With a number of clubs making eye-catching signings over the summer, and with three promotion spots up for grabs, this season’s JD Cymru South could be one of the most hotly-contested ever.
Aberystwyth Town are preparing for their inaugural season in the JD Cymru South after suffering relegation from the top-flight for the first time in their history.
It has been all change at Park Avenue over the summer, with former Newtown boss Callum McKenzie replacing Antonio Corbisiero in the dugout, while the majority of last season’s playing squad has departed so the Seasiders are a slight unknown quantity – particularly with a hefty journey down to south Wales for every away game.
McKenzie has brought Desean Martin, Dylan Downs and Calvin Smith with him from Newtown, while the likes of Kane Auld, Star Mayemba and Tyrone Ofori have been signed from the English non-league system.
After promotion from the third tier in 2023/24, Trethomas Bluebirds mounted a surprise title challenge in the JD Cymru South last season and led the way for much of the campaign before ultimately finishing as runners-up to Llanelli Town.
However, it has been a turbulent summer for the Bluebirds as manager Mark Dunford departed for Pontypridd United and has taken 10 players with him – including captain James Saddler, last season’s top scorer Gareth Tedstone and the league’s Young Player of the Season winner Ethan Edwards.
Former Afan Lido boss Paul Evans is the new man in charge, tasked with building almost an entire squad from scratch. The likes of Ben Keen, Travis James and Jay Thomas all worked under Evans at Lido and are solid additions, while centre-back Dylan Dinham impressed at Cwmbran Celtic last season.
All eyes will be on Dunford at Pontypridd United to see if he can replicate last season’s success, particularly as he has a very similar squad to work with.
After relegation from the top-flight in 2024, the Dragons were involved in the title conversation in the JD Cymru South for much of last season but ended up finishing fifth after losing five of their final seven league matches under Andy Whittington.
Plenty of players have exited to make way for Dunford’s new recruits – including captain Jarrad Wright and top scorer Dan Griffiths – but there is no doubting the quality that has arrived at USW Sports Park.
Newport City were the in-form team at the end of 2024/25, winning their final seven league matches of the campaign to claim an impressive third-place finish in their debut season in the JD Cymru South.
Sam Houldsworth – the longest-serving manager in the division – has kept all of his key names at the club this summer and made some strong signings as the Steelmen aim to make it two promotions in three seasons.
Nat Jarvis is back at the club and his former Barry Town United strike partner Kayne Mclaggon has also joined, scoring on his debut in the Nathaniel MG Cup last weekend. Clayton Farrah has impressed in this division previously for Caerau Ely, while Evan Cadwallader holds top-flight experience with Cardiff Met.
There have also been some statement signings at Trefelin, who finished fourth last season and claimed the Southern crown in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup.
Luke Bowen, who scored 29 league goals in the JD Cymru South two seasons ago, has arrived from Briton Ferry Llansawel, while Kostya Georgievsky, Tyler Brock, Lewys Ware and Jasper Jones have also dropped down from the top-flight to bolster Andy Hill’s squad.
Steve Berry, Steffan Jenkins and Cian Goldsworthy have been among the departures, but Lee Trundle, who will turn 49 years old in October, is still around after scoring 21 goals in all competitions last season.
Cambrian United are another side who will have their eyes on a top three finish after a busy summer of transfer activity.
The Rhondda outfit finished sixth last season – their lowest placing since the formation of the JD Cymru South – while reaching the JD Welsh Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Liam Eason is the standout arrival from Llanelli Town after he won the JD Cymru South golden boot with 27 goals last season, while Cam Strinati and Taylor Jones have also joined after helping the Reds win the title. Jarrad Wright, Ashley Evans and Kieran Lewis add plenty of experience from Pontypridd United.
Cambrian kick off the season against newly-promoted Treowen Stars, who are preparing for their debut campaign in the JD Cymru South.
Ben Murphy’s side won the Ardal South East title by a 12-point margin last term, losing just three league games all season and scoring 82 goals along the way. Strike pairing Chris Hartland (21 goals) and Corey Jenkins (19) netted almost half of those between them.
The majority of the title-winning side has remained at Bush Park, while new signing Tom Meechan has an impressive scoring record at this level with Cwmbran Celtic. Fellow arrivals Josh Hinwood, Drew Banner and Callum Hodges also add tier two experience.
It is also an inaugural season at this level for Cardiff Draconians, who were crowned Ardal South West champions in 2024/25 after winning eight of their final 11 league matches.
Sam Roberts bagged 19 goals to finish second in the Ardal South West scoring charts last season, while manager Nana Baah has history of taking STM Sports to the top half of the JD Cymru South while also reaching the Nathaniel MG Cup final.
New signings Dan Bowen and Jonny McMenemy impressed for Taffs Well and Penrhiwceiber Rangers respectively last season despite suffering relegation, while Harry Treharne was a regular for Cambrian United.
Ynyshir Albions were the final club to confirm their spot in the JD Cymru South for 2025/26 as they won May’s promotion play-off against Chepstow Town, after 10 wins from their final 11 games of the season secured second place in the Ardal South West.
