The new season marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the Cymru Premier as the league expands to 16 clubs after 16 years under the previous 12-team format
Before the last restructure in 2010, the League of Wales featured between 17 and 21 clubs during its early seasons following its formation in 1992. However, this will be the first campaign in the competition’s history to feature exactly 16 teams.
Despite the significant changes, the Football Association of Wales has opted to retain several aspects of the previous format, including the league split and the end-of-season European play-offs.
Of the six clubs promoted over the summer, the three southern sides – Cambrian United, Trefelin and Ammanford – are preparing for their first-ever seasons in the top flight, while Llandudno, Airbus UK and Holywell Town return from the Cymru North.
Friday, 31 July
Colwyn Bay v Trefelin | Friday – 19:45
Trefelin have reached the Cymru Premier for the first time in their history after winning the 2025/26 Cymru South title under manager Andy Hill.
The Port Talbot-based side face a long trip to Llanelian Road for their opening match in the top flight.
After securing promotion back to the top tier last summer, Colwyn Bay recorded the league’s highest attendance of the 2025/26 season when 2,357 supporters packed into Llanelian Road for the visit of Caernarfon Town in April – the fifth-highest crowd in the league history.
It was an encouraging campaign for the Seagulls, who finished sixth before losing to Pen-y-bont on penalties in the European play-off semi-finals.
Michael Wilde has added plenty of experience to his squad over the summer, bringing in a host of players from Connah’s Quay – Declan Poole, Callum Bratley, Dan Roberts and Jack Kenny – as well as goalkeeper Mark Halstead and striker Adam Davies.
There will also be several familiar faces in the Trefeling squad this season, including former Wales midfielder Shaun MacDonald and wingers Kostya Georgievsky and Lewys Ware.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and Andy Hill will hope his side can replicate Colwyn Bay’s success in their first season following promotion.
Llandudno v Flint Town United | Friday – 19:45
After seven seasons in the second tier, Llandudno return to the Cymru Premier having won the 2025/26 Cymru North title under young manager Jordan Hadaway.
At just 24 years old, Hadaway will be one of the youngest managers ever to take charge in the Cymru Premier, but after guiding his side to 26 wins from 30 league matches last season, the local coach will be ready for the challenge.
Llandudno first reached the top flight in 2015 and enjoyed a memorable debut season, finishing third and qualifying for Europe, with local hero Marc Williams starring by scoring 16 league goals on his way to winning the Player of the Season award.
That success was short-lived however, as Llandudno finished ninth the following season, tenth the year after, before suffering relegation in 2018/19 after ending the campain in 11th place.
Seven years later, Llandudno welcome Flint Town United on the opening night of the new season. Although the clubs have met previously in other competitions, this will be their first-ever meeting in the Cymru Premier.
Flint Town United finished 10th last season and narrowly avoided relegation, and although the Silkmen reached the Welsh Cup final for the first time in 72 years, it proved to be a disappointing campaign following their 3-0 defeat to Caernarfon Town in the final.
The sides have not met since the 2023/24 Cymru North season, when Flint Town United recorded comfortable 5-1 victories in both league meetings.
Briton Ferry Llansawel v Ammanford | Friday – 19:45
Ammanford have secured a place in the Cymru Premier for the first time in their history after finishing third in the 2025/26 Cymru South.
Ammanford manager Wyn Thomas is no stranger to the league, having made more than 500 Cymru Premier appearances during his playing career and won the league title with Llanelli n 2007/08. His experience could prove invaluable this season.
Briton Ferry Llansawel finished eighth last season, two places higher than the previous campaign, and Andy Dyer’s side will be aiming to continue their upward progress this year.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have won seven of their last eight meetings with Ammanford, including the most recent clash in April 2024 when Luke Bowen scored four goals in a 4-0 victory that secured promotion to the Cymru Premier.
Bowen has returned to Old Road this summer after spending last season with Trefelin, where he claimed the Cymru South Golden Boot by scoring 21 league goals.
Barry Town United v Cambrian United | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
Cambrian United are another of the newcomers preparing for their first-ever season in the Cymru Premier.
They finished runners-up in the 2025/26 Cymru South, ensuring a Rhondda club will compete in the Welsh top flight for the first time since Ton Pentre in 1996/97.
It was an outstanding campaign for Barry Town United, who recored their highest league finish for seven years by ending the season in third place and lifted the League Cup for the first time in a quarter of a century. However, it has been a summer of major change at Jenner Park, with the Dragons losing their two leading scorers.
