2022–23 Cymru Premier

The 2022–23 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2022–23) (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 31st season of the Cymru Premier (formally known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru

Season	2022–23
Dates	12 August 2022 – 22 April 2023
Champions	The New Saints
Relegated	Airbus UK Broughton Flint Town United
UEFA Champions League	The New Saints
Europa Conference League	Connah's Quay Nomads Penybont (via Welsh Cup) Haverfordwest County (via Play-offs)
Matches played	192
Goals scored	590 (3.07 per match)
Biggest home win	The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town 2 December 2022)
Biggest away win	Airbus UK Broughton 0–8 The New Saints 31 December 2022)
Highest scoring	The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town 2 December 2022)
Longest winning run	The New Saints (12 games)
Longest unbeaten run	The New Saints (22 games)
Longest winless run	Airbus UK Broughton (32 games)
Longest losing run	Airbus UK Broughton (22 games)
Highest attendance	1,826 Newtown vs. Haverfordwest County (13th May 2023)
Lowest attendance	103 Cardiff Metropolitan University vs. Flint Town United (3 September 2022)
Average attendance	305 (data missing for six matches - exlcudes playoff matches)
← 2021–22 2023–24 →

The winners (The New Saints, their second consecutive league title win and fifteenth overall) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up (Connah's Quay Nomads), third-placed team (Penybont), and Europa Conference League play-off winners (Haverfordwest County) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.^[1] The bottom two teams (Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United) were relegated to the 2023–24 Cymru North.

Teams

Twelve teams contested the league – the top ten teams from the previous season, and one team each promoted from the second tier leagues, the Cymru North and Cymru South. The New Saints entered the season as defending champions.

Airbus UK Broughton, winners of the 2021–22 Cymru North were promoted to the league. Due to 2021–22 Cymru South champions Llantwit Major's failure to achieve a tier one licence, runners-up Pontypridd Town were promoted in their place.^[2] In June 2022, Pontypridd Town changed their name to Pontypridd United.

The two bottom placed teams from the 2021–22 season, Cefn Druids^[3] and Barry Town United,^[2] were relegated to the Cymru North and the Cymru South respectively for the 2022–23 season.

Team changes

To Cymru Premier Promoted from the Cymru North Airbus UK Broughton Promoted from the Cymru South Pontypridd Town

From Cymru Premier Relegated to the Cymru North Cefn Druids Relegated to the Cymru South Barry Town United

Stadia and locations

Aberystwyth
Town

Airbus UK Broughton

Bala Town

Caernarfon Town

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Connah's Quay Nomads

Flint Town United

Haverfordwest County

Newtown

Penybont

Pontypridd United

The New Saints

Locations of the 2022–23 Cymru Premier teams

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
Aberystwyth Town	Aberystwyth	Park Avenue	5,000
Airbus UK Broughton	Broughton	The Airfield	1,600
Bala Town	Bala	Maes Tegid	3,000
Caernarfon Town	Caernarfon	The Oval	3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan University	Cyncoed	Cyncoed Campus	1,620
Connah's Quay Nomads	Connah's Quay	Deeside Stadium	1,500
Flint Town United	Flint	Cae-y-Castell	1,000
Haverfordwest County	Haverfordwest	Bridge Meadow Stadium	2,100
Newtown	Newtown	Latham Park	5,000
Penybont	Bridgend	Bryntirion Park	3,000
Pontypridd United	Treforest	USW Sports Park	1,000
The New Saints	Oswestry	Park Hall	2,034

Personnel and kits

Team	Head coach	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Front shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town	Anthony Williams	Jack Thorn	Acerbis	Aberystwyth University
Airbus UK Broughton	Jamie Reed	Steve Tomassen	Umbro	Gardner Aerospace
Bala Town	Colin Caton	Chris Venables	Macron	Aykroyd's
Caernarfon Town	Richard Davies	Dion Donohue	Errea	Gofal Bro Cyf
Cardiff Metropolitan University	Christian Edwards	Chris Baker	Errea	Cardiff Metropolitan University
Connah's Quay Nomads	Neil Gibson	George Horan	Nike	Educate Group
Flint Town United	Lee Fowler	James Owen	Macron	Essity
Haverfordwest County	Tony Pennock	Dylan Rees	Joma	West Wales Properties
Newtown	Chris Hughes	Craig Williams	Errea	Control Techniques
Penybont	Rhys Griffiths	Kane Owen	Macron	Nathaniel Car Sales
Pontypridd United	Andrew Stokes	Clayton Green	Joma	UPVCDIRECT.CO.UK
The New Saints	Craig Harrison	Chris Marriott	Legea	SiFi Networks

