2023–24 Cymru Premier

The 2023–24 Cymru Premier ( cy, Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2023–24; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 32nd season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

The winners ( The New Saints, their third consecutive title win and sixteenth overall) qualified for the 2024–25 Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up, third-placed team, and play-off winners ( Connah's Quay Nomads, Bala Town, and one other) qualify for the 2024–25 Conference League first qualifying round. The bottom two teams ( Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd United) were relegated to either the 2024–25 Cymru North or the 2024–25 Cymru South.

Teams

The league consisted of twelve teams; 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 (for the second consecutive season).

The two promoted sides were Colwyn Bay (winners of the 2022–23 Cymru North) and Barry Town United (winners of the 2022–23 Cymru South). Barry Town United were promoted back to the top tier on the first time of asking following their relegation in the 2021–22 season, while Colwyn Bay were promoted to the top tier of Welsh football for the first time since switching from the English football league system in 2018–19.

The bottom two teams from the 2022–23 season (Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United) were both relegated to the Cymru North for the 2023–24 season. Flint Town United's relegation was only confirmed on the final day of the previous season, where a dramatic victory for Aberystwyth Town, combined with Flint's defeat to Pontypridd United, saw the Silkmen drop into the relegation zone.

Haverfordwest County came close to being relegated following their failure to achieve a Tier One license at the first time of asking, but their appeal was successful, ensuring their stay in the league.

Stadia and locations

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

{, class="wikitable sortable"
, -
!Team
!Outgoing manager
!Manner of departure
!Date of vacancy
!Position in table
!Incoming manager
!Date of appointment
, -
, {{nowrap, Barry Town United
, {{flagicon, WAL Lee Kendall
, Resigned
, 26 July 2023
, Pre-season
, {{flagicon, WAL Steve Jenkins
, 5 August 2023
, -
, {{nowrap, Pontypridd United
, {{flagicon, WAL Andrew Stokes
, Resigned
, 4 January 2024
, 12th
, {{flagicon, WAL Gavin Allen
, 22 January 2024
, -
, {{nowrap, Newtown
, {{flagicon, WAL Chris Hughes
, Mutual consent
, 10 January 2024
, 4th
, {{flagicon, WAL Scott Ruscoe
, 18 January 2024
, -
, {{nowrap, Barry Town United
, {{flagicon, WAL Steve Jenkins
, Changed to Director of Football
, 2 February 2024
, 9th
, {{flagicon, WAL Jonathan Jones
, 2 February 2024

League table

{{#invoke:Sports table, main, style=WDL
, sourc
Cymru Premier

, team_order=TNS, CQN, BAL, NEW, CAE, CMU, PEN, HAV, BAR, ABE, COL, PON

, result1=CL1Q , result2=ECL1Q , result3=ECL1Q , result4=EUPO , result5=EUPO , result6=EUPO , result7=EUPO , result11=REL , result12=REL

, update=complete
, win_ABE=7 , draw_ABE=6 , loss_ABE=19, gf_ABE=27 , ga_ABE=57
, win_BAL=13, draw_BAL=12, loss_BAL=7 , gf_BAL=38 , ga_BAL=31
, win_BAR=7 , draw_BAR=11, loss_BAR=14, gf_BAR=36 , ga_BAR=54
, win_CAE=11, draw_CAE=8 , loss_CAE=13, gf_CAE=52 , ga_CAE=70
, win_CMU=10, draw_CMU=9 , loss_CMU=13, gf_CMU=35 , ga_CMU=63
, win_COL=7 , draw_COL=4 , loss_COL=21, gf_COL=34 , ga_COL=66
, win_CQN=18, draw_CQN=5 , loss_CQN=9 , gf_CQN=70 , ga_CQN=43
, win_HAV=11, draw_HAV=10, loss_HAV=11, gf_HAV=39 , ga_HAV=40
, win_NEW=13, draw_NEW=5 , loss_NEW=14, gf_NEW=49 , ga_NEW=46
, win_PEN=14, draw_PEN=7 , loss_PEN=11, gf_PEN=46 , ga_PEN=37
, win_PON=8 , draw_PON=7 , loss_PON=17, gf_PON=23 , ga_PON=41
, win_TNS=30, draw_TNS=2 , loss_TNS=0 , gf_TNS=117, ga_TNS=18

