League of Wales

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The Welsh Football League is a different league, which is a feeder to the League of Wales.

League of Wales
Image:Logo Eng.jpg Website.jpg
Sport	Football
Founded	1992
No. of teams	17
Country	Image:Flag of Wales (bordered).svg Wales
Current champions	T.N.S.

The Welsh Premiership is the national football league for Wales and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal. Currently, the full sponsored name of the league is the Principality Building Society Welsh Premier Football League.

1 A troubled start
2 Promotion and relegation
3 European competition
4 Composition of the League 2006-7
5 Former members of the League of Wales
6 Champions
7 Sponsorship
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] A troubled start

The league was formed in 1992 by the Football Association of Wales as they believed that the Welsh international football team was under threat from Fifa. Wales, along with the other three home nations, have a permanent seat on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and it was thought that many Fifa members were resentful of this and pressing for the four nations to unite into one combined side for the whole of the United Kingdom.

At the time, Wales was almost unique in World football in that it didn't have a national league of its own. Traditionally, the best teams in Wales had always played over the border in the English leagues. Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham ply their trade in the Football League whilst Aberdare Athletic, Merthyr Town and Newport County are all former members of the football league.

Because of poor transportation links, it has always been much easier to travel east-west than north-south, so clubs tended to look east to England for competitors and many of Wales' top semi-professional sides also played in the English pyramid; Bangor City were founder members of the Football Conference and famously reached the FA Trophy final in 1984.

The formation of the League of Wales saw the start of a bitter dispute between the FAW and those clubs who wanted to remain part of the English pyramid. The 'Irate Eight', as they were dubbed, consisted of Bangor City, Barry Town, Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport County, Newtown and Rhyl.

Prior to the inaugural season, Bangor City, Newtown and Rhyl returned to play in Wales, however as Rhyl's application to join the league was late, they were placed in the second level of the pyramid system. Because of FAW sanctions, the remaining five clubs were forced to play their home matches in England. Following a season in exile at Worcester City, five became four, as Barry Town joined the Welsh league system.

A court ruling in 1995 allowed the remaining four clubs to return to Wales to play their home matches while still remaining within the English system; despite this victory, Caernarfon Town decided to join the League of Wales, however Colwyn Bay, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport County remain in the English league pyramid system.

[edit] Promotion and relegation

Clubs are promoted to the league from the two regional feeder leagues; the Cymru Alliance in the north and the confusingly named Welsh Football League in the south. Clubs who finish as champions - or as runners-up if the champions decide not to seek promotion - of the feeder leagues are promoted subject to an application for membership being received and accepted and the stadium and infrastructure safety criteria of that League being met.

No teams were promoted to the Premiership following the 2005/06 season, however, Cardiff Grange Quins, who finished bottom of the top division, resigned leaving the league to operate with an odd number of clubs for 2006/07.

[edit] European competition

The champions of the Welsh Premiership qualify, along with the champions of every European domestic league, for the Uefa Champions League. The second placed team qualifies for the Uefa Cup with a place in the Intertoto Cup going to the third placed team in the league. A place in the Uefa Cup is also awarded to the winners of the Welsh Cup.

[edit] Composition of the League 2006-7

Current teams in the Welsh Premier are:

[edit] Former members of the League of Wales

The following teams have played in the League at some time:

Abergavenny Thursdays (1992-1993)
Afan Lido (1992-1996, 1998-2005)
Barry Town (1992-2004)
Briton Ferry Athletic (1992-1994, 1995-1997)
Cardiff Grange Quins(2005-2006)
Cemaes Bay (1995-1998)
Conwy United (1992-2000)
Ebbw Vale (1992-1998)
Flint Town United (1992-1998)
Holywell Town (1992-1997, 1998-1999)
Llanidloes Town (1992-1993)
Maesteg Park (1992-1995)
Mold Alexandra (1992-1995)
Oswestry Town (1996-2003)
Rhayader Town (1997-2002)
Ton Pentre (1993-1996)
UWIC Inter Cardiff (1992-2001)

[edit] Champions

Season	Champions	Remarks
2005/06	Total Network Solutions F.C.	Changed name to The New Saints F.C. following this season.
2004/05	Total Network Solutions F.C.	Also won the Welsh Cup.
2003/04	Rhyl F.C.	Also won the Welsh Cup and Welsh League Cup. Losing finalists in the FAW Premier Cup.
2002/03	Barry Town
2001/02	Barry Town
2000/01	Barry Town	1st LOW club to win a Champions League match. Beat FC Shamkir (Azerbaijan)
1999/00	Total Network Solutions F.C.
1998/99	Barry Town
1997/98	Barry Town
1996/97	Barry Town
1995/96	Barry Town	Beat Dinaburg (Latvia), Visutas Budapest (Hungary), before losing 6:4 on aggregate to Aberdeen.
1994/95	Bangor City
1993/94	Bangor City
1992/93	Cwmbran Town	1st league team to play in Europe. Drew 4-4,but lost on away goals to Cork City

[edit] Sponsorship

Below is a list of the League's sponsors and what they chose to name the competition:

1992: Konica Peter Llewellyn Limited of Swansea (Konica League of Wales)
1993-2001: No sponsor .
2002-2004: JT Hughes Mitsubishi (JT Hughes Mitsubishi Welsh Premiership)
2004-2005: Vauxhall Masterfit Retailers (Vauxhall Masterfit Retailers Welsh Premier League)
2006: Principality Building Society (Principality Building Society Welsh Premier Football League)