Welsh Premier Women's Football League

Welsh Premier Women's Football League
Country  Wales
Confederation UEFA
Founded 2009
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to since 2010–11
Domestic cup(s) FAW Women's Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
Current champions Cardiff Met. (4th title)
(2015–16)
Most championships Cardiff Met. (4 titles)
Website Official

The Welsh Premier League is the top level women's football league in Wales.

It was founded in 2009 and was the first women's football league in Wales. The winner qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

In previous years the national cup winner was sent into European competition.

The league is divided into two Conferences that play a double round robin, with the winner of both contesting a final for the championship. The first season featured no relegation, from the 2010-11 season onwards, the last placed team in each conference gets relegated.[1]

History

The eight clubs who formed the League were Aberystwyth Town Ladies, Caernarfon Town Ladies, Llanidloes Ladies, Manorbier Ladies, Newcastle Emlyn Ladies, Swansea City Ladies, UWIC Ladies and Wrexham Ladies.

2012 Season Launch

The league was increased to five teams per Conference in 2010–11,[2] with Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Trefelin Ladies joining the South and Llandudno Junction Ladies joining the North. Manorbier Ladies ceased playing activities after their inaugural season.[3]

Llandudno Junction's stay in the league lasted just one season before they were relegated; they were replaced by Northop Hall Girls.

Format

In its first three years the league was divided into two conferences, north and south. Both winners then played a championship play-off for the title and right to play in the UEFA Women's Champions League. A relegation system was introduced in the second season, when the last place in each conference was relegated. The league changed the format to a single division for the 2012–13 season.[4] The league was also expanded for the second time. After eight teams in the first season and ten teams in second and third season, now twelve teams will participate in the league.

2016–17 teams

Abergavenny
Briton Ferry
Cardiff (3 teams)
Rhyl
Port Talbot Town
Llandudno Ladies
Locations of teams in the 2016–17 Premier League

For this season PILCS changed their name to Abergavenny Women, Rhyl & Prestatyn Ladies chenged their name to Rhyl Ladies.[5] Briton Ferry Llansawel were promoted to the Premier League. Cwmbran Celtic withdraw from the league, because a lack of players.[6] Newcastle Emlyn Ladies were relegated. Wrexham already withdraw mid-season 2015/16.[7]

Team City Ground
Abergavenny Women Pontypool Pen-Y-Pound Stadium, Abergavenny
Aberystwyth Town Ladies Aberystwyth Park Avenue
Briton Ferry Llansawel Briton Ferry Old Road
Cardiff City FC Cardiff Leckwith Athletics Stadium
Cardiff Met. Ladies F.C. Cardiff Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus
Cyncoed Ladies Cardiff Cardiff University Playing Fields Llanrumney
Llandudno Ladies F.C. Llandudno Maesdu Park
Port Talbot Town Ladies Port Talbot The Genquip Stadium
Rhyl Ladies Rhyl Corbett Sports Stadium Grange Road
Swansea City Ladies Port Talbot Baglan Playing Fields

Former teams were Manorbier Ladies, Aberystwyth Town Ladies, Northop Hall Girls, Caerphilly Castle Ladies, Caernarfon, Trefelin Ladies (since then joint Port Talbot Town), Llanidloes Ladies F.C. (now Hafren United Ladies) and Cwmbran Celtic.

List of champions

In the first three seasons a final between the division winners determined the champion. Cardiff Met. (former UWIC) have won the most titles with four.

Season Champion Runners-up Third place
2009–10 Swansea City Ladies Caernarfon Town n/a (4–0 final)
2010–11 Swansea City Ladies Caernarfon Town n/a (3–1 final)
2011–12 UWIC Ladies Wrexham Ladies n/a (3–0 final)
2012–13 Cardiff City Cardiff Met. Ladies Wrexham Ladies
2013–14 Cardiff Met. Ladies PILCS LFC Cardiff City
2014–15 Cardiff Met. Ladies Swansea City Ladies PILCS LFC
2015–16 Cardiff Met. Ladies Swansea City Ladies Cardiff City

References

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