, status_CAE=Q
, status_CMU=Q
, status_COL=R
, status_NEW=Q
, status_PEN=Q
, status_PON=R
, status_TNS=C

, adjust_points_CMU=-3
, hth_CMU=Cardiff Metropolitan University were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player against Bala Town on 3 February 2024.
, adjust_points_PEN=-6
, hth_PEN=Penybont were deducted six points for fielding ineligible players.
, adjust_points_PON=-9
, hth_PON=Pontypridd United were deducted nine points for failing to pay players on time, failing to comply with contractual player obligations, failing to register players correctly, and fielding ineligible players.

, split6=yes
, note_header_res=Teams played each other twice (22 matches), before the league was split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).

, name_ABE= Aberystwyth Town
, name_BAL=Bala Town
, name_BAR= Barry Town United
, name_CAE= Caernarfon Town
, name_CMU= Cardiff Metropolitan University
, name_COL= Colwyn Bay
, name_CQN= Connah's Quay Nomads
, name_HAV=Haverfordwest County
, name_NEW= Newtown
, name_PEN= Penybont
, name_PON= Pontypridd United
, name_TNS= The New Saints

, show_limit=5
, class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Goals scored; 5) Matches won.

, res_col_header=QR
, col_CL1Q=green1 , text_CL1Q=Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
, col_ECL1Q=yellow1 , text_ECL1Q=Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round
, col_EUPO=yellow2 , text_EUPO={{nowrap, Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off
, col_REL=red1 , text_REL=Relegation to Cymru North or Cymru South

, note_res_ECL1Q=The 2023–24 Welsh Cup winners also qualified for the Conference League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners (Connah's Quay Nomads or The New Saints) qualified based on league position, the Conference League spot was passed to the third-placed team.

Results

Matches 1–22

Teams played each other twice, once at home and once away.

{{#invoke:sports results, main
, sourc
Cymru Premier
, update=complete
, a_note=
, matches_style=FBR
, team1=ABE , team2=BAL , team3=BAR , team4=CAE , team5=CMU , team6=COL , team7=CQN , team8=HAV , team9=NEW , team10=PEN , team11=PON , team12=TNS

, name_ABE= Aberystwyth Town
, name_BAL=Bala Town
, name_BAR= Barry Town United
, name_CAE= Caernarfon Town
, name_CMU= Cardiff Metropolitan University
, name_COL= Colwyn Bay
, name_CQN= Connah's Quay Nomads
, name_HAV=Haverfordwest County
, name_NEW= Newtown
, name_PEN= Penybont
, name_PON= Pontypridd United
, name_TNS= The New Saints

, match_ABE_BAL=2–3
, match_ABE_BAR=2–4
, match_ABE_CAE=2–4
, match_ABE_CMU=0–1
, match_ABE_COL=1–0
, match_ABE_CQN=1–1
, match_ABE_HAV=1–1
, match_ABE_NEW=0–1
, match_ABE_PEN=1–2
, match_ABE_PON=0–1
, match_ABE_TNS=1–3

, match_BAL_ABE=0–1
, match_BAL_BAR=1–0
, match_BAL_CAE=1–1
, match_BAL_CMU=0–1
, match_BAL_COL=2–1
, match_BAL_CQN=1–0
, match_BAL_HAV=2–0
, match_BAL_NEW=2–1
, match_BAL_PEN=2–1
, match_BAL_PON=0–0
, match_BAL_TNS=0–0

, match_BAR_ABE=0–1
, match_BAR_BAL=3–1
, match_BAR_CAE=0–3
, match_BAR_CMU=0–0
, match_BAR_COL=1–1
, match_BAR_CQN=1–4
, match_BAR_HAV=2–2
, match_BAR_NEW=4–0
, match_BAR_PEN=1–1
, match_BAR_PON=2–0
, match_BAR_TNS=2–6

, match_CAE_ABE=3–0
, match_CAE_BAL=1–1
, match_CAE_BAR=2–3
, match_CAE_CMU=5–1
, match_CAE_COL=2–1
, match_CAE_CQN=0–4
, match_CAE_HAV=0–1
, match_CAE_NEW=2–1
, match_CAE_PEN=2–4
, match_CAE_PON=1–0
, match_CAE_TNS=1–3

