Fresh format, fresh faces - meet the Cymru Premier new boys

Wed, July 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM UTC

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Llandudno (left) and Trefelin BGC are two of the six clubs that secured promotion to the revamped Cymru Premier.

A new era for the Cymru Premier – Welsh football's domestic top-flight – begins on Friday evening when the 2026-27 season kicks off.

The league, formed in 1992, has undergone a major relaunch with the number of clubs rising from 12 to 16 next season.

Games will be played predominantly on Friday evenings, a move which the Football Association of Wales hope will drive attendances.

The expansion of the league saw six clubs promoted from the second tier last season, up from the usual two.

The three clubs from the Cymru North – Llandudno, Airbus UK and Holywell Town – have all appeared in the top-flight before.

But the three sides promoted from the Cymru South – Trefelin BGC, Cambrian United and Ammanford – will be making their debuts.

BBC Sport Wales spoke to players from each of the six newly promoted clubs.

'To be in the Cymru Premier is an achievement in itself'

Adam Orme is captain of Cymru Premier debutants Ammanford

Ammanford captain Adam Orme says the club are determined to embrace their first season in the expanded Cymru Premier.

Managed by Wyn Thomas, a Cymru Premier and Welsh Cup winner with Llanelli, Ammanford finished third in the Cymru South last season.

"For a small town to be in the Cymru Premier is an achievement in itself," Orme said.

"It's something we're looking forward to as a club and the town as well.

"We've got a good group of boys and once we're settled it will be fine. [We'll] enjoy the time.

"Whatever happens, happens and hopefully ruffle a few feathers."

Ammanford finished three points ahead of Caerau Ely to become one of the six clubs promoted to the new-look division.

"It's going to be new for everyone," Orme added.

"I've played in the Premier when I was younger so I kind of know what it entails, but I've never played in the 16-team league.

"Preparations have been like any other pre-season, to be honest.

"The teams in the league are great, and the teams that have come up with us are great.

"It's going to be tough, but it's going to be exciting."

'We're looking to do a lot better this time around'

Airbus UK boss Mark Allen (centre) was a youngster at Watford

Airbus UK Broughton will be looking to make amends on their return to the Cymru Premier after a disastrous last spell in the top-flight.

The Wingmakers were relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season after failing to register a league win and conceding 100 goals.

To add insult to injury, the Flintshire side ended on minus four points after they were deducted six points for fielding an ineligible player on two occasions.

"We're looking to put that right, to be honest," said Airbus defender Joe Palmer, a member of the squad that was relegated.

"I think the first couple of games things didn't go our way as things do in football.

"You don't pick up points, you end up in a rut, and we couldn't get out of that rut.

"A managerial change didn't go to plan with all the will in the world and it just sort of spiralled from there.

"We couldn't get any momentum or couldn't get anything back - it was just a season to forget really."

Airbus had already been relegated from the Cymru Premier when Mark Allen was appointed manager in April 2023.

Allen guided Airbus back to the Cymru Premier at the third attempt after finishing second in last season's Cymru North.

"We're looking to do a lot better this time around and work under his guidance," Palmer said of former Bangor City and Cefn Druids defender Allen.

"Mark's obviously got a lot of experience, and he's been at the club a long time. He knows how to run the shop.

"I think a mid-table finish would be a good season for us."

'Our focus is on maintaining Cymru Premier status'

Alex John played for Merthyr Town in the National League North last season

Alex John has returned to the club where it all began for him as Cambrian United embark on their first season in the Cymru Premier.

Midfielder John was a youngster in Cambrian's academy before he joined the youth set-up at Swansea City.

"I owe a lot to the club and they were really good to me when I was younger," John said.

"I really developed there, which led me to progress into the English system, but it's really good to be back."

John had spells at Yeovil Town and Hull City before returning to Wales in 2021 to join Merthyr Town, where he spent five years.

"The boys had an amazing season last year, and it was fully deserved for us to earn promotion to the top tier," John added.

"Our focus now is really on maintaining the Cymru Premier status and knuckling down and becoming a true Cymru Premier team for the long haul.

