After last season’s Genero Adran South title race went down to a three-way tussle on the final day, plenty more drama is expected this time around.
Cardiff Met have historically been one of the most successful clubs in women’s Welsh domestic football, winning a joint record six top-flight titles, but find themselves in the second tier for the first time after finishing bottom of the Genero Adran Premier last season with just one win to their name.
Between them, India Shanahan, Ruby Colleton, Chelsea Cochrane and Beca Thomas scored 10 of Met’s 14 league goals last season but have all departed this summer. However, Faith Mulenga, Anna Houghton and Esme Kilburn-Thompson are among the key names to remain in Jon Nash’s squad.
Scarlett Davies has arrived from Barry Town United and has already scored twice in the Genero Adran Trophy against Carmarthen Town, while goalkeeper Verity Jones joins from Swansea City and Megan Gladwyn won the Genero Adran South title with Pontypridd United last season.
Swansea University finished as runners-up last season following the final day showdown, but a new era has dawned this summer as the club have rebranded as Pure Swansea.
Dan Sheehan’s almost four year spell as manager has come to an end, with Chris Church – who previously led Swansea City to the Genero Adran Premier title – now in the dugout.
Last season’s top scorer Hannah Pinney will be crucial again alongside the likes of Charley Haynes and Kayleigh Hateley, but goalkeeper Georgia Tarullo – who kept six clean sheets to share the division’s golden glove last season – has returned to the USA. Summer signing Lowri Baker won promotion from the Genero Adran South with Briton Ferry Llansawel in 2023/24, while fellow new arrival Rachel Cullen brings plenty of experience from her time at Swansea City.
Cascade also went into the final day of last season with a chance of winning the title before finishing third – meaning they have finished inside the top three every year since the Genero Adran South’s creation in 2021.
Brendan Donohoe departed as manager this summer and has been replaced by Wayne Lewis, but the majority of the squad has been retained – including last season’s top scorer Ellis Lunn and the 2024/25 Genero Adran South Player of the Season Erin Parry.
Ffion Simmonds has joined after winning the title with Pontypridd United last season, while Chloe Tiley adds experience from top-flight Barry Town United. Iris Jones and Emily Green are exciting teenage additions from Cardiff City and Swansea City respectively.
Carmarthen Town are making their Genero Adran South debut after winning the SWWGL title last season.
The Old Gold won nine of their 10 matches on their way to lifting the trophy, while scoring 56 goals. Casi Jones and Flavia Jenkins netted 16 and 15 of those respectively, so will be vital to the side as they aim to hold their own in the second tier.
Jasmine Guymer should help their efforts after arriving from Swansea City where she made four top-flight appearances last season, while teenagers Jem Evans and Ophelia Jenkins add more potential to an already exciting young side.
Taffs Well have also stepped up to the second tier, having pushed Carmarthen all the way in the SWWGL last term.
Chris Hooper’s side finished level on points with the Old Gold but placed second on goal difference, yet earned their spot in the Genero Adran South following Caldicot Town’s withdrawal.
The team is spearheaded by Rianne Jones, who has previous experience in this division with Caldicot, while former Cardiff City forward Michaela Major is an exciting new addition who has already scored a late equaliser against Cwmbran Celtic in the Genero Adran Trophy.
Cwmbran Celtic won five of their first six league games last season to emerge as early title contenders, but ultimately finished fifth after triumphing just once following the turn of the year.
That drop off in form coincided with top scorer Jade Crofts’ exit to top-flight Briton Ferry Llansawel and she remains a miss, but the experienced Lauren Boyd leads the line expertly and has already scored twice in the Genero Adran Trophy this season against Taffs Well.
Georgia Shwartz has taken over as manager following James Kinsella’s departure and has brought in full-back Abigail Jones, who already has two assists in the Genero Adran Trophy. Former Cardiff Met and Cardiff City utility player Cerys Pinchard has also arrived alongside ex-Cascade midfielder Ellie Bidhendy, although key creator Katie Williams has departed.
There has also been a managerial change at Penybont, who saw Rhys Thomas snapped up by Briton Ferry Llansawel after a fourth-place finish in their debut Genero Adran South season.
Leon Williams is the new man in the dugout and he has kept the majority of last season’s squad intact – except for forward Casey Daniels who has followed Thomas to Briton Ferry and veteran goalkeeper Vicky Boyce.
Mollie Jones will be a key threat again after finishing last season as the team’s top scorer, while she will have support from the likes of Maisy Fahey-Pennell and captain Maddie Priday. Summer signings Cerys Jones and Carys Minton have both previously played in the top-flight, while new goalkeepers Jenna Hill and Molly Bird will battle to be number one.
Genero Adran South
Llanelli Town won just one league game last season as they finished sixth, but will hope that a flurry of new signings over the summer leads to a change in fortunes.
Bethan Ellis arrives as the Reds’ new goalkeeper after two years as Cascade’s number one, while teenage trio Poppy Brown, Grace Rodde and Katie Lee have joined after impressing for Swansea City Under-19s. Sophie Topper brings top-flight experience from her time at Briton Ferry, Pontypridd United and Cardiff Met.
Celyn Barnett and Katie Mainwaring are among the names to depart Kate McAuley’s squad, but last season’s top scorer Stacey Webber remains to lead the line alongside Bryanna Demery.
