2023–24 Cymru Premier

The 2023–24 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2023–24; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) will be the 32nd season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season2023–24
Dates11 August 2023 – 11 May 2024
Matches played12
Goals scored30 (2.5 per match)
Biggest home winThe New Saints 6–0 Aberystwyth Town
(1 September 2023)
Biggest away winColwyn Bay 0–4 Caernarfon Town
(13 August 2023) Caernarfon Town 0–4 Connah's Quay Nomads
(1 September 2023)
Highest scoringThe New Saints 6–2 Connah's Quay Nomads
(11 August 2023)
Highest attendance1411 - Colwyn Bay 0–4 Caernarfon Town
(13 August 2023)
Lowest attendance178 - Cardiff Metropolitan University 0–0 Bala Town
(19 August 2023)
Average attendance479
2024–25 →

Twelve teams contest the league; The New Saints are the defending champions for the second consecutive season. The winners qualify for the 2024–25 Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up, play-off winners, and 2023–24 Welsh Cup winners (or the third-placed team if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two) qualify for the 2024–25 Conference League first qualifying round. The bottom two teams are relegated to either the 2024–25 Cymru North or the 2024–25 Cymru South.

Teams

The league conisted of twelve teams – the top ten teams from the previous season, and one team each promoted from the second-tier leagues, the Cymru North and Cymru South.

The two bottom placed teams from the 2022–23 season, Airbus UK Broughton[1] and Flint Town United, were both relegated to the Cymru North for the 2023–24 season. Flint's relegation was only confirmed on the final day of the previous season, where a dramatic victory for Aberystwyth Town, combined with Flint's defeat to Pontypridd United, saw the Silkmen drop into the relegation zone.[2]

Haverfordwest County came close to being relegated following their failure to achieve a Tier One license at the first time of asking, but their appeal was successful, ensuring their stay in the league.[3]

Colwyn Bay, winners of the 2022–23 Cymru North, were promoted to the league,[4] as were 2022–23 Cymru South champions Barry Town United,[5] who were promoted back to the top tier on the first time of asking following their relegation in the previous season. This will be Colwyn Bay's debut in the top tier of Welsh football after switching from the English football league system in 2018–19.

Team changes

Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2023–24 Cymru Premier teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth Park Avenue5,000
Bala TownBala Maes Tegid3,000
Barry Town UnitedBarry Jenner Park Stadium2,650
Caernarfon TownCaernarfon The Oval3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCyncoed Cyncoed Campus1,620
Colwyn BayOld Colwyn Llanelian Road2,500
Connah's Quay NomadsConnah's Quay Cae-y-Castell3,000
Haverfordwest CountyHaverfordwest Bridge Meadow Stadium2,100
NewtownNewtown Latham Park5,000
PenybontBridgend Bryntirion Park3,000
Pontypridd UnitedTreforest USW Sports Park1,000
The New SaintsEngland Oswestry Park Hall2,034

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Wales Anthony Williams England Jack Thorn Acerbis Aberystwyth University
Bala Town England Colin Caton England Kieran Smith Macron Aykroyd's
Barry Town United Wales Steve Jenkins Wales Kayne McLaggon Macron RIM Motors
Caernarfon Town Wales Richard Davies Wales Darren Thomas Errea Gofal Bro Cyf
Cardiff Metropolitan University Wales Ryan Jenkins Wales Kyle McCarthy Errea Cardiff Metropolitan University
Colwyn Bay Wales Steve Evans England Tom McCready Hope and Glory GO2 People
Connah's Quay Nomads Wales Neil Gibson Republic of Ireland John Disney Adidas Castle Green Homes
Haverfordwest County Wales Tony Pennock Wales Dylan Rees Macron Clegg Gifford / The Athletic
Newtown Wales Chris Hughes Wales Shane Sutton Errea Control Techniques
Penybont Wales Rhys Griffiths Wales Kane Owen Macron Nathaniel Car Sales
Pontypridd United Wales Andrew Stokes Wales Clayton Green Joma UPVCDIRECT.CO.UK
The New Saints England Craig Harrison England Chris Marriott Macron SiFi Networks

