2025–26 Cymru Premier

Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season2025–26
Dates8 August 2025 – 17 May 2026
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. This is the first season of the competition to use VAR (video assistant referee).

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 Andy Legg 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 England 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 Wales Tor Sports DragonBet
Llanelli Town Wales national football team Terry Boyle 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 Daniel 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 Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment
Round Position
Llanelli Town Lee John Sacked 9 January 2026[8] 21 12th Terry Boyle 13 January 2026[9]

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 The New Saints 22 17 2 3 59 19 +40 53 Qualification for the Championship Conference
2 Connah's Quay Nomads 22 14 5 3 48 25 +23 47
3 Penybont 22 11 5 6 36 31 +5 38
4 Caernarfon Town 22 9 7 6 44 32 +12 34
5 Barry Town United 22 7 9 6 33 25 +8 30
6 Colwyn Bay 22 8 6 8 29 25 +4 30
7 Cardiff Metropolitan University 22 6 10 6 33 36 −3 28 Qualification for the Play-Off Conference
8 Briton Ferry Llansawel 22 6 7 9 32 40 −8 25
9 Haverfordwest County 22 6 6 10 30 39 −9 24
10 Bala Town 22 6 5 11 19 30 −11 23
11 Flint Town United 22 5 6 11 34 48 −14 21
12 Llanelli Town 22 2 2 18 12 59 −47 8
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 0–0 2–2 0–1 2–2 1–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 0–2
Barry Town United 4–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 4–0 5–1 2–3 0–0
Briton Ferry Llansawel 2–0 2–1 2–5 1–1 0–2 0–3 2–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–2
Caernarfon Town 2–0 3–1 4–1 0–3 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 6–1 1–2 1–3
Cardiff Metropolitan University 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–4 0–3 4–1 0–0 2–1 0–4 1–3
Colwyn Bay 0–1 1–4 2–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 3–0 3–1 5–4 1–1
Connah's Quay Nomads 1–3 3–1 4–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 3–3 3–0 4–0 3–1
Flint Town United 0–4 0–0 2–1 2–5 4–2 0–1 0–2 2–2 4–0 3–4 0–3
Haverfordwest County 2–0 2–3 2–3 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–3 3–1 3–0 0–1 2–3
Llanelli Town 0–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 1–3 0–0 1–2 0–5 1–0 0–1 0–4
Penybont 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 5–0 2–1 2–0 0–2
The New Saints 2–1 4–0 0–3 2–0 2–3 1–0 3–0 4–2 5–0 6–0 6–2
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 25 August 2025. Source: Cymru Premier

Championship Conference

The top six teams from the regular season entered 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 were carried over into this round.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 The New Saints (X) 25 20 2 3 68 19 +49 62 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Connah's Quay Nomads 25 14 8 3 51 28 +23 50 Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round[a]
3 Penybont 25 11 7 7 36 37 −1 40 Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off final
4 Caernarfon Town 25 9 9 7 45 35 +10 36 Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off quarter-finals
5 Colwyn Bay 25 9 7 9 32 29 +3 34
6 Barry Town United 25 8 9 8 35 27 +8 33
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2026. 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.
(X) Assured of at least Conference League first qualifying round
Notes:
  1. ^ The 2025–26 Welsh Cup winners also qualify for the Conference League first qualifying round (or the third-placed team of the Cymru Premier if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two).


Results

Home \ Away BAR CFT CBY CQN PEN TNS
Barry Town United 21 Mar 0–1 21 Feb 3 Mar 18 Apr
Caernarfon Town 0–2 27 Feb 13 Mar 18 Apr 27 Mar
Colwyn Bay 14 Mar 3 Apr 2–2 21 Feb 0–2
Connah's Quay Nomads 29 Mar 1–1 18 Apr 21 Mar 3 Mar
Penybont 3 Apr 0–0 28 Mar 0–0 14 Mar
The New Saints 1–0 20 Feb 20 Mar 3 Apr 6–0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2026. 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.

Play-Off Conference

The bottom six teams from the regular season entered 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 were carried over into this round.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
7 Haverfordwest County 25 9 6 10 37 39 −2 33 Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off quarter-finals
8 Cardiff Metropolitan University 25 6 12 7 35 40 −5 30
9 Briton Ferry Llansawel 25 7 8 10 35 43 −8 29
10 Flint Town United 25 7 7 11 40 51 −11 28
11 Bala Town 25 6 6 13 23 38 −15 24 Relegation to the Cymru North or Cymru South
12 Llanelli Town 25 2 3 20 14 65 −51 9
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2026. 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 BFL CMU FTU HAV LLT
Bala Town 18 Apr 1–1 3–4 20 Mar 27 Feb
Briton Ferry Llansawel 21 Feb 3 Apr 21 Mar 0–2 3–1
Cardiff Metropolitan University 28 Mar 27 Feb 18 Apr 0–2 1–1
Flint Town United 13 Mar 0–0 21 Feb 3 Apr 28 Mar
Haverfordwest County 3–0 27 Mar 13 Mar 1 Mar 18 Apr
Llanelli Town 3 Apr 13 Mar 20 Mar 0–2 20 Feb
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2026. 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.

