2022–23 Cymru Premier
Season | 2022–23 |
---|---|
Dates | 12 August 2022 – 22 April 2023 |
Champions | The New Saints |
Relegated | Airbus UK Broughton Flint Town United |
UEFA Champions League | The New Saints |
Europa Conference League | Connah's Quay Nomads Penybont (via Welsh Cup) Haverfordwest County (via Play-offs) |
Matches played | 192 |
Goals scored | 590 (3.07 per match) |
Biggest home win | The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town 2 December 2022) |
Biggest away win | Airbus UK Broughton 0–8 The New Saints 31 December 2022) |
Highest scoring | The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town 2 December 2022) |
Longest winning run | The New Saints (12 games) |
Longest unbeaten run | The New Saints (22 games) |
Longest winless run | Airbus UK Broughton (32 games) |
Longest losing run | Airbus UK Broughton (22 games) |
Highest attendance | 1,826 Newtown vs. Haverfordwest County (13th May 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 103 Cardiff Metropolitan University vs. Flint Town United (3 September 2022) |
Average attendance | 305 (data missing for six matches - exlcudes playoff matches) |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → |
The 2022–23 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2022–23) (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 31st season of the Cymru Premier (formally known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.
The winners (The New Saints, their second consecutive league title win and fifteenth overall) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up (Connah's Quay Nomads), third-placed team (Penybont), and Europa Conference League play-off winners (Haverfordwest County) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.[1] The bottom two teams (Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United) were relegated to the 2023–24 Cymru North.
Teams
[edit]Twelve teams contested the league – 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 New Saints entered the season as defending champions.
Airbus UK Broughton, winners of the 2021–22 Cymru North were promoted to the league. Due to 2021–22 Cymru South champions Llantwit Major's failure to achieve a tier one licence, runners-up Pontypridd Town were promoted in their place.[2] In June 2022, Pontypridd Town changed their name to Pontypridd United.
The two bottom placed teams from the 2021–22 season, Cefn Druids[3] and Barry Town United,[2] were relegated to the Cymru North and the Cymru South respectively for the 2022–23 season.
Team changes
[edit]
To Cymru Premier[edit]Promoted from the Cymru North Promoted from the Cymru South
|
From Cymru Premier[edit]Relegated to the Cymru North Relegated to the Cymru South
|
Stadia and locations
[edit]Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Aberystwyth Town | Aberystwyth | Park Avenue | 5,000 |
Airbus UK Broughton | Broughton | The Airfield | 1,600 |
Bala Town | Bala | Maes Tegid | 3,000 |
Caernarfon Town | Caernarfon | The Oval | 3,000 |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | Cyncoed | Cyncoed Campus | 1,620 |
Connah's Quay Nomads | Connah's Quay | Deeside Stadium | 1,500 |
Flint Town United | Flint | Cae-y-Castell | 1,000 |
Haverfordwest County | Haverfordwest | Bridge Meadow Stadium | 2,100 |
Newtown | Newtown | Latham Park | 5,000 |
Penybont | Bridgend | Bryntirion Park | 3,000 |
Pontypridd United | Treforest | USW Sports Park | 1,000 |
The New Saints | ![]() |
Park Hall | 2,034 |
Personnel and kits
[edit]Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Front shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aberystwyth Town | ![]() |
![]() |
Acerbis | Aberystwyth University |
Airbus UK Broughton | ![]() |
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Umbro | Gardner Aerospace |
Bala Town | ![]() |
![]() |
Macron | Aykroyd's |
Caernarfon Town | ![]() |
![]() |
Errea | Gofal Bro Cyf |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | ![]() |
![]() |
Errea | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
Connah's Quay Nomads | ![]() |
![]() |
Nike | Educate Group |
Flint Town United | ![]() |
![]() |
Macron | Essity |
Haverfordwest County | ![]() |
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Joma | West Wales Properties |
Newtown | ![]() |
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Errea | Control Techniques |
Penybont | ![]() |
![]() |
Macron | Nathaniel Car Sales |
Pontypridd United | ![]() |
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Joma | UPVCDIRECT.CO.UK |
The New Saints | ![]() |
![]() |
Legea | SiFi Networks |
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pontypridd United | ![]() |
Resigned | 9 May 2022[4] | Pre-season | ![]() |
16 May 2022[5] |
Aberystwyth Town | ![]() |
12 May 2022[6] | ![]() |
28 May 2022[7] | ||
Haverfordwest County | ![]() |
Signed by ![]() |
15 June 2022[8] | ![]() |
1 July 2022 | |
Flint Town United | ![]() |
Resigned | 16 June 2022[9] | ![]() |
17 June 2022[10] | |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | ![]() |
30 June 2022[11] | ![]() |
29 June 2022[12] | ||
The New Saints | ![]() |
Sacked | 28 July 2022[13] | ![]() |