Ieuan Owen and Ollie Hulbert scored 21 league goals between them last season, but both young forwards have now moved on, with Owen joining Kilmarnock and Hulbert signing for Weston-super-Mare.
Two more key players have also departed Jenner Park, including last season’s main creator Robbie Willmott and influential defender Ben Margetson, who contributed to 11 goals in 2025/26, scoring six and providing fife assists.
Cambrian United, meanwhile, will be delighted that leading scorer Liam Eason has committed his future to the club for the new season.
The two sides met in last season’s Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final, with Barry Town United claiming a 3-0 victory at the M&P Group Stadium
Saturday, 1 August
Haverfordwest County v Airbus UK | Saturday – 14:30
Airbus UK return to the Cymru Premier for a fourth spell after finishing second in the 2025/26 Cymru North.
The Wingmakers’ previous two spells in the top flight both ended in immediate relegation after finishing bottom of the table in 2019/20 and 2022/23.
Manager Mark Allen will be hoping for a more successful campaign this time around, beginning with a trip to Pembrokeshire to face Haverfordwest County.
It was a mixed season for Haverfordwest County, who finished seventh after securing third place and European qualification the previous year.
Their campaign ended on a frustrating note with a 2-0 defeat to Pen-y-bont in the European play-off final.
However, it is an exciting period for the Bluebirds, who have introduced a hybrid model for the new season, offering full-time contracts to their younger players.
Haverfordwest County have won each of their last five meetings with the Wingmakers, although this will be the clubs’ first encounter since April 2023.
Cardiff Met v Holywell Town | Saturday – 14:30
After finishing third in the 2025/26 Cymru North, Holywell Town return to the Cymru Premier for the first time in 28 years.
Holywell were one of the original members of the League of Wales in its inaugural 1992/93 season before being relegated five years later.
The Wellmen returned for the 1998/99 campaign but finished bottom of the table and were immediately relegated, making this their third spell among the Welsh top flight.
John Haseldin has noe been in charge at Holywell for 14 years. The club won the Cymru North title in 2023/24 but were denied promotion after failing to obtain a domestic license.
After a long wait, Haseldin will finally have the opportunity to lead his club back into the top flight, beginning with an away trip to the capital.
Cardiff Met endured a difficult campaign last season, finishing ninth – their lowest placing since winning promotion in 2016.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, with both sides eager to make a positive start to the new season.
Sunday, 2 August
Connah’s Quay v Caernarfon Town | Sunday – 14:30
Two sides who have had little time to recover over the summer are Connah’s Quay and Caernarfon Town, both of whom were involved in UEFA qualifying during July.
Connah’s Quay finished as runners-up in the 2025/26 Cymru Premier, while Caernarfon Town lifted the Welsh Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
However, both clubs endured disappointing European campaigns, with Caernarfon suffering a 10-0 aggregate defeat to Levadia Tallinn and Connah’s Quay losing 3-2 on aggregate to Kosovo’s Ballkani.
Despite those setbacks, both sides will be desperate to earn another opportunity to compete in Europe by mounting a title challenge against The New Saints this season.
It has been a summer of significant change at Connah’s Quay, with 15 players departing as John Disney continues to reshape his squad.
Perhaps the biggest loss is Rhys Hughes, who has joined The New Saints after scoring 30 league goals and providing 16 assists across two seasons for the Nomads, having also been named Player of the Season in 2024/25.
Noah Edwards has left the Nomads to rejoin Caernarfon Town, while Ben Nash and Chris Marriott have also made the move to The Oval.
The clubs met four times last season, with the head-t0-head record perfectly balanced as each side recorded one win, one defeat and the other two matches ended in draws.
Pen-y-bont v The New Saints | Sunday – 14:30
With just one victory in normal time from their last 15 competitive matches, Pen-y-bont will be determined to make a much stronger start to the new season.
Rhys Griffiths’ side endured a dreadful run of form towards the end of last season before defeating Haverfordwest County in the European play-off final to secure a place in Europe.
However, their European campaign ended in disappointment as they were knocked out by Andorran side Santa Coloma for the second time in three years.
After winning the Cymru Premier title for a record 18th time, and for a fifth consecutive season, The New Saints will once again begin the campaign as overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
The New Saints won all four meetings between the sides last season, scoring 16 goals in total at an average of four per game.
The Saints forward, Jordan Williams, enjoyed a remarkable season by claiming a hat-trick of awards: Player of the Season, Goal of the Season and the Golden Boot – and five of his 26 league goals came against Pen-y-bont.
