NationMaster - Encyclopedia: League of Wales

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. Image File history File links Logo_Eng. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... See also: 1991 in sports, other events of 1992, 1993 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Davey Allison won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Alan Kulwicki CART Racing - season championship won by Bobby Rahal Indianapolis 500 - Al Unser, Jr. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_(bordered). ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056 Area - Total 20,779 kmÂ² (3rd in... The New Saints F.C., often known as TNS, is a Welsh football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Wales and Oswestry in England (the two places are only 8 miles/13 km apart). ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056 Area - Total 20,779 kmÂ² (3rd in... The Welsh football league system (or pyramid) is a series of football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them. ... To sponsor something is to support an event, activity, person or organization by providing money or other resources in exchange for something, usually advertising or publicity, and always access to an audience. ... Principality is a Welsh building society based in Cardiff, Wales. ...

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. The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of football in Wales, being a member of both FIFA and UEFA. Established in 1876, it is the third-oldest association in the world, and is one of the five associations (with the English Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the... First international Scotland 4 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876) Largest win Wales 11 - 0 Ireland (Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888) Worst defeat Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1958) Best result Quarter-finals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none (First... The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de Football Association, known worldwide by its acronym FIFA, is the international governing body of Football (soccer) and the largest sporting organization in the world. ... Home Nations is a term used to refer to the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (collectively, but also as separate entities, distinct from the United Kingdom as a whole), or the nations of the British Isles (traditionally England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland). ... The International Football Association Board (IFAB) (a. ...

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. Cardiff City Football Club are a football team based in Cardiff, currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Swansea City AFC are a Welsh football team currently playing in the Football League League One. ... Wrexham Association Football Club (nicknamed The Red Dragons, or more traditionally, The Robins) are a football team based in Wrexham in north-east Wales. ... The Football League is an organisation representing 72 professional football clubs in England and Wales, and runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. ... Aberdare Athletic Football Club was replaced in the Football League by Torquay United F.C. after failing to be re-elected in 1927. ... Merthyr Town were a Welsh football club that played in the English Football League during the 1920s, but apparently folded in 1934. ... Newport County are a football team based in Newport. ...

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. Bangor City F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Football Conference logo The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of so-called non-league football in England. ... The Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for clubs playing in the Football Conference, Southern League, Isthmian League, and Northern Premier League. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Barry Town F.C. is a football team based in Barry. ... Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club who, nonetheless, play in English football, currently in the Northern Premier League First Division. ... Merthyr Tydfil F.C. is a Welsh football team from Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan. ... Newtown F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Rhyl F.C. (CPD (Clwb Pêl Droed) Y Rhyl) is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ...

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. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Worcester City Football Club is an English football team, based at St Georges Lane in the city of Worcester, currently playing in the Conference North. ...

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.

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. The Cymru Alliance (currently the Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance, for sponsorship reasons) is a football league and forms the second level of the Welsh football league system in north and central Wales. ... The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. ...

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. Cardiff Grange Quins (Grange Harlequins AFC) is a Welsh football team which plays in the Welsh Premier League. ...

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. The UEFA Champions League (which used to be named and is often still called European Cup) is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). ... The UEFA Intertoto Cup is a summer football competition for European clubs that have not qualified for one of the main UEFA competitions (the Champions League and the UEFA Cup). ... The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales and, in the past, neighbouring parts of England. ...

Composition of the League 2006-7

Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Airbus UK F.C. is a football team based in Broughton, North Wales, a few miles from the city of Chester. ... Bangor City F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Caersws F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... ... Connahs Quay Nomads F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Cwmbran Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Haverfordwest County F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Llanelli A.F.C. are a Welsh football team that play in the League of Wales. ... NEWI Cefn Druids F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Newtown F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Port Talbot Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Porthmadog F.C. (CPD (Clwb Pêl Droed) Porthmadog) is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Rhyl F.C. (CPD (Clwb Pêl Droed) Y Rhyl) is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... The New Saints F.C., often known as TNS, is a Welsh football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Wales and Oswestry in England (the two places are only 8 miles/13 km apart). ... Welshpool Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ...

Former members of the League of Wales

Abergavenny Thursdays F.C. is a football team, a founder member of the League of Wales, but now playing in the Gwent County League Division 3. ... Afan Lido F.C. is a football team, playing in the League of Wales. ... Barry Town F.C. is a football team based in Barry. ... Cardiff Grange Quins (Grange Harlequins AFC) is a Welsh football team which plays in the Welsh Premier League. ... Cemaes Bay F.C. is a football team, playing in the Gwynedd League (part of the Welsh football league system). ... Mold Alexandra F.C. is a football team, a founder member of the League of Wales, but now playing in the Cymru Alliance (level 2 of the Welsh football pyramid). ... Rhayader Town FC is a Welsh football team playing in the Mid Wales League. ... Ton Pentre Football Club is a football club which currently plays in the Welsh Football League First Division, level 2 of the Welsh football league system in South Wales. ... UWIC Inter Cardiff FC (UWIC stands for University of Wales Insitute, Cardiff) are a Welsh football club. ...

Champions

The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales and, in the past, neighbouring parts of England. ... The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales and, in the past, neighbouring parts of England. ... The Welsh League Cup is a Welsh football competition. ... The FAW Premier Cup (formerly the FAW Invitation Cup) is a Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales since 1997. ...

Sponsorship

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

See also

Welsh football pyramid Welsh Cup FAW Premier Cup The Welsh football league system (or pyramid) is a series of football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them. ... The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales and, in the past, neighbouring parts of England. ... The FAW Premier Cup (formerly the FAW Invitation Cup) is a Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales since 1997. ...

External links

Categories: League of Wales | National football (soccer) premier leagues | Welsh football competitions | Organisations based in Wales Football (soccer) is the United Kingdoms most popular sport. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland_(bordered). ... First international Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Largest win Ireland (IFA) 7 - 0 Wales (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 1 February 1930) Worst defeat Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1958) Best result Quarterfinals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Scotland 11 - 0 Ireland (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Worst defeat Uruguay 7 - 0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_(bordered). ... First international Scotland 4 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876) Largest win Wales 11 - 0 Ireland (Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888) Worst defeat Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1958) Best result Quarter-finals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none (First... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The British Home Championship (also known as the Home International Championship) was an annual football competition contested between the UKs four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Northern Ireland after 1921-1922), from the 1883-1884 season until the 1983-1984 season. ... The Rous Cup was a short-lived football competition in the late-1980s, contested between England, Scotland and, in later years, a guest team from South America. ... The Coronation Cup was a one-off football tournament to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 between four English and four Scottish clubs held in Glasgow in May 1953. ... The Texaco Cup was a cup competition that involved clubs from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland that had not qualified for European competions. ... The Anglo-Scottish Cup was a tournament arranged for eight of the best teams in English and Scottish football leagues during the summer for several years during the 1970s. ... Football is the unofficial national sport of England, and as such has an important place within English national life. ... Football is the most popular sport in Scotland and is the countrys national sport. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the organising body for the sport of football (soccer) in Northern Ireland. ...

Contents