Welsh Premier Women's Football League

Welsh Premier Women's Football League
Founded 2009
Country  Wales
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s) FAW Women's Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
Current champions Swansea City Ladies (3rd title)
(2016–17)
Most championships Cardiff Met. (4 titles)
Website Official
2017–18 Welsh Premier Women's Football League

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.

Format

In its first three seasons, the league was divided into two Conferences that played 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 gotrelegated.[1]

Since 2012–13 the league is played in one group only. In 2015–16 two teams were relegated.

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.

2017–18 teams

Caernarfon
Abergavenny
Caldicot
Cardiff (3 teams)
Rhyl
Port Talbot Town
Llandudno Ladies
Locations of teams in the 2017–18 Premier League

For this season Caernarfonand Caldicot were promoted to the Premier League, while Aberystwyth Town Ladies and Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies were relegated.

Team City Ground
Abergavenny Women FCAbergavennyPen-Y-Pound Stadium, Abergavenny
Caernarfon Town WomenCaernarfonThe Oval Marcus Street
Caldicot Town LadiesCaldicot, MonmouthshireJubilee Way
Cardiff City FCCardiffLeckwith Athletics Stadium
Cardiff Met. Ladies F.C.CardiffCardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus
Cyncoed LadiesCardiffCardiff University Playing Fields Llanrumney
Llandudno Ladies F.C.LlandudnoMaesdu Park
Port Talbot Town LadiesPort TalbotThe Genquip Stadium
Rhyl LadiesRhylCorbett Sports Stadium Grange Road
Swansea City LadiesNeathLlandarcy Academy of Sport

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), Cwmbran Celtic,Briton Ferry Llansawel and Wrexham Ladies.

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.

Premier League Cup

A Premier League cup has been held since 2014.

References

  1. ↑ http://atfc.org.uk/page.php?16 ; Website of Aberystwyth Town Ladies
  2. ↑ http://www.welshpremier.com/uploads/documents/WelshPrem10977Pages1.PDF
  3. ↑ Tenby Observer (15 October 2010). "Manorbier Ladies call it a day".
  4. ↑ "Wrexham Odds on for Play-off place". shekicks.net. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Net draw hands Swansea Welsh title". shekicks.net. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "#WPWL: Cardiff Met secure title for fifth time". shekicks.net. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. ↑ http://www.azure-design.com/. "She Kicks - News Section: Cardiff Met Win Welsh Premier Cup". www.shekicks.net. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  8. ↑ 2650, Andy Houldsworth, Jon Harris (c) 2017 www.OmniwebAgency.com +44 1883 742. "PILCS Come From Behind to Claim League Cup - Welsh Premier League". www.welshpremier.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  9. ↑ http://www.azure-design.com/. "She Kicks - News Section: Swans Exact Welsh Premier Cup Final Revenge". www.shekicks.net. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  10. ↑ http://www.azure-design.com/. "She Kicks - News Section: Cardiff Met Win Welsh Premier League Cup". shekicks.net. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  11. ↑ http://tbgwales.com/index.php/2018/03/25/cyncoed-lift-the-cup-for-first-time/. "She Kicks - News Section: Cyncoed lift the League Cup for first time". Retrieved 22 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.