2020–21 Cymru Premier

The 2020–21 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2020–21) (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) will be the 29th season of the Cymru Premier (formally known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. Connah's Quay Nomads are the defending champions. Teams will play each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league splits into two groups after phase 1 matches are completed.

Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season2020–21
Dates12 September 2020 –
Biggest home winThe New Saints 10–0 Flint Town
(3 October 2020)
Biggest away winCefn Druids 0–5 Connah's Quay Nomads
(3 October 2020)
Highest scoringThe New Saints 10–0 Flint Town
(3 October 2020)
2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 26 September.

‘COVID-19’ restrictions have been put in place by FAW. As from Monday 10 August 2020, clubs can train in groups of 15 and contact training will be allowed at all-levels of football. However, competitive and exhibition matches are still not allowed to take place. [1]

On 21 August 2020, The Football Association of Wales received confirmation that the JD Cymru Premier has been granted elite athletic status by the Welsh Government, meaning that the 2020–21 season can commence on 11 September 2020.[2] For all clubs below the JD Cymru Premier, the FAW’s Return to Training – Phase 2 guidelines must still be followed and competitive football is currently prohibited.

Teams

Twelve teams compete in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season, and one team each promoted from the second tier, the Cymru North and Cymru South.

The two bottom placed teams from the 2019–20 season, Airbus UK Broughton and Carmarthen Town, were relegated to the Cymru North and the Cymru South respectively for the 2020–21 season.[3]

Flint Town United, runners-up of the Cymru North were promoted to the league due to champions Prestatyn Town's failure to secure a Tier 1 license.[4] Similarly, Haverfordwest County, runners-up of the Cymru South, were also promoted due to champions Swansea University's failure to secure a Tier 1 license.

Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2020–21 Cymru Premier teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth Park Avenue5,000
Bala TownBala Maes Tegid3,000
Barry Town UnitedBarry Jenner Park Stadium3,500
Caernarfon TownCaernarfon The Oval3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCyncoed Cyncoed Campus1,620
Cefn DruidsRhosymedre The Rock3,000
Connah's Quay NomadsConnah's Quay Deeside Stadium1,500
Flint Town UnitedFlint Cae-y-Castell1,000
Haverfordwest CountyHaverfordwest Bridge Meadow Stadium2,100
NewtownNewtown Latham Park5,000
Pen-y-BontBridgend Bryntirion Park3,000
The New Saints Oswestry Park Hall2,034

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Gavin Allen Marc Williams Acerbis Aberystwyth University
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris Venables Macron Aykroyd's
Barry Town United Gavin Chesterfield Jordan Cotterill Macron TBC
Caernarfon Town Huw Griffiths Gareth Edwards Surridge Sports Gofal Bro Cyf, Parc Gwêl y Fenai
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Bradley Woolridge Errea Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cefn Druids Bruno Lopes Michael Jones Errea Wrexham Lager
Connah's Quay Nomads Andy Morrison George Horan Nike Mind
Flint Town United Niall McGuiness Richie Faulkes Macron Essity
Haverfordwest County Wayne Jones Sean Pemberton Joma West Wales Properties
Newtown Chris Hughes Craig T. Williams Errea Control Techniques
Pen-y-Bont Rhys Griffiths Rhys Wilson[5] Macron Nathaniel House of Cars
The New Saints Scott Ruscoe Paul Harrison Legea SiFi Networks

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1 The New Saints (X) 17 14 2 1 49 10 +39 44 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Connah's Quay Nomads (X) 16 13 2 1 35 10 +25 41 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round
3 Bala Town 16 10 5 1 39 16 +23 35
4 Barry Town United 16 7 3 6 23 24 −1 24
5 Caernarfon Town 17 6 4 7 23 33 −10 22
6 Pen-y-Bont 14 6 3 5 22 20 +2 21
7 Haverfordwest County 16 5 5 6 21 27 −6 20
8 Cardiff Metropolitan University 17 4 4 9 14 25 −11 16
9 Flint Town United 16 4 0 12 19 37 −18 12
10 Cefn Druids 16 3 3 10 17 37 −20 12
11 Newtown 15 2 5 8 17 27 −10 11 Relegation to Cymru North or Cymru South
12 Aberystwyth Town 16 2 4 10 21 34 −13 10
Updated to match(es) played on 19 December 2020. Source: Cymru Premier table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Matches between the two teams; 4)Goals scored; 5) Matches won.
(X) Assured a place of the top 6 group.
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other twice (22 matches), before the league splits into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last 10 matches.

Results

Matches 1–22

12 September 2020 - 6 February 2021

Home \ Away TNS CQN BAL BAR CAE PYB HAV CMU FTU CDR NTW ABE
The New Saints — 1–0 6 Feb 2–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 10–0 2–0 4–1
Connah's Quay Nomads 2–0 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0 6 Feb 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–0
Bala Town 1–1 — 4–0 4–1 1–2 4–1 2–1 3–1 5–2
Barry Town United 0–3 0–0 — 3–1 2–1 1–0 6–3 4–1 0–0 6 Feb
Caernarfon Town 0–4 1–2 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 1–4 6 Feb 2–1 1–2 1–1
Pen-y-Bont 0–4 1–5 6–0 — 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1
Haverfordwest County 1–4 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–4 — 0–3 1–1 2–2 2–0
Cardiff Metropolitan University 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–3 0–1 0–0 — 2–1 2–1 1–1
Flint Town United 1–2 0–1 6 Feb 0–2 0–1 — 1–2 1–0 3–0
Cefn Druids 0–4 0–5 1–2 0–2 4–1 1–1 1–2 — 6 Feb 0–4
Newtown 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–3 3–2 4–1 — 1–1
Aberystwyth Town 2–2 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–3 3–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 19 December 2020. Source: Cymru Premier
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  • Matches 1-22 were announced on 28 August 2020 [6]
  • On 17 August 2020 the FAW announced that all official domestic match balls will be sponsored by Macron [7]
  • Welsh television channel S4C will broadcast certain matches [8]

Matches 23–32

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[9]
1 Chris Venables Bala Town 15
2 Greg Draper The New Saints 13
3 Will Evans Bala Town 10
4 Louis Robles The New Saints 8
Jack Wilson Haverfordwest County
Michael Wilde Connah's Quay Nomads

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
October Scott Ruscoe The New Saints Chris Venables Bala Town

References
  1. https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/08/03/welsh-clubs-step-closer-contact-training-permitted/
  2. https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/jd-cymru-premier-given-starting-date/
  3. Jones, Jordan (16 June 2020). "Airbus UK and Carmarthen relegated, Flint and Haverfordwest up". Clwb Pel Droed.
  4. "Flint Town United return to top tier of Welsh football for first time since 1998". Deeside.com. 16 June 2020.
  5. Jones, Jordan (2019-05-16). "Penybont recruit four new players for upcoming Welsh Premier League season". YClwb Pêl-Droed. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  6. https://www.cymrufootball.wales/news/cymru-premier-fixtures-announced/
  7. https://www.cymrufootball.wales/news/macron-announced-official-ball-supplier/
  8. https://www.cymrufootball.wales/news/s4c-announce-opening-live-fixtures/
  9. "Top Scorers - Welsh Premier League - Football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
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