4 August 2022[14] | |
Connah's Quay Nomads | ![]() |
Signed by The New Saints | 4 August 2022[15] | ![]() |
4 August 2022[16] | |
Airbus UK Broughton | ![]() |
Sacked | 24 September 2022[17] | 12th | ![]() |
19 October 2022[18] |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | ![]() |
Resigned | 30 January 2023[19] | 4th | ![]() |
30 January 2023 |
Caernarfon Town | ![]() |
Sacked | 18 March 2023[20] | 8th | ![]() |
24 April 2023 |
Airbus UK Broughton | ![]() |
13 April 2023 | 12th | ![]() |
21 April 2023 |
League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The New Saints (C) | 32 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 112 | 17 | +95 | 83 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
2 | Connah's Quay Nomads | 32 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 45 | 23 | +22 | 61 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[b] |
3 | Penybont | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 51 | 32 | +19 | 52[c] | |
4 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 32 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 52 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-offs |
5 | Bala Town | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 51 | 37 | +14 | 44 | |
6 | Newtown | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 49 | 56 | −7 | 41 | |
7 | Haverfordwest County (O) | 32 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 49 | 44 | +5 | 47 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-offs |
8 | Pontypridd United | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 41 | |
9 | Caernarfon Town | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 39 | |
10 | Aberystwyth Town | 32 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 41 | 73 | −32 | 38 | |
11 | Flint Town United (R) | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 41 | 53 | −12 | 35 | Relegation to Cymru North or Cymru South |
12 | Airbus UK Broughton (R) | 32 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 18 | 100 | −82 | −4[d] |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Goals scored; 5) Matches won.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Teams play each other twice (22 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).[21]
- ^ The 2022–23 Welsh Cup also qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners, The New Saints, qualified based on league position, the Europa Conference League spot was passed to the third-placed team.
- ^ Penybont were deducted six points for fielding ineligible players against Airbus UK Broughton on 3 January 2023 and Cardiff Metropolitan University on 17 February 2023.[22]
- ^ Airbus UK Broughton were deducted six points for fielding ineligible players against Caernarfon Town on 2 September 2022 and Pontypridd United on 11 February 2023.[23][24]
Results
[edit]Matches 1–22
[edit]Matches 23–32
[edit]Europa Conference League play-offs
[edit]Teams placed 3rd-7th enter one-off play-off matches for the third spot in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. One of the spots is vacated if the 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.
Bala Town, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Haverfordwest County, Newtown, and Penybont qualified for the play-offs. Since the 2022–23 Welsh Cup winners, The New Saints, qualified for the Champions League first qualifying round based on league position, Penybont's play-off spot was vacated and they directly qualified for the Europa Conference League as the 3rd-placed team.
Semi-finals
[edit]5 May 2023 | Bala Town | 2–4 | Newtown | Maes Tegid |
19:45 BST (UTC+01) |
|
Report | Referee: Mark Petch |
6 May 2023 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Haverfordwest County | Cyncoed Campus Stadium |
17:15 BST (UTC+01) | Report | Attendance: 561[25] Referee: Thomas Owen | ||
Penalties | ||||
Final
[edit]13 May 2023 | Newtown | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Haverfordwest County | Latham Park |
17:15 BST (UTC+01) |
|
|
Attendance: 1,826[26] Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones | |
Penalties | ||||
Season statistics
[edit]- As of 13 April 2023[27]
Top scorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
The New Saints | 26 |
2 | ![]() |
Newtown | 14 |
![]() |
The New Saints | ||
4 | ![]() |
The New Saints | 13 |
5 | ![]() |
Pontypridd United | 12 |
![]() |
Haverfordwest County |
Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | Aberystwyth Town | 0–4 (A) | 20 August 2022 |
![]() |
The New Saints | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 0–7 (A) | 17 September 2022 |
![]() |
Bala Town | Airbus UK Broughton | 0–6 (A) | 30 September 2022 |
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Pontypridd United | Airbus UK Broughton | 0–4 (A) | 29 October 2022 |
![]() |
Newtown | Pontypridd United | 4–2 (H) | 16 December 2022 |
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The New Saints | Airbus UK Broughton | 7–0 (H) | 26 December 2022 |
![]() |
The New Saints | Airbus UK Broughton | 0–8 (A) | 31 December 2022 |
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The New Saints | Flint Town United | 1–8 (A) | 10 January 2023 |