, match_CMU_ABE=4–2
, match_CMU_BAL=0–0
, match_CMU_BAR=2–1
, match_CMU_CAE=2–2
, match_CMU_COL=1–0
, match_CMU_CQN=3–1
, match_CMU_HAV=1–1
, match_CMU_NEW=2–1
, match_CMU_PEN=0–3
, match_CMU_PON=2–0
, match_CMU_TNS=1–5

, match_COL_ABE=3–1
, match_COL_BAL=2–3
, match_COL_BAR=0–1
, match_COL_CAE=0–4
, match_COL_CMU=2–2
, match_COL_CQN=2–3
, match_COL_HAV=1–2
, match_COL_NEW=2–4
, match_COL_PEN=2–1
, match_COL_PON=2–3
, match_COL_TNS=0–1

, match_CQN_ABE=4–0
, match_CQN_BAL=1–1
, match_CQN_BAR=7–0
, match_CQN_CAE=6–1
, match_CQN_COL=2–1
, match_CQN_CMU=4–0
, match_CQN_HAV=1–2
, match_CQN_NEW=3–1
, match_CQN_PEN=4–2
, match_CQN_PON=3–1
, match_CQN_TNS=0–4

, match_HAV_ABE=3–0
, match_HAV_BAL=2–3
, match_HAV_BAR=2–0
, match_HAV_CAE=1–1
, match_HAV_CMU=1–1
, match_HAV_COL=5–0
, match_HAV_CQN=1–3
, match_HAV_NEW=0–4
, match_HAV_PEN=3–2
, match_HAV_PON=0–0
, match_HAV_TNS=0–1

, match_NEW_ABE=0–0
, match_NEW_BAL=1–0
, match_NEW_BAR=2–0
, match_NEW_CAE=4–0
, match_NEW_CMU=2–1
, match_NEW_COL=4–2
, match_NEW_CQN=1–2
, match_NEW_HAV=1–1
, match_NEW_PEN=1–3
, match_NEW_PON=3–1
, match_NEW_TNS=0–2

, match_PEN_ABE=0–2
, match_PEN_BAL=0–2
, match_PEN_BAR=1–0
, match_PEN_CAE=3–2
, match_PEN_CMU=0–0
, match_PEN_COL=0–1
, match_PEN_CQN=0–1
, match_PEN_HAV=2–0
, match_PEN_NEW=1–1
, match_PEN_PON=1–0
, match_PEN_TNS=1–4

, match_PON_ABE=2–0
, match_PON_BAL=0–0
, match_PON_BAR=1–0
, match_PON_CAE=1–2
, match_PON_CMU=1–3
, match_PON_COL=0–3
, match_PON_CQN=0–3
, match_PON_HAV=2–0
, match_PON_NEW=0–1
, match_PON_PEN=0–0
, match_PON_TNS=0–1

, match_TNS_ABE=6–0
, match_TNS_BAL=2–0
, match_TNS_BAR=2–2
, match_TNS_CAE=2–1
, match_TNS_CMU=8–0
, match_TNS_COL=6–1
, match_TNS_CQN=6–2
, match_TNS_HAV=5–1
, match_TNS_NEW=3–1
, match_TNS_PEN=3–0
, match_TNS_PON=4–0

Matches 23–32

After 22 matches, the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six). Each team plays every other team in their group twice (once at home and once away).

Top six

{{#invoke:sports results, main
, sourc
Cymru Premier
, update=complete
, a_note=
, matches_style=FBR
, team1=BAL , team2=CAE , team3=CMU , team4=CQN , team5=NEW , team6=TNS

, name_BAL=Bala Town
, name_CAE= Caernarfon Town
, name_CMU= Cardiff Metropolitan University
, name_CQN= Connah's Quay Nomads
, name_NEW= Newtown
, name_TNS= The New Saints

, match_BAL_CAE=1–1
, match_BAL_CMU=1–1
, match_BAL_CQN=1–0
, match_BAL_NEW=1–1
, match_BAL_TNS=0-1

