A record thirty-eight clubs have applied for the FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for the 2025/26 season.
All 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs have applied, along with 11 clubs from JD Cymru North and 15 clubs from JD Cymru South.
The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales.
The FAW has encouraged clubs who may not be Tier 1 Licence ready to apply to gain an accurate picture of where future strategic investments are required and to help develop action plans for those clubs who have future ambitions of competing in the JD Cymru Premier.
Licence Applicants
JD Cymru Premier (Tier 1)
- Aberystwyth Town
- Bala Town
- Barry Town United
- Briton Ferry Llansawel
- Caernarfon Town
- Cardiff Met University
- Connah’s Quay Nomads
- Flint Town United
- Haverfordwest County
- Newtown
- Penybont
- The New Saints
JD Cymru North (Tier 2)
- Airbus UK Broughton
- Buckley Town
- Colwyn Bay
- CPD Bangor 1876
- Denbigh Town
- Gresford Athletic
- Guilsfield
- Holywell Town
- Llandudno
- Penrhyncoch
- Ruthin Town
JD Cymru South (Tier 2)
- Afan Lido
- Ammanford
- Baglan Dragons
- Caerau Ely
- Cambrian United
- Carmarthen Town
- Cwmbran Celtic
- Goytre United
- Llanelli Town
- Llantwit Major
- Newport City
- Pontypridd United
- Taffs Well
- Trefelin BGC
- Trethomas Bluebirds
What happens next?
Clubs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 had until 30 September to submit their applications for a Tier 1 Licence for the 2025/26 season. The confirmed applicants are detailed above.
During November and December, site visits to their stadia will be arranged and club audits will be completed, including the assessment of their licensing documentation.
By 1 March 2025, any ground sharing agreements must be submitted in accordance with the FAW Pyramid Regulations.
All club licensing documentation must be finalised and submitted to the FAW by 31 March 2025.
The full Tier 1 Club Licensing Core Process can be viewed within the Tier 1 Men’s Club Licensing Regulations.
Decisions
Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:
- Sporting
- Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Infrastructure
- Personnel & Administrative
- Legal
- Financial
An independent First Instance Body (FIB), consisting of experts with relevant experience, will sit on 8 April 2025 to assess the applicants against the criteria detailed above. The decisions of the FIB will be communicated to the applicants on the same day.
For those clubs who have failed to attain the Tier 1 Licence, the FIB will provide written reasons for their failure and the club(s) will be invited to submit an appeal by 18 April 2025.
An independent Appeals Body, also consisting of experts, will sit to consider the appeals on 20 April 2025. Decisions will be communicated to the appellants on the same day. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.