![]() |
Flint Town United | Pontypridd United | 4–1 (H) | 21 January 2023 |
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Pontypridd United | Airbus UK Broughton | 4–0 (H) | 11 February 2023 |
![]() |
Caernarfon Town | Airbus UK Broughton | 4–0 (A) | 31 March 2023 |
![]() |
The New Saints | Newtown | 5–0 (A) | 1 April 2023 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
Attendances
[edit]Team | Highest | Lowest | Average |
---|---|---|---|
Aberystwyth Town | 1120 | 187 | 378 |
Airbus UK Broughton | 374 | 147 | 232 |
Bala Town | 505 | 179 | 236* |
Caernarfon Town | 674 | 232 | 485 |
Cardiff Metropolitan University | 401 | 103 | 192 |
Connah's Quay Nomads | 436 | 166 | 262 |
Flint Town United | 1050 | 172 | 339 |
Haverfordwest County | 560 | 277 | 364* |
Newtown | 514 | 171 | 297 |
Penybont | 506 | 206 | 296* |
Pontypridd United | 437 | 153 | 288 |
The New Saints | 425 | 201 | 289* |
Figures taken from FAW Cymru Football app and other club channels. Correct as of 24 April 2023. Excludes Europa Conference League playoff fixtures. *Denotes incomplete record, as missing attendance figures. Figures for Bala v TNS (14/4), Haverfordwest v Airbus (18/3), TNS v CQN (22/4) and Penybont v Cardiff Met (17/2), CQN (18/3) and Newtown (22/4) have not been publicly recorded.
Monthly awards
[edit]Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
August | Ryan Jenkins | Cardiff Metropolitan University | Sam Jones | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
September | Colin Caton | Bala Town | David Edwards | Bala Town |
October | Neil Gibson | Connah's Quay Nomads | Andy Firth | Connah's Quay Nomads |
November | Tony Pennock | Haverfordwest County | Zeli Ismail | Newtown |
December | Chris Hughes | Newtown | Ryan Sears | Newtown |
January | Rhys Griffiths | Penybont | Kostya Georgievsky | Penybont |
February | Andrew Stokes | Pontypridd United | Mark Cadwallader | Aberystwyth Town |
March | Andrew Stokes | Pontypridd United | George Ratcliffe | Pontypridd United |
April | Tony Pennock | Haverfordwest County | Niall Flint | Aberystwyth Town |
References
[edit]- ^ "The New Saints draw at Nomads to secure 15th Welsh title". BBC Sport. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Pontypridd Town promoted to Cymru Premier and Barry relegated". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Cefn Druids Relegated from the JD Cymru Premier League". Cefn Druids. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Jonathan Jones stands down as manager of Pontypridd Town". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Jones, Harrison (16 May 2022). "Pontypridd Town name Pontardawe boss as their new first-team manager". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Corbs resigns as first team manager". Aberystwyth Town. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ James, Aled (28 May 2022). "Aberystwyth Town unveil former Crawley Town, Portsmouth and Cardiff Met coach as manager". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "NICKY HAYEN NIEUWE HOOFDCOACH CLUB NXT" [NICKY HAYEN NEW HEAD COACH CLUB NXT] (in Dutch). clubbrugge.be. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Cymru Premier: Neil Gibson leaves Flint Town manager role". BBC. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Former Wrexham midfielder Lee Fowler appointed new Flint Town United manager". Deeside.com. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Christian Edwards to relinquish Cardiff Met duties at end of season". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Ryan Jenkins succeeds Christian Edwards as Cardiff Met boss". BBC Sport. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Club Statement: Anthony Limbrick". The New Saints. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ "The return of the king". The New Saints. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "The return of the king". The New Saints. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: Nomads appoint Gibson as new manager". Connah's Quay Nomads. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Steve O'Shaughnessy: Airbus part company with manager". BBC Sport. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "Cymru Premier: Jamie Reed appointed Airbus UK manager". BBC Sport. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT". Twitter. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Caernarfon Town part company with manager Huw Griffiths". BBC. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Cymru Premier". Handbook Cymru. FAW. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "JD Cymru Leagues statement Penybont". Cymru Leagues.
- ^ "Cymru Premier: Airbus UK deducted three points over ineligible player". BBC. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "Airbus deducted an additional 3 points". Cymru Leagues.
- ^ "Keeper Jones the hero as Bluebirds reach maiden European play-off final". Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Newtown v Harverfordwest County". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Cymru Football". cymrufootball.wales. Retrieved 22 February 2023.