 |
| Ioan Tomos | Abertawe | 24 | |
| 5 | Seisyll Prhisart | Caernarfon | 23 |
| 6 | Mohammed Amari. | Tref y Barri | 19 |
| Khalil Mahmoud | Aberystwyth | 19 | |
| 8 | Owain Fitzrobert | Caernarfon | 15 |
| Raphael Chevalier | Caerdydd | 15 | |
| Fabio Bianchi | Dinas Bangor | 15 |
League Champions[]
The Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru founded in 1876 took until 1894 to formally organise a league structure for clubs to participate in. Originally called the Adran Gyntaf y Gynghrair Bêl-droed (Football League First Division) this lasted until the 1994-95 season when it changed to the Uwch Gynghair Pel-Droed.
CPD Caerdydd are the most successful Welsh club
| Year | Champions (Number of Titles) | Runner Up | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1894-95 | Wrecsam | Bae Colwyn | Conwy |
| 1895-96 | Wrecsam (2) | Abertawe | Bae Colwyn |
| 1896-97 | Conwy | Caerodor | Rhyl |
| 1897-98 | Wrecsam (3) | Caerodor | Abertawe |
| 1898-99 | Abertawe | Wrecsam | Conwy |
| 1899-00 | Caernarfon | Abertawe | Wrecsam |
| 1900-01 | Abertawe (2) | Wrecsam | Caerodor |
| 1901-02 | Casnewydd | Caernarfon | Tref y Penfro |
| 1902-03 | Abertawe (3) | Rhyl | Caerodor |
| 1903-04 | Caerodor | Wrecsam | Abertawe |
| 1904-05 | Bae Colwyn | Casnewydd | Caerfilli |
| 1905-06 | Casnewydd (2) | Wrecsam | Henffordd |
| 1906-07 | Casnewydd (3) | Wrecsam | Rhyl |
| 1907-08 | Casnewydd (4) | Abertawe | Caerdydd |
| 1908-09 | Caerdydd | Machynlleth | Caernarfon |
| 1909-10 | Caernarfon (2) | Harlech | Rhyl |
| 1910-11 | Casnewydd (5) | Casnewydd | Rhyl |
| 1911-12 | Wrecsam (4) | Rhyl | Henffordd |
| 1912-13 | Caerdydd (2) | Caerodor | Machynlleth |
| 1913-14 | Caerdydd (3) | Caerfyrddin | Conwy |
| 1914-15 | Caerfilli | Caerodor | Caerdydd |
| 1915-16 | Abertawe (4) | Wrecsam | Caerdydd |
| 1916-17 | Amwythig | Rhyl | Llanelli |
| 1917-18 | Wrecsam (5) | Caerdydd | Caerodor |
| 1918-19 | Caerdydd (4) | Abertawe | Croseoswallt |
| 1919-20 | Tref y Barri | Dinas Bangor | Tref y Barri |
| 1920-21 | Caernarfon (3) | Tref y Barri | Wrecsam |
| 1921-22 | Merthyr Tydful | Caerfilli | Rhyl |
| 1922-23 | Merthyr Tydful (2) | Wrecsam | Caerdydd |
| 1923-24 | Merthyr Tydful (3) | Caerdydd | Y Trallwng |
| 1924-25 | Merthyr Tydful (4) | Casnewydd | Caerdydd |
| 1925-26 | Abertawe (5) | Caerdydd | Caerodor |
| 1926-27 | Amwythig (2) | Llanelli | Merthyr Tydful |
| 1927-28 | Wrecsam (6) | Merthyr Tydful | Llwydlo |
| 1928-29 | Caerdydd (5) | Llwydlo | Rhyl |
| 1929-30 | Caerdydd (6) | Casnewydd | Abertawe |
| 1930-31 | Tref y Barri (2) | Caernarfon | Wrecsam |
| 1931-32 | Caerodor (2) | Caerdydd | Tref y Barri |
| 1932-33 | Caerodor (3) | Tref y Penfro | Caerdydd |
| 1933-34 | Caerdydd (7) | Aberdaugleddau | Aberperyddon |
| 1935-36 | Caerdydd (8) | Caerodor | Abertawe |
| 1936-37 | Caerdydd (9) | Rhyl | Bae Colwyn |
| 1937-38 | Merthyr Tydful (5) | Wrecsam | Caerdydd |
| 1938-39 | Amwythig (3) | Caerdydd | Abertawe |
| 1939-40 | Caerdydd (10) | Bae Colwyn | Caernarfon |
| 1947-48 | Tref y Bala | Wrecsam | Caerodor |
| 1948-49 | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr | Caerodor | Abertawe |
| 1949-50 | Caerfilli (2) | Tref y Penfro | Tref y Barri |
| 1950-51 | Bae Colwyn (2) | Tref y Barri | Aberdaugleddau |
| 1951-52 | Abertawe (6) | Bae Colwyn | Rhyl |
| 1952-53 | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr (2) | Harlech | Aberystwyth |
| 1953-54 | Abertawe (7) | Caerwrangon | Harlech |
| 1954-55 | Caerodor (4) | Caernarfon | Amwythig |
| 1955-56 | Caerodor (5) | Caernarfon | Wrecsam |
| 1956-57 | Caernarfon (4) | Amwythig | Caerodor |
| 1957-58 | Machynlleth | Caernarfon | Bae Colwyn |
| 1958-59 | Wrecsam (7) | Rhyl | Aberhonddu |
| 1959-60 | Aberhonddu | Llanllieni | Llwydlo |
| 1960-61 | Caerdydd (11) | Tref y Barri | Caerfyrddin |
| 1961-62 | Abertawe (7) | Llanelli | Caerfyrddin |
| 1962-63 | Abertawe (8) | Wrecsam | Aberperyddon |
| 1963-64 | Abertawe (9) | Caerfilli | Henffordd |
| 1964-54 | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr (3) | Tref y Barri | Hwlffordd |
| 1965-66 | Wrecsam (8) | Caernarfon | Croesoswallt |
| 1966-67 | Rhyl | Machynlleth | Tref y Penfro |