Conference League play-off

Teams placed 3rd–7th qualify for one-off play-off matches, with the winners earning the third spot in the 2026–27 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round; the higher-placed team per game receive home advantage, and the 3rd-placed team receive a bye to the final. If the 2025–26 Welsh Cup winners finish in the top seven of the Cymru Premier, a spot will be vacated; the 3rd-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 scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[10]
1 England Jordan Williams The New Saints 21
2 Wales Rhys Hughes Connah's Quay Nomads 11
England Harry Franklin Connah's Quay Nomads
Wales Adam Davies Caernarfon Town
Wales Jordan Davies Colwyn Bay
Wales James Crole Penybont
England Elliott Reeves Flint Town United
8 Wales Noah Daley Penybont 10
9 Northern Ireland Ryan Brobbel The New Saints 9
Wales Ben Ahmun Haverfordwest County

Hat-trick

As of 26 January 2026
Player For Against Result Date
Wales Adam Davies[11] Caernarfon Town Llanelli Town 6–1 (H) 16 August 2025
Wales Noah Daley[12] Penybont Barry Town United 2–3 (A) 22 August 2025
England Elliott Reeves[13] Flint Town United Llanelli Town 0–5 (A) 6 September 2025
England Jordan Williams[14] The New Saints Haverfordwest County 5–0 (A) 6 September 2025
Wales James Crole[15] Penybont Cardiff Metropolitan 0–4 (A) 23 September 2025
England Harry Franklin[16] Connah's Quay Nomads Briton Ferry Llansawel 0–3 (A) 11 October 2025
England Elliott Reeves[17] Flint Town United Llanelli Town 4–0 (H) 11 October 2025
England Jordan Williams[18] The New Saints Penybont 6–2 (H) 11 October 2025
Wales Jordan Davies[19] Colwyn Bay Penybont 5–4 (H) 29 November 2025
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Wales Nathan Shepperd The New Saints 13
2 Wales George Ratcliffe Barry Town United 9
3 Wales Kit Margetson Connah's Quay Nomads 7
England Joel Torrance Bala Town
5 England Archie Matthews Penybont 6
England Alex Brown Colwyn Bay
Wales Luc Rees Haverfordwest County

Discipline

Player

  • Most yellow cards: 10
    • Wales Joseph Lloyd (Llanelli Town)
  • Most red cards: 1
    • Twenty players

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 49
    • Connah's Quay Nomads
    • Penybont
  • Fewest yellow cards: 27
    • Bala Town
  • Most red cards: 4
    • Haverfordwest County
  • Fewest red cards: 0
    • The New Saints
    • Flint Town United

Monthly awards

As of 16 October 2025
Month Player of the Month Manager of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
July/ August[20] Tom Walters Briton Ferry Llansawel Richard Davies Caernarfon Town
September[21] Gabe Kircough Penybont Craig Harrison The New Saints
October[22] Rhys Hughes Connah's Quay Nomads Michael Wilde Colwyn Bay
November[23] Jordan Williams The New Saints John Disney Connah's Quay Nomads
December[24] Harry Franklin Connah's Quay Nomads John Disney Connah's Quay Nomads
January
February
March
April

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.
  8. ^ "Llanelli Town part company with manager Lee John". Swansea Bay News. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Llanelli Town have confirmed former Cymru international Terry Boyle as interim manager until the end of the season". Facebook. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Premier League Top Player Stats – Goals". Premier League. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Caernarfon Town 6 - 1 Llanelli Town". Football Association of Wales. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Barry Town United 2 - 3 Penybont". Football Association of Wales. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Llanelli Town 0 - 5 Flint Town United". Football Association of Wales. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  14. ^ "The New Saints 5 - 0 Haverfordwest County". Football Association of Wales. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Cardiff Metropolitan 0 - 4 Penybont". Football Association of Wales. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Briton Ferry Llansawel 0- 3 Connah's Quay Nomads". Football Association of Wales. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Flint Town United 4 - 0 Llanelli Town". Football Association of Wales. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  18. ^ "The New Saints 6 - 2 Penybont". Football Association of Wales. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Colwyn Bay 5 - 4 Penybont". Football Association of Wales. 29 November 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  20. ^ "JD Cymru Leagues July/August Player and Manager of the Month winners". Football Association of Wales. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  21. ^ "JD Cymru Leagues September Player and Manager of the Month winners". Football Association of Wales. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  22. ^ "JD Cymru Leagues October Player and Manager of the Month winners". Football Association of Wales. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  23. ^ "JD Cymru Leagues November Player and Manager of the Month winners". Football Association of Wales. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  24. ^ "JD Cymru Leagues December Player and Manager of the Month winners". Football Association of Wales. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.