, match_CAE_BAL=2-2
, match_CAE_CMU=1–2
, match_CAE_CQN=2–1
, match_CAE_NEW=1–0
, match_CAE_TNS=1–8

, match_CMU_BAL=0–1
, match_CMU_CAE=2–2
, match_CMU_CQN=0–3
, match_CMU_NEW=1-3
, match_CMU_TNS=0–5

, match_CQN_BAL=0–0
, match_CQN_CAE=1–1
, match_CQN_CMU=2-1
, match_CQN_NEW=0–0
, match_CQN_TNS=1–5

, match_NEW_BAL=1-5
, match_NEW_CAE=5–0
, match_NEW_CMU=2–0
, match_NEW_CQN=2–3
, match_NEW_TNS=0–1

, match_TNS_BAL=4–1
, match_TNS_CAE=7–1
, match_TNS_CMU=4–0
, match_TNS_CQN=2-0
, match_TNS_NEW=3–0

Bottom six

{{#invoke:sports results, main
, sourc
Cymru Premier
, update=complete
, a_note=
, matches_style=FBR
, team1=ABE , team2=BAR , team3=COL , team4=HAV , team5=PEN , team6=PON

, name_ABE= Aberystwyth Town
, name_BAR= Barry Town United
, name_COL= Colwyn Bay
, name_HAV=Haverfordwest County
, name_PEN= Penybont
, name_PON= Pontypridd United

, match_ABE_BAR=1–1
, match_ABE_COL=0-1
, match_ABE_HAV=1–0
, match_ABE_PEN=0-3
, match_ABE_PON=3-0

, match_BAR_ABE=2–1
, match_BAR_COL=1–1
, match_BAR_HAV=1–1
, match_BAR_PEN=0–0
, match_BAR_PON=0–3

, match_COL_ABE=1–2
, match_COL_BAR=1-0
, match_COL_HAV=0-0
, match_COL_PEN=1–2
, match_COL_PON=1-0

, match_HAV_ABE=2–0
, match_HAV_BAR=2-1
, match_HAV_COL=3–1
, match_HAV_PEN=0–1
, match_HAV_PON=1-1

, match_PEN_ABE=1–1
, match_PEN_BAR=2-2
, match_PEN_COL=5–0
, match_PEN_HAV=1-0
, match_PEN_PON=0–1

, match_PON_ABE=0–0
, match_PON_BAR=1–1
, match_PON_COL=4–0
, match_PON_HAV=0–1
, match_PON_PEN=0–3

Conference League play-off

Teams placed 3rd-7th will enter one-off play-off matches for the third spot in the Conference League first qualifying round. The higher-placed team gains home advantage. Since the 2023–24 Welsh Cup winners will finish 3rd or higher, the 3rd-placed team qualified automatically for the Conference League and the spot was vacated.

Season statistics

{{updated, 18 April 2024{{Cite web, url=https://www.cymrufootball.wales/, title=Cymru Football, website=cymrufootball.wales, access-date=22 February 2023

Top scorers

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank
!Player
!Club
!Goals
, -
, 1
, align="left" , {{Flagicon, ENG Brad Young
, align="left" , The New Saints
, 22
, -
, 2
, align="left" , {{flagicon, WAL Jordan Davies
, align="left" , Connah's Quay
, 19
, -
, 3
, align="left" , {{flagicon, ENG Aaron Williams
, align="left" , Newtown
, 18
, -
, 4
, align="left" , {{flagicon, WAL Chris Venables
, align="left" , Penybont
, 17
, -
, rowspan="2", 5
, align="left" , {{flagicon, NIR Ryan Brobbel
, align="left" , The New Saints
, rowspan="2" , 14
, -
, align="left" , {{flagicon, WAL Adam Davies
, align="left" , Caernarfon Town
, -
, 7
, align="left" , {{flagicon, SCO Declan McManus
, align="left" , The New Saints
, 13
, -
, 8
, align="left" , {{flagicon, ENG George Newell
, align="left" , Bala Town
, 12
, -
, rowspan="4" , 9
, align="left" , {{flagicon, ENG Ollie Hulbert
, align="left" , Barry Town United
, rowspan="3" , 11
, -
, align="left" , {{flagicon, ENG Ben Clark
, align="left" , The New Saints
, -
, align="left" , {{flagicon, POL Adrian Cieślewicz
, align="left" , The New Saints