| 1967-68 | Tref y Barri (3) | Merthyr Tydful | Caerdydd |
| 1968-69 | Rhyl (2) | Abertawe | Tref y Barri |
| 1969-70 | Wrecsam (9) | Aberdaugleddau | Rhyl |
| 1970-71 | Tref y Barri (4) | Aberystwyth | Caerodor |
| 1971-72 | Abertawe (10) | Aberhonddu | Wrecsam |
| 1972-73 | Aberdaugleddau | Wrecsam | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 1973-74 | Caernarfon (5) | Rhyl | Wrecsam |
| 1974-75 | Caerdydd (12) | Casnewydd | Caerodor |
| 1975-76 | Caerodor (6) | Casnewydd | Caerdydd |
| 1976-77 | Abertawe (10) | Caerdydd | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 1977-78 | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr (4) | Tref y Barri | Bae Colwyn |
| 1978-79 | Caerdydd (13) | Abertawe | Aberystwyth |
| 1979-80 | Caerdydd (14) | Abertawe | Wrecsam |
| 1980-81 | Wrecsam (10) | Dinas Bangor | Rhyl |
| 1981-82 | Rhyl (3) | Wrecsam | Caernarfon |
| 1982-83 | Caernarfon (6) | Amwythig | Caerodor |
| 1983-84 | Caerodor (7) | Caerdydd | Hwlffordd |
| 1984-85 | Abertawe (11) | Caerwrangon | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 1985-86 | Abertawe (12) | Casnewydd | Pont-y-Pridd |
| 1986-87 | Tref y Barri (5) | Llwydlo | Croesoswallt |
| 1987-88 | Caerdydd (15) | Tref y Penfro | Dinas Bangor |
| 1988-89 | Wrecsam (11) | Tref Y Barri | Llanllieni |
| 1989-90 | Amwythig (4) | Aberdaugleddau | Croesoswallt |
| 1990-91 | Caerodor (8) | Aberperyddon | Llwydlo |
| 1991-92 | Caerodor (9) | Tref Y Barri | Caerwrangon |
| 1992-93 | Aberdaugleddau (2) | Croesoswallt | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 1993-94 | Wrecsam (12) | Caerdydd | Caerodor |
| 1994-95 | Amwythig (5) | Rhyng Caerdydd | Caerodor |
At the conclusion of the 1994-95 season the decision was to re-brand the Welsh football pyramid with the creation of the fully professional Y Uwch Gynghair and Y Bencampwriaeth with the semi-professional leagues below that split into Is-Adran 1 & 2. Below Is-Adran 2 the football clubs are split into Cynghreiriau Pêl-droed Gogledd, Canolbarth and De.
| Year |
Champions (Number of Titles) |
Runner Up | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | Abertawe (13) | Tref Y Barri | Wrecsam |
| 1996-97 | Wrecsam (13) | Dinas Bangor | Casnewydd |
| 1997-98 | Caerdydd (16) | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr | Aberhonddu |
| 1998-99 | Caerdydd (17) | Aberdaugleddau | Bae Colwyn |
| 1999-00 | Abertawe (14) | Caernarfon | Tref Y Barri |
| 2000-01 | Caerodor (10) | Llwydlo | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 2001-02 | Wrecsam (14) | Caernarfon | Tref Y Barri |
| 2002-03 | Wrecsam (15) | Caerfilli | Aberdaugleddau |
| 2003-04 | Rhyl (4) | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr | Wrecsam |
| 2004-05 | Abertawe (15) | Caerfyrddin | Croesoswallt |
| 2005-06 | Rhyng Caerdydd | Caerdydd | Caerfyrddin |
| 2006-07 | Caerodor (11) | Machynlleth | Caernarfon |
| 2007-08 | Casnewydd (6) | Casnewydd | Llwydlo |
| 2008-09 | Caerdydd (18) | Abertawe | Llanelli |
| 2009-10 | Wrecsam (16) | Amwythig | Dinas Bangor |
| 2010-11 | Caernarfon (7) | Croesoswallt | Aberdaugleddau |
| 2011-12 | Caerdydd (19) | Caernarfon | Merthyr Tydful |
| 2012-13 | Caerdydd (20) | Machynlleth | Casnewydd |
| 2013-14 | Abertawe (16) | Caerwrangon | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 2014-15 | Tref y Barri (6) | Abertawe | Tref Y Barri |
| 2015-16 | Aberystwyth | Rhyl | Wrecsam |
| 2016-17 | Tref y Barri (7) | Rhyl | Dinas Bangor |
| 2017-18 | Caernarfon (8) | Casnewydd | Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr |
| 2018-19 | Caerdydd (21) | Caernarfon | Amwythig |
| 2019-20 | Caerdydd (22) | Caernarfon | Tref Y Barri |
By Region[]
| Region | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Gogledd | 33 | Wrecsam (16), Caernarfon (8), Rhyl (4), Bae Colwyn (2), Conwy (1), Machynlleth (1), Tref y Bala (1) |
| Deheubarth | 3 | Aberdaugelddau (2), Aberystwyth (1) |
| Canolbarth | 6 | Amwythig (5), Aberhonddu (1) |
| De | 74 | Caerdydd (22), Abertawe (16), Caerodor (11), Tref y Barri (7), Casnewydd (6), Merthyr Tydful (5), Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr (4), Caerfilli (2), Rhyng Caerdydd |