2025-26 Cymru Premier Season Overview
The New Saints concluded the 2025-26 Cymru Premier season with a commanding lead, finishing 22 points ahead of Connah's Quay Nomads at the summit of the league table.
FAW Embraces Friday Night Matches to Boost Attendance
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has acknowledged that the decision to predominantly schedule Cymru Premier matches on Friday nights may not satisfy all stakeholders. However, the governing body remains optimistic that this strategic change could enhance matchday attendances.
This adjustment forms part of a significant relaunch of Wales' premier domestic football league, which will expand from 12 to 16 clubs in the upcoming season.
"Friday night football is something we piloted last year - for us the pilot has worked well," said FAW chief executive Noel Mooney. "The intention is to see if we can drive attendances... if you don't drive attendances then you should review it. I’d say a good few of the clubs like it, not every club. We had a lot of good feedback about it, but you always have to be empathetic to the needs of clubs and the needs of players and so on."
Change Can Bring 'Freshness'
The New Saints, who secured their 18th league title last season, remain the only full-time professional club in the Cymru Premier.
John Disney, manager of runners-up Connah's Quay Nomads, highlighted challenges some clubs may face with Friday fixtures, noting that several players from last season's squad have already departed due to work and family obligations.
"Part-time players are going to really struggle getting Friday afternoons off to go down to Cardiff if they're based in north Wales, and similarly up from Cardiff to north Wales," Disney explained.
Despite these challenges, Disney indicated that the Nomads are adjusting by recruiting younger, full-time players.
"Hopefully it brings a freshness to the league, with new faces coming into it and players understanding that this is a league where you can kick on and develop," he added. "For me personally, [the changes] are quite exciting. I've been part of the league for 10 years and you see the same faces carrying on."
FAW's Mooney Excited for Cymru Premier Expansion
The FAW's chief executive expressed enthusiasm for the league's expansion and the potential benefits of the new scheduling format.
Nathaniel MG Cup Scrapped Due to Fixture Congestion
As part of the restructuring, the Nathaniel MG Cup has been discontinued to alleviate fixture congestion.
'Many Clubs in Ireland Would Never Go Back'
Mooney acknowledged that part-time players might find Friday travel difficult.
"I remember this as a player, for example, in 2004 in Ireland we changed," said the former Cork City goalkeeper. "I was a part-time player and I had to make the decision. You have to make that decision yourself - is this league for me?"
He noted that over time, the Irish league became more professional, which facilitated Friday night football.
"Many clubs in Ireland would never go back to not having Friday night football," Mooney added. "It's an appointment to view - it keeps them away from the big English Premier League or some of our EFL (English Football League) stuff that's here of course as well. So for us we really like the concept of Friday night league matches, but you have to remain empathetic to clubs. It's about working with different clubs to find a solution that works for them, while at the same time not trying to over-stagger the league."
Clubs Face 'Practical Considerations'
Colwyn Bay recorded the highest average attendances in the Cymru Premier last season, with 1,054 spectators per match at The Blue Turtle Arena.
Brian Madden, chairman of Colwyn Bay, observed that Friday night fixtures have the potential to enhance attendance figures.
"We saw first-hand that Friday night football can create a fantastic atmosphere, attract casual supporters who may have other commitments on a Saturday, and give games a bigger event feel," Madden said. "If the aim is to drive attendances, there is certainly evidence to suggest it can help.
That said, there are practical considerations for clubs. Many players, coaches, volunteers and supporters travel significant distances, often straight from work, so earlier kick-off times can present challenges.
Clubs also need to consider stewarding, catering, staffing and volunteer availability, particularly as many people are balancing football commitments with full-time jobs."
Finding Balance for Family Fans
Madden expressed concern about the impact of Friday evening matches on younger fans and families, whom he described as the "lifeblood of our clubs."
"With a 7:45pm kick-off, many younger children are unable to attend or stay for a full match, particularly during term time," he added. "It is important that any long-term shift strikes the right balance between increasing attendances and preserving the family-friendly environment that many clubs, including ourselves, have worked hard to build."
FAW Announces £6 Million Investment Package
In 2024, the FAW unveiled a £6 million investment package for the Cymru Premier, marking the largest financial commitment in the league's 34-year history.
This announcement followed an extensive review involving consultations with clubs, fans, and other league stakeholders.
"The facts are that our domestic league needs a lot of love, needs a lot of resources, needs a lot of attention," Mooney stated. "We're bringing in a whole new set of things like a new broadcast deal, a new digital provision where you can watch matches online and so on.
Some of the investment we're seeing into clubs and investment into the league itself is unprecedented for Welsh football, so we are so excited about the new Cymru Premier season."
Attracting New Investors
Mooney emphasized that the relaunch of the Cymru Premier is expected to attract new investors to clubs.
Penybont recently announced "significant new investment," while Haverfordwest County secured backing from an investment firm earlier in the year.
"We're in talks with a lot of different groups and parties interested in getting involved and buying into Cymru Premier clubs," Mooney said. "Because you've got access to Europe, you can develop players, you can build communities, you can build towns if you're interested in doing things better for the world.
But equally, if you look at the risk about getting involved - say for example in the EFL - the risks are huge financially, because they all seem to be losing a lot of money, whereas with our clubs they're not losing money essentially and you can develop a club with a kind of less risk."