Managerial changes

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Position in table	Incoming manager	Date of appointment
Pontypridd United	Jonathan Jones	Resigned	9 May 2022[4]	Pre-season	Andrew Stokes	16 May 2022[5]
Aberystwyth Town	Antonio Corbisiero		12 May 2022[6]		Anthony Williams	28 May 2022[7]
Haverfordwest County	Nicky Hayen	Signed by Club NXT	15 June 2022[8]		Tony Pennock	1 July 2022
Flint Town United	Neil Gibson	Resigned	16 June 2022[9]		Lee Fowler	17 June 2022[10]
Cardiff Metropolitan University	Christian Edwards		30 June 2022[11]		Ryan Jenkins	29 June 2022[12]
The New Saints	Anthony Limbrick	Sacked	28 July 2022[13]		Craig Harrison	4 August 2022[14]
Connah's Quay Nomads	Craig Harrison	Signed by The New Saints	4 August 2022[15]		Neil Gibson	4 August 2022[16]
Airbus UK Broughton	Steve O'Shaughnessy	Sacked	24 September 2022[17]	12th	Jamie Reed	19 October 2022[18]
Cardiff Metropolitan University	Ryan Jenkins	Resigned	30 January 2023[19]	4th	Christian Edwards	30 January 2023
Caernarfon Town	Huw Griffiths	Sacked	18 March 2023[20]	8th	Richard Davies	24 April 2023
Airbus UK Broughton	Jamie Reed		13 April 2023	12th	Mark Allen	21 April 2023

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation[a]
1	The New Saints (C)	32	26	5	1	112	17	+95	83	Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2	Connah's Quay Nomads	32	17	10	5	45	23	+22	61	Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[b]
3	Penybont	32	16	10	6	51	32	+19	52[c]
4	Cardiff Metropolitan University	32	16	4	12	41	49	−8	52	Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-offs
5	Bala Town	32	12	8	12	51	37	+14	44
6	Newtown	32	12	5	15	49	56	−7	41
7	Haverfordwest County (O)	32	14	5	13	49	44	+5	47	Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-offs
8	Pontypridd United	32	12	5	15	41	52	−11	41
9	Caernarfon Town	32	12	3	17	51	54	−3	39
10	Aberystwyth Town	32	11	5	16	41	73	−32	38
11	Flint Town United (R)	32	9	8	15	41	53	−12	35	Relegation to Cymru North or Cymru South
12	Airbus UK Broughton (R)	32	0	2	30	18	100	−82	−4[d]

Source: Cymru Premier
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Goals scored; 5) Matches won.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Teams play each other twice (22 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).^[21]
2. The 2022–23 Welsh Cup also qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners, The New Saints, qualified based on league position, the Europa Conference League spot was passed to the third-placed team.
3. Penybont were deducted six points for fielding ineligible players against Airbus UK Broughton on 3 January 2023 and Cardiff Metropolitan University on 17 February 2023.^[22]
4. Airbus UK Broughton were deducted six points for fielding ineligible players against Caernarfon Town on 2 September 2022 and Pontypridd United on 11 February 2023.^[23][24]

Results

Matches 1–22

Home \ Away	ABE	AIR	BAL	CAE	CMU	CQN	FTU	HAV	NTW	PYB	PON	TNS
Aberystwyth Town	—	2–1	1–4	2–1	0–4	2–1	2–1	2–1	1–2	0–3	2–1	0–2
Airbus UK Broughton	1–2	—	0–6	0–3	0–2	1–2	1–3	1–2	4–4	0–3	0–4	0–8
Bala Town	3–0	2–1	—	3–0	2–0	0–0	1–0	1–1	3–0	1–1	3–0	0–5
Caernarfon Town	2–1	3–1	1–5	—	5–1	0–2	2–0	2–1	2–3	0–2	2–0	0–1
Cardiff Metropolitan University	2–1	3–1	1–0	0–3	—	2–0	1–0	2–0	2–1	0–0	3–0	0–7
Connah's Quay Nomads	3–0	1–0	1–0	3–3	2–0	—	2–0	1–0	3–1	2–0	1–0	1–1
Flint Town United	1–1	1–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	0–0	—	0–1	1–4	1–1	4–1	1–8
Haverfordwest County	3–1	3–0	1–4	1–0	1–0	2–1	1–1	—	2–3	2–1	1–1	1–3
Newtown	6–1	2–1	0–2	2–1	0–1	0–0	0–2	2–0	—	2–3	4–2	0–0
Penybont	3–1	2–0	2–0	5–1	1–3	0–1	2–1	3–2	3–0	—	1–1	0–0
Pontypridd United	2–1	1–0	2–1	3–1	0–1	0–5	0–1	3–2	1–4	0–1	—	0–2
The New Saints	11–0	7–0	3–0	3–0	4–0	2–1	6–2	3–1	4–1	1–0	2–0	—

