Ardal Leagues
The Ardal Leagues[1] are a football league in Wales. The word "ardal" translates as "district" in English, with Wales split into four regions at this level. They have clubs with amateur/semi-professional status and sit at the third level of the Welsh football league system. The first year of their operation would have been 2020–21 but the 2020–21 Ardal North East season, 2020–21 Ardal North West season, 2020–21 Ardal South East season and 2020–21 Ardal South West season were all cancelled.[2] The inaugural season was moved to 2021–22. The creation of the leagues mark the first time the Football Association of Wales owns and is administering tier 3 of the Welsh league system. These changes follow from a review of the Welsh football pyramid.[3] To be eligible clubs need to meet the criteria for FAW tier 3 certification.
 | |
| Founded | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Wales |
| Divisions | 2 |
| Number of teams | 63 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | |
| Relegation to | Central Wales Football League North East Wales Football League North Wales Coast East Football League North Wales Coast West Football League Gwent County League South Wales Alliance League West Wales Premier League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Ardal North Cup Ardal South Cup |
| Current champions | Caersws (NE) Denbigh Town (NW) Abertillery Bluebirds (SE) Caerau (Ely) (SW) |
The league is split into two leagues, covering North and South Wales. Both Northern and Southern leagues have two regionally-based sections of sixteen clubs each:
- Ardal Northern
- Ardal North East (2023–24 Ardal NE season)
- Ardal North West (2023–24 Ardal NW season)
- Ardal Southern
- Ardal South East (2023–24 Ardal SE season)
- Ardal South West (2023–24 Ardal SW season)
The winners of each league are promoted to either the Cymru North or the Cymru South as long as they meet the FAW's tier 2 certification criteria. Subject to also meeting these criteria, the four runners-up clubs enter play-off matches with two of the clubs also gaining promotion[4] (one from the north and one from the south).
The Ardal Leagues structure replaced the former tier 3 leagues: Welsh Football League Division One, Mid Wales Football League Division One, Welsh Alliance League Division One and the Welsh National League Premier Division, leagues based in South Wales, Mid Wales, North West Wales and North East Wales respectively.
Relegation from the Ardal Leagues is to six local tier 4 leagues, with three clubs relegated from each of the tier 3 leagues at the end of the season. The tier 4 leagues are run by each of the Area Associations of Welsh football, the West Wales Football Association, the South Wales Football Association, the Gwent County Football Association, the Central Wales Football Association, the North East Wales Football Association and the North Wales Coast Football Association.
Ardal League teams
On 10 July 2020 the FAW confirmed the 64 teams in the new tier 3 leagues.[5] In an attempt to avoid dividing the current Mid-Wales teams across all four leagues, the North-East league contains a large contingent of the Mid-Wales teams. The North-West league contains the sides near the North Wales coast. After confirmation of their inclusion STM Sports announced on 27 July that they had folded, leaving only 15 sides in the South West league. On 3 August it was confirmed that Cardiff Draconians had been promoted from the South Wales Alliance League to fill the remaining place in the league.[6]
Since COVID-19-originated restrictions were put in place by the FAW, as from 10 August, clubs could have trained in groups of 15 and contact training would have been allowed at all-levels of football. However, competitive and exhibition matches were still not allowed to take place.[7] Consequently, the FAW decided to cancel what was to be the Ardal Leagues' inaugural 2020–21 season on 4 February 2021,[2] and on 26 March, Montgomery Town withdrew from the North East league for pandemic-related reasons.[8] They were replaced by Cardiff Draconians, as the highest placed team from the Alliance League who had been awarded a licence.[9]
2023–24 season
The following clubs are league members for the 2023–24 season.[10]
League champions, runners-up/promotion play-off finalists, relegated teams, and Fair Play winners
Ardal NE
| Season | Champions | Runner-up/Play-off finalist | Relegated teams | Fair Play winners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Chirk AAA | Caersws | Carno, Kerry, Four Crosses | Berriew | ||
| 2022–23 | Caersws | Cefn Albion | Corwen, Rhayader Town | Caersws | ||
Ardal NW
| Season | Champions | Runner-up/Play-off finalist | Relegated teams | Fair Play winners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Mold Alexandra | Porthmadog | St Asaph City, Brymbo, Blaenau Amateurs | Porthmadog | ||
| 2022–23 | Denbigh Town | Bangor 1876 | Rhostyllen | Denbigh Town | ||
Ardal SE
| Season | Champions | Runner-up/Play-off finalist | Relegated teams | Fair Play winners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Abergavenny Town | Abertillery Bluebirds | Panteg, Abertillery Excelsiors, Aberbargoed Buds | Chepstow Town | ||
| 2022–23 | Abertillery Bluebirds | Risca United | Croesyceiliog, Monmouth Town, RTB Ebbw Vale | Newport City | ||
Ardal SW
| Season | Champions | Runner-up/Play-off finalist | Relegated teams | Fair Play winners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Pontardawe Town | Ynyshir Albions | Ton Pentre, West End, AFC Porth | Penrhiwceiber Rangers | ||
| 2022–23 | Caerau (Ely) | Baglan Dragons | Garden Village, Cwmamman United, Dinas Powys | Caerau (Ely) | ||
Ardal NE and Ardal NW
| Season | Ardal NE runner-up | Score | Ardal NW runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Caersws | 0–5 | Porthmadog |
| 2022–23 | Cefn Albion | 2–4 (a.e.t.) | Bangor 1876 |
Ardal SE and Ardal SW
| Season | Ardal SE runner-up | Score | Ardal SW runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Abertillery Bluebirds | 0–3 | Ynyshir Albions |
| 2022–23 | Risca United | 0–2 | Baglan Dragons |
Applicants for FAW Tier Three Certification
For the 2023–24 season, 98 clubs applied for FAW tier three certification.[13]
61 clubs were successful in their applications. Those refused have 10 days to appeal the decision.
See also
References
- "ARDAL LEAGUES COMPLETE DOMESTIC PYRAMID RESTRUCTURE". Football Association of Wales. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- Jones, Jordan (4 February 2021). "Football season cancelled for many in Wales after FAW meeting". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- "The Pyramid Review". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- Llyr, Owain. "Welsh football: Leagues restructure confirmed by FAW". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- "Membership of Tier 3 leagues confirmed". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Jones, Jordan. "Cardiff Draconians admitted to Ardal Leagues". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- "FAW News". Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- "Montgomery Town have withdrawn from the Ardal Leagues". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Jones, Jordan. "Cardiff Draconians admitted to Ardal Leagues". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- "Ardal Leagues: A geographical look at the teams competing in the 2022/23 season". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- Grosvenor, Gavin (1 August 2023). "Barmouth United quit Ardal League days before season opener". Powys County Times. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- "Granted FAW Tier 3 Certification for 2020 / 21 season" (PDF). Football Association of Wales. 25 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- "MEN'S CLUB LICENSING: FAW TIER 3 FIRST INSTANCE BODY DECISIONS". Football Association of Wales. 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.