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.
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.
2014–15 teams
For this season Llandudno Junction renamed to Llandudno Ladies and moved to 3G facility at Maesdu Park. Llanidloes Ladies was renamed to Hafren United Ladies FC.[5] They however withdraw from the league before the start of the season.[6] Caernarfon had withdrawn from the league after the 2013/14 season, they were replaced by Aberystwyth Town.[7]
| Team | City | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth Town Ladies | Aberystwyth | Park Avenue |
| Cardiff City FC | Cardiff | Leckwith Athletics Stadium |
| Cardiff Met. Ladies F.C. | Cardiff | Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus |
| PILCS LFC | Pontypool | |
| Cwmbran Celtic | Cwmbran | |
| Hafren United Ladies FC | Llanidloes | Victoria Park |
| Llandudno Ladies F.C. | Llandudno | Maesdu Park |
| Newcastle Emlyn Ladies | Newcastle Emlyn | Parc Emlyn |
| Port Talbot Town Ladies | Port Talbot | The Genquip Stadium |
| Rhyl & Prestatyn Ladies | Prestatyn | Rhyl FC's Corbett Sports Stadium |
| Swansea City Ladies | Port Talbot | Baglan Playing Fields |
| Wrexham Ladies | Wrexham | Colliers Road |
Former teams were Manorbier Ladies, Aberystwyth Town Ladies, Northop Hall Girls, Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Trefelin Ladies (since then joint Port Talbot Town)
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 three.
| 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
- ↑ http://atfc.org.uk/page.php?16 ; Website of Aberystwyth Town Ladies
- ↑ http://www.welshpremier.com/uploads/documents/WelshPrem10977Pages1.PDF
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