Source: Cymru Premier
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–32

Top six Home \ Away BAL CMU CQN NTW PYB TNS Bala Town — 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–2 Cardiff Metropolitan University 2–1 — 0–2 0–0 2–3 3–2 Connah's Quay Nomads 1–1 2–1 — 2–0 0–0 0–0 Newtown 3–2 1–2 1–1 — 0–1 0–5 Penybont 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 — 2–5 The New Saints 2–1 7–1 4–1 1–0 1–1 — Source: Cymru Premier Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Bottom six Home \ Away ABE AIR CAE FTU HAV PON Aberystwyth Town — 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–1 3–3 Airbus UK Broughton 1–7 — 0–2 1–3 1–4 0–3 Caernarfon Town 0–1 4–0 — 2–2 2–0 1–2 Flint Town United 5–0 2–1 2–3 — 0–2 0–0 Haverfordwest County 1–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–0 Pontypridd United 1–1 4–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 — Source: Cymru Premier Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Europa Conference League play-offs

Teams placed 3rd-7th enter one-off play-off matches for the third spot in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. One of the spots is vacated if the Welsh Cup winners finish 7th or higher, with the 3rd-placed team qualifying automatically if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two. The higher-placed team gains home advantage.

Bala Town, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Haverfordwest County, Newtown, and Penybont qualified for the play-offs. Since the 2022–23 Welsh Cup winners, The New Saints, qualified for the Champions League first qualifying round based on league position, Penybont's play-off spot was vacated and they directly qualified for the Europa Conference League as the 3rd-placed team.

Semi-finals

Bala Town v Newtown

5 May 2023	Bala Town	2–4	Newtown	Maes Tegid
19:45 BST (UTC+01)	Newell 37', 73'	Report	Williams 17', 53' Ismail 42', 82'	Referee: Mark Petch

Cardiff Metropolitan University v Haverfordwest County

6 May 2023	Cardiff Metropolitan University	0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p)	Haverfordwest County	Cyncoed Campus Stadium
17:15 BST (UTC+01)		Report		Attendance: 561[25] Referee: Thomas Owen
	Penalties
	McCarthy Rees Craven Jones Veale		Rees Leahy Davies Jones Dugan

Final

Newtown v Haverfordwest County

13 May 2023	Newtown	1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p)	Haverfordwest County	Latham Park
17:15 BST (UTC+01)	A. Williams 38'		Davies 24'	Attendance: 1,826[26] Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones
	Penalties
	A. Williams C. Williams Roberts Cowans Aris		Rees Leahy Davies Fawcett Shephard

Season statistics

As of 13 April 2023^[27]

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Declan McManus	The New Saints	26
2	Aaron Williams	Newtown	14
	Ryan Brobbel	The New Saints
4	Ben Clark	The New Saints	13
5	Ben Ahmun	Pontypridd United	12
	Jordan Davies	Haverfordwest County

Hat-tricks

Player	For	Against	Result	Date
Sam Jones	Cardiff Metropolitan University	Aberystwyth Town	0–4 (A)	20 August 2022
Adrian Cieślewicz	The New Saints	Cardiff Metropolitan University	0–7 (A)	17 September 2022
George Newell	Bala Town	Airbus UK Broughton	0–6 (A)	30 September 2022
Ben Ahmun	Pontypridd United	Airbus UK Broughton	0–4 (A)	29 October 2022
Louis Robles	Newtown	Pontypridd United	4–2 (H)	16 December 2022
Ben Clark	The New Saints	Airbus UK Broughton	7–0 (H)	26 December 2022
Ryan Brobbel	The New Saints	Airbus UK Broughton	0–8 (A)	31 December 2022
Declan McManus	The New Saints	Flint Town United	1–8 (A)	10 January 2023
Zack Clarke	Flint Town United	Pontypridd United	4–1 (H)	21 January 2023
Ben Ahmun	Pontypridd United	Airbus UK Broughton	4–0 (H)	11 February 2023
Lloyd Marsh-Hughes	Caernarfon Town	Airbus UK Broughton	4–0 (A)	31 March 2023
Declan McManus	The New Saints	Newtown	5–0 (A)	1 April 2023

Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Attendances

Team	Highest	Lowest	Average
Aberystwyth Town	1120	187	378
Airbus UK Broughton	374	147	232
Bala Town	505	179	236*
Caernarfon Town	674	232	485
Cardiff Metropolitan University	401	103	192
Connah's Quay Nomads	436	166	262
Flint Town United	1050	172	339
Haverfordwest County	560	277	364*
Newtown	514	171	297
Penybont	506	206	296*
Pontypridd United	437	153	288
The New Saints	425	201	289*

Figures taken from FAW Cymru Football app and other club channels. Correct as of 24 April 2023. Excludes Europa Conference League playoff fixtures. *Denotes incomplete record, as missing attendance figures. Figures for Bala v TNS (14/4), Haverfordwest v Airbus (18/3), TNS v CQN (22/4) and Penybont v Cardiff Met (17/2), CQN (18/3) and Newtown (22/4) have not been publicly recorded.

Monthly awards

Month	Manager of the Month		Player of the Month
	Manager	Club	Player	Club
August	Ryan Jenkins	Cardiff Metropolitan University	Sam Jones	Cardiff Metropolitan University
September	Colin Caton	Bala Town	David Edwards	Bala Town
October	Neil Gibson	Connah's Quay Nomads	Andy Firth	Connah's Quay Nomads
November	Tony Pennock	Haverfordwest County	Zeli Ismail	Newtown
December	Chris Hughes	Newtown	Ryan Sears	Newtown
January	Rhys Griffiths	Penybont	Kostya Georgievsky	Penybont
February	Andrew Stokes	Pontypridd United	Mark Cadwallader	Aberystwyth Town
March	Andrew Stokes	Pontypridd United	George Ratcliffe	Pontypridd United
April	Tony Pennock	Haverfordwest County	Niall Flint	Aberystwyth Town

References

1. "The New Saints draw at Nomads to secure 15th Welsh title". BBC Sport. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
2. "Pontypridd Town promoted to Cymru Premier and Barry relegated". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
3. "Cefn Druids Relegated from the JD Cymru Premier League". Cefn Druids. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
4. "Jonathan Jones stands down as manager of Pontypridd Town". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
5. Jones, Harrison (16 May 2022). "Pontypridd Town name Pontardawe boss as their new first-team manager". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
6. "Corbs resigns as first team manager". Aberystwyth Town. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
7. James, Aled (28 May 2022). "Aberystwyth Town unveil former Crawley Town, Portsmouth and Cardiff Met coach as manager". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
8. "NICKY HAYEN NIEUWE HOOFDCOACH CLUB NXT" [NICKY HAYEN NEW HEAD COACH CLUB NXT] (in Dutch). clubbrugge.be. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
9. "Cymru Premier: Neil Gibson leaves Flint Town manager role". BBC. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
10. "Former Wrexham midfielder Lee Fowler appointed new Flint Town United manager". Deeside.com. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
11. "Christian Edwards to relinquish Cardiff Met duties at end of season". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
12. "Ryan Jenkins succeeds Christian Edwards as Cardiff Met boss". BBC Sport. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
13. "Club Statement: Anthony Limbrick". The New Saints. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
14. "The return of the king". The New Saints. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
15. "The return of the king". The New Saints. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
16. "CLUB STATEMENT: Nomads appoint Gibson as new manager". Connah's Quay Nomads. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
17. "Steve O'Shaughnessy: Airbus part company with manager". BBC Sport. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
18. "Cymru Premier: Jamie Reed appointed Airbus UK manager". BBC Sport. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
19. "CLUB STATEMENT". Twitter. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
20. "Caernarfon Town part company with manager Huw Griffiths". BBC. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
21. "Cymru Premier". Handbook Cymru. FAW. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
22. "JD Cymru Leagues statement Penybont". Cymru Leagues.
23. "Cymru Premier: Airbus UK deducted three points over ineligible player". BBC. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
24. "Airbus deducted an additional 3 points". Cymru Leagues.
25. "Keeper Jones the hero as Bluebirds reach maiden European play-off final". Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
26. "Newtown v Harverfordwest County". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
27. "Cymru Football". cymrufootball.wales. Retrieved 22 February 2023.