"We're ready for the jump up. The level that the boys showed last year showed we should be a Cymru Premier team.

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"We're more than ready to go."

'It was emotional when we got granted the licence'

Ryan Edwards helped Holywell Town secure third spot in the Cymru North

Holywell Town were one of the founding members of the League of Wales in 1992 and finished fifth two years later.

But it has been 27 years since the Flintshire club last appeared in Welsh football's top-flight.

Despite winning the Cymru North title in 2024, they were denied promotion after they were refused a Tier One licence.

The Wellmen finished third in last season's Cymru North to secure promotion – but their initial Tier One licence application was again refused.

However, the club's appeal was successful, and they could finally celebrate after sealing their place in the Cymru Premier.

"It was emotional when we got granted the licence," midfielder Ryan Edwards said.

"We were very unfortunate two years ago when we won the league, but it just probably wasn't the right time for the club.

"Now we're in a much better position - all the hard work, the volunteers, the coaching staff and the fans week in, week out.

"I speak to a lot of people in the community because I now live in Holywell and I speak to fans daily in the High Street, and they're all really looking forward to it.

"Hopefully it's going to be a really good season."

Edwards has previous experience of playing in the league for clubs including The New Saints, Llandudno and Newtown.

"It's a new challenge, a brand-new format, and something I think the league has been crying out for quite a while," he added.

"It's nice for Holywell to be back in there as well after so many years, and personally for myself as well, I've been out of the league for four years now,

"There's no set goals; it's game by game.

"I think most people will say the same thing - making our home pitch a tough place to play and just trying to consolidate our position in the league and see where it takes us."

'The whole club is excited to be involved in the new format'

Llandudno players celebrate after winning last season's Cymru North title

Llandudno's Cymru North title success last season not only secured a return to the Cymru Premier but capped a dramatic turnaround for a club that nearly went under.

The Seasiders suffered relegation from the top-flight at the end of the 2018-19 season, but they faced an even bigger crisis in the summer of 2023.

The 3G pitch at their Maesdu Park home was condemned, and they were forced to play home games in Bangor as they struggled to fund a new pitch.

Manager Sean Eardley and his coaching team, along with the majority of the squad, left only weeks before the new season.

Llandudno chairman Dave Guinn appointed then 21-year-old youth team coach Jordan Hadaway as the new first-team manager.

"Big credit to Jordan and the chairman for what they've done," Llandudno forward Mark Cadwallader said.

"Between the two of them, they really came together and managed to keep the club going for at least another 12 months and build from there.

"I think he had three or four players left at the club and a really small budget.

"Then I came in, and Anthony Stevens came in the following season, and then a few more came in.

"We just carried on building on that with small steps.

"We managed to achieve fourth in the second season and then obviously we've managed to win the league in the third season.

"We had clear goals going back two years, three years ago to try and push forward and we challenged to be back in the Premier League at this point.

"The whole club is excited to be involved in the new format.

"A lot of how we're built is on togetherness, and that's a credit to Jordan.

"He's old beyond his years, if you like. He's done a terrific job. I'm grateful he brought me into the football club."

The 24-year-old manager who has won a top-flight promotion

'There's a buzz around the club'

Jordan Davies leads the celebrations after Trefelin BGC were crowned Cymru South champions last season

Captain Jordan Davies acknowledges playing in the Cymru Premier for the first time will be a "big step-up" for Trefelin BGC.

Trefelin, founded in 1984, secured promotion by winning the Cymru South title last season.

Work to improve their Ynys Park ground has taken place during the close season and Davies believes the club is ready for life in the top tier.

"Coming up as champions, there's a buzz around the club," Davies said.

"There's a lot of the boys in the team that have played in the league before, so we know how difficult it's going to be.

"It is a big step-up, but everything's in place with the club, and we're more than ready, to be honest."

And what are the objectives for Trefelin for the forthcoming season?

"I think all the newly promoted teams, if you stay up, then anything on top of that is a bonus," Davies added.

"It's not to say we're just settling to avoid relegation – we've got ambitions that we keep in-house."

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