Following a historic summer for women’s football in Wales, the domestic game returns this weekend as the Genero Adran Premier kicks off for 2025/26.
The off-season has been headlined by no fewer than six managerial changes out of the eight top-flight clubs, setting up plenty of intrigue and opportunity ahead of the new campaign.
Genero Adran Premier
One club who has not changed their boss is reigning champions Cardiff City, as Iain Darbyshire begins his sixth season in charge – the last three of which have ended in title glory.
After finishing 10 points clear at the top of the table last season, as well as lifting the Bute Energy Welsh Cup for the fourth successive year, the Bluebirds are the team to beat again but have lost forwards Eliza Collie and Molly Kehoe this summer in addition to Danielle Green’s retirement.
Cymru WU19 international Maddison Perrott has arrived to reinforce the attack, while former TNS midfielder Helen Evans is another strong addition. Ffion Price, last season’s Genero Adran Premier top scorer despite being a full-back, is always a danger.
Following promotion in 2024, Briton Ferry Llansawel enjoyed a stellar first campaign back in the Genero Adran Premier as they finished second table, recording wins over Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham along the way.
However, Rhys James has stepped down as manager after three years in charge, while back-to-back top scorer Alison Witts and last season’s Genero Adran Premier Player of the Season nominee Tija Richardson have both retired.
The new man in the dugout is Rhys Thomas, who guided Penybont to a fourth-place finish in their debut campaign in the Genero Adran South. Laura-May Walkley remains a key piece of the Ferry jigsaw, while Megan Kearle finished last season with four goals in the final four games – including a stunning strike from distance at the Cardiff City Stadium.
After a fourth-place finish last season and back-to-back Bute Energy Welsh Cup final defeats, Wrexham will be targeting silverware under new head coach Jenny Sugarman who has arrived in north Wales after Steve Dale brought his three and a half year tenure to an end.
Rebecca Pritchard, scorer of the play-off winning goal to earn the club promotion in 2023, has departed this summer, alongside longest-serving player Katie Sharp and forward Amber Lightfoot who averaged almost a goal every other game in Wrexham colours.
Jodie Bartle and Katie Barker have both joined after helping Newcastle United climb up the English pyramid, while Pakistan international Mariam Mahmood, former Cymru WU19 defender Josie Smith and Hannah Snape also bolster the Red Dragons’ squad.
The New Saints enjoyed a historic season in 2024/25, achieving a record third-place finish in the Genero Adran Premier while lifting their first piece of silverware in the Genero Adran Trophy.
Boss Shauna Duffy has departed Park Hall, with Jodie Williams appointed as her replacement. The 33-year-old arrives from Women’s Super League side Everton, where she worked as U16s head coach and an assistant coach with the U21s team, while she has also previously held roles at Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Helen Evans and Grace Dunkerley were both regulars last season but are among the player exits, alongside the long-serving Emily Ridge. However, former favourite Lexie Harrison is back at Park Hall after a spell away, while Kelsey Richardson, Zara Gibbs and Harriet Wellings have also joined from the English system.
Last season was one to forget for Swansea City, who finished in the bottom half of the table for the first time in their history and have now gone three consecutive campaigns without winning any silverware.
Yzzy Taylor has been appointed permanent manager in SA1 after a spell in interim charge following Jamie Sherwood’s exit last season, but the squad has lost a number of experienced heads as Robyn Pinder, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks and Nia Jones have all exited.
Defender Ellie Lake is back at the club after a season at Gwalia United and Caitlin Seaborne joins from Pontypridd United after being nominated for the Player and Young Player of the Season awards in the Genero Adran South last term. Goalkeeper Amelia Forkings follows her from the Dragons, while the final new arrival so far is midfielder Eilish Mitchell from Swansea University who previously spent 13 years at Chelsea.
After relegation from the Genero Adran Premier in 2024, Pontypridd United have bounced straight back to the top-flight after winning the Genero Adran South title on the final day of last season before a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Connah’s Quay Nomads in the promotion play-off.
However, manager Claire O’Sullivan has departed over the summer, with the Dragons appointing Drew Lewis as her replacement following his success with the club’s youth teams.
Lewis has been tasked with rebuilding the squad after seeing key names such as Madison Williams, Caitlin Seaborne and Lauren Payne all depart, but Nicole Fenton – winner of both the Genero Adran South Player and Young Player of the Season awards in 2024/25 – remains at USW Sport Park and will be vital to the team’s success.
Stevie McCarthy-Campbell has only been in charge of Barry Town United for two years, but that places him as the division’s second longest-serving manager after this summer’s dugout changes.
The Linnets achieved their highest ever finish (sixth) and points total in the Genero Adran Premier (24) last season and have kept the core of their squad intact, barring defender Lauren Harris who has retired and striker Ingrid Aadland who has returned to Norway.
Chelsea Cochrane and India Shanahan have returned to Jenner Park, while their ex-Cardiff Met teammate Beca Thomas has also joined after impressing last season despite the Archers’ relegation. Full-back Lily Dalton, formerly of MK Dons, completes the set of new arrivals.
Aberystwyth Town were locked in a relegation battle for the majority of last season but ultimately survived thanks to three wins in Phase Two, condemning Cardiff Met to the drop.
Chris Church called time on his spell as manager this summer, with mid-Wales native and former Felinfach boss Rhys Jon James announced as his replacement this week. The wait for confirmation of any new signings, however, goes on.
Carys Bufton impressed in the second half of last season after joining from Barry in January, while Cymru WU19 international Imi Scourfield dictates play in the middle of the park despite being just 18 years old.