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Barry Town United Wales Lee Kendall Resigned[6] 26 July 2023 Pre-season Wales Steve Jenkins 5 August 2023[7]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1 The New Saints 12 10 2 0 43 10 +33 32 Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
2 Connah's Quay Nomads 13 9 2 2 35 15 +20 29 Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 2]
3 Caernarfon Town 13 7 2 4 27 20 +7 23 Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round play-offs
4 Newtown 12 7 1 4 22 13 +9 22
5 Bala Town 13 5 5 3 11 9 +2 20
6 Cardiff Metropolitan University 13 5 4 4 14 21 −7 19
7 Penybont 12 5 2 5 17 18 −1 17
8 Haverfordwest County 13 3 4 6 14 25 −11 13
9 Pontypridd United 13 3 3 7 4 14 −10 12
10 Barry Town United 13 2 3 8 14 26 −12 9
11 Colwyn Bay 11 2 2 7 12 20 −8 8 Relegation to Cymru North or Cymru South
12 Aberystwyth Town 12 1 2 9 6 28 −22 5
Updated to match(es) played on 21 October 2023. Source: Cymru Premier
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Goals scored; 5) Matches won.
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other twice (22 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
  2. The 2023–24 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

Matches 1–22

Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.

Home \ Away ABE BAL BAR CAE CMU COL CQN HAV NEW PYB PON TNS
Aberystwyth Town — 2–4 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–1
Bala Town 0–1 — 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0
Barry Town United 3–1 — 0–3 1–1 1–4 2–2 2–0 2–6
Caernarfon Town 3–0 1–1 — 5–1 0–4 2–1 1–0 1–3
Cardiff Metropolitan University 0–0 2–1 — 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–5
Colwyn Bay 3–1 0–4 2–2 — 1–2 2–4 0–1
Connah's Quay Nomads 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–1 — 3–1 4–2
Haverfordwest County 3–0 1–1 1–3 — 0–4 3–2 0–0
Newtown 0–0 1–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 — 1–3
Penybont 1–0 3–2 0–0 0–1 2–0 — 1–4
Pontypridd United 0–0 1–0 0–3 2–0 0–1 0–0 — 0–1
The New Saints 6–0 2–2 6–2 5–1 4–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 October 2023. Source: Cymru Premier
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Conference League play-offs

Teams placed 3rd-7th enter one-off play-off matches for the third spot in the Conference League first qualifying round. One of the spots is vacated if the 2023–24 Welsh Cup winners finish 7th or higher, with the 3rd-placed team qualifying automatically if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two. The higher-placed team gains home advantage.

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Wales Jordan Davies Connah's Quay 11
England Aaron Williams Newtown
2 England Adam Davies Caernarfon Town 8
Northern Ireland Ryan Brobbel The New Saints
3 England Zack Clarke Caernarfon Town 7
England Ollie Hulbert Barry Town United
Wales Chris Venables Penybont
England Brad Young The New Saints

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Northern Ireland Ryan Brobbel The New Saints Haverfordwest County 5–1 (H) 16 September 2023
England Aaron Williams Newtown Caernarfon Town 4–0 (H) 7 October 2023
England Brad Young The New Saints Barry Town United 6–2 (A) 21 October 2023
Wales Sion Bradley Caernarfon Town Cardiff Met 5–1 (H) 21 October 2023
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Most assists
Rank Player Club Assists
1 England Harry Franklin Connah's Quay Nomads 5
1 England Ben Clark The New Saints 4
England Josh Daniels The New Saints
Wales Lewis Rees Cardiff Met
England Jordan Williams The New Saints
4 England Jamie Cumming Colwyn Bay 3
Wales Ryan Harrington Connah's Quay Nomads
England Jack Kenny Connah's Quay Nomads

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
August Richard Davies Caernarfon Town Sion Bradley Caernarfon Town

Attendances
Team Highest Lowest Average
Aberystwyth Town 502 272 374
Bala Town 564 238 386
Barry Town United 521 521 456
Caernarfon Town 814 395 631
Cardiff Metropolitan University 563 178 375
Colwyn Bay 1411 523 883
Connah's Quay Nomads 506 139 280
Haverfordwest County 536 308 406
Newtown 421 239 298
Penybont 863 216 484
Pontypridd United 537 279 396
The New Saints 353 248 302

Figures taken from FAW Cymru Football app and other club channels. Correct as of 23 October 2023.

References
  1. "Cymru Premier round-up: Airbus relegated after defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. Harry Ware. "Aberystwyth Town survive the drop in dramatic style as Flint Town United are relegated". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. Tom Pritchard. "Chairman Rob Edwards on successful Tier 1 Licence appeal". Haverfordwest County. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. "Colwyn Bay secure Cymru North title to confirm promotion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  5. "Barry Town and Colwyn Bay granted Tier 1 licences, Haverfordwest refused". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. "Cymru Premier: Manager Lee Kendall steps down at Barry Town". BBC Sport. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. "Cymru Premier: Manager Lee Kendall steps down at Barry Town". BBC Sport. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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