The Buns will aim to improve upon their only previous season in the JD Cymru South when they finished bottom in 2022/23, but manager Dane Williams has built a squad with plenty of experience combined with youthful promise.
There have been no major departures from their promotion-winning team, while Rhys Morgan and Jarrad Walters have been recruited from Cefn Cribwr and Treherbert respectively.
Cwmbran Celtic survived relegation from the JD Cymru South on the final day of last season, but will hope to push on up the table this time around.
After Tom Meechan and Alex Bonthron departed midway through the campaign, 37-year-old captain Andrew Larcombe was the side’s main attacking threat, so the arrivals of Josh Gibson and Tom Berry – who scored 39 goals between them in the fourth tier last season – are welcome.
In defence, Callum Hodges, Dylan Dinham and Dom Connor have all exited, but Luke Edwards could prove to be an astute signing from Rogerstone and he impressed on debut in the Nathaniel MG Cup last weekend.
Carmarthen Town finished seventh last season – their lowest placing since relegation from the JD Cymru Premier five years ago – but an announcement of increased investment has hopes high of a return to the top-flight.
Only champions Llanelli Town scored more goals than Carmarthen’s tally of 55 in the league last season, but 24 of those came from captain Noah Daley who has joined Penybont this summer. Jordan Vickers, Lee Surman and Rio Booth are among the other names to have departed.
However, Luke Cummings and Keyon Reffell are back at the club after spells away, Cole Gibbings and Alex Giardelli have joined after helping Llanelli win the title last season, and Lewis Harling arrives having been a key cog for Penybont in recent campaigns.
Following a fifth-place finish in their first season back in the JD Cymru South in 2023/24, it was a more challenging league campaign last time out for Caerau Ely as they placed 12th – but did reach the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Dean Wheeler has bolstered his squad with strikers Dan Griffiths and Matty Kimmins, who scored 25 goals between them in the JD Cymru South last season, to complement the likes of Liam Bishop and Brandon Griffiths. 38-year-old Luke Gullick has also joined and scored on his debut in the Nathaniel MG Cup last weekend.
The Young Guns actually ranked in the top half of the league for fewest goals conceded last term, so the defence has not been tweaked too much. New centre-back Vaughan Fowler is an experienced operator in this division, while Kieran Booker joins after impressing for Penrhyncoch in the JD Cymru North.
Afan Lido faced the threat of relegation for much of last season, but Garry Taylor’s arrival as manager in October saw their form turn around and they went unbeaten in their final seven matches to secure survival and finish 11th.
Jon Hood was Lido’s top scorer in the league last season with just five goals, so a striker was high on Taylor’s priority list this summer. It was ticked off emphatically with the signing of Lewis Reed, who has netted 58 goals in the JD Cymru South across the last three seasons with Pontardawe Town and Ammanford.
With no key departures, the squad looks stronger than last term. Lee Surman and Jordan Langley add plenty of experience after their arrival from Carmarthen Town, while Brandon Roberts’ loan spell from Cardiff Met has been made permanent.
A familiar face has returned to Llantwit Major this summer, with Karl Lewis – the man who famously led the club to the JD Cymru South title in 2021/22 – replacing Ben Stait in the dugout.
Lewis has wasted no time in re-signing four of his title winning team, with Nathan Jones, Josh Jones, Cullen Kinsella and Cian Goldsworthy all returning to Windmill Lane.
However, cult goalkeeper Jack Lansdown has hung up his gloves and eccentric shirts, while last season’s top scorer Matty Kimmins has joined Caerau Ely. Not ideal news for a team who were the division’s third lowest scorers in 2024/25 – although only three sides conceded fewer goals.
Gruff Harrison’s 12-year reign as Ammanford manager came to an end last August, with legendary defender Wyn Thomas taking over to guide the team to a 10th-place finish.
Lewis Reed’s departure to Afan Lido – after scoring 43 league goals in the last two seasons – has been the headline story of the summer at the Recreation Ground and with no new striker announced yet, the goalscoring burden will be on the likes of Callum Thomas and Adam John.
Tristan Jenkins has stepped up to the JD Cymru Premier with Llanelli Town, while Luke Harris, Nic Arnold and Callum Jones have departed in defence. Chris Bell is back at the club to bolster the backline though, with full-back Callum Humphreys and midfielders Matt Delaney and Keane Whitmore also coming through the door.
An eighth-place finish last season marked Baglan Dragons’ highest ever league placing, while only three sides in the JD Cymru South conceded fewer goals.
Goalkeeper Mathew Stanton was one of just two players in the division to play every minute in 2024/25, with captain Lewis Holmes continuing to impress just in front of him. Callum Jones arrives from Ammanford to bolster the defence, as does teenage full-back Osian Williams after his departure from Swansea City’s academy.
Tom Davies is the key attacking threat after contributing 10 goals and five assists in the league in last season, but should have support from new signing Daniel Devey. 20-year-old midfielder Cody Noonan has also joined from Trefelin.