Hat-tricks

{, class="wikitable sortable"
, -
! Player !! For !! Against !! style="text-align:center", Result !! Date
, -
, {{flagicon, NIR Ryan Brobbel
, The New Saints
, Haverfordwest County
, 5–1 (H)
, 16 September 2023
, -
, {{flagicon, ENG Aaron Williams
, Newtown
, Caernarfon Town
, 4–0 (H)
, 7 October 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Brad Young
, The New Saints
, Barry Town United
, 2–6 (A)
, 21 October 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, WAL Sion Bradley
, Caernarfon Town
, Cardiff Met
, 5–1 (H)
, 21 October 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Harry Franklin
, Connah's Quay
, Caernarfon Town
, 6–1 (H)
, 27 October 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, WAL Chris Venables
, Penybont
, Caernarfon Town
, 2–4 (A)
, 4 November 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Martell Taylor-Crossdale
, Haverfordwest County
, Colwyn Bay
, 5–0 (H)
, 4 November 2023
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Brad Young
, The New Saints
, Cardiff Met
, 8–0 (H)
, 6 January 2024
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Brad Young
, The New Saints
, Caernarfon Town
, 1–8 (A)
, 23 February 2024
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG George Newell
, Newtown
, Bala Town
, 1–5 (A)
, 24 February 2024
, -
, {{Flagicon, ENG Brad Young
, The New Saints
, Cardiff Met
, 4–0 (H)
, 2 March 2024

;Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Monthly awards

{, class="wikitable"
, -
!rowspan="2", Month
!colspan="2", Manager of the Month
!colspan="2", Player of the Month
, -
!Manager
!Club
!Player
!Club
, -
, August
, Richard Davies
, Caernarfon Town
, Sion Bradley
, Caernarfon Town
, -
, September
, Chris Hughes
, Newtown
, Jordan Davies
, Connah's Quay
, -
, October
, Craig Harrison
, The New Saints
, Ben Nash
, Connah's Quay
, -
, November
, Tony Pennock
, Haverfordwest County
, Ryan Sears
, Newtown
, -
, December
, Craig Harrison
, The New Saints
, Josh Pask
, The New Saints
, -
, January
, Steve Jenkins
, Barry Town United
, Brad Young
, The New Saints
, -
, February
, Gavin Allen
, Pontypridd United
, Ben Ahmun
, Pontypridd United
, -
, March
, Richard Davies
, Caernarfon Town
, Rhys Abbruzzese
, Haverfordwest County

Attendances

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" margin-top:0.2em;"
, -
! Team
! Highest
! Lowest
! Average
, -
, Aberystwyth Town
, 824
, 271
, 370
, -
, Bala Town
, 564
, 138
, 292*
, -
, Barry Town United
, 521
, 243
, 426
, -
, Caernarfon Town
, 978
, 339
, 576
, -
, Cardiff Metropolitan University
, 563
, 112
, 248*
, -
, Colwyn Bay
, 1,411
, 422
, 714
, -
, Connah's Quay Nomads
, 506
, 139
, 268
, -
, Haverfordwest County
, 698
, 308
, 458
, -
, Newtown
, 421
, 181
, 298
, -
, Penybont
, 863
, 175
, 311*
, -
, Pontypridd United
, 537
, 191
, 279*
, -
, The New Saints
, 532
, 161
, 322

Figures taken from FAW Cymru Football app and other club channels. Correct as of 22 April 2024.
''*Denotes incomplete record, as missing attendance figures. Figures for Penybont v Caernarfon (16/9), Pontypridd v Bala (16/9), Bala v Aberystwyth (27/9), Penybont v TNS (7/10), Penybont v Aberystwyth (27/10) and Cardiff Met v Connah's Quay (6/4) have not been publicly recorded. Average attendances for these teams are calculated on basis of available attendance data divided by total number of home games played''

References

{{reflist

{{2023–24 in Welsh football
{{2023–24 in European football (UEFA)

{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Cymru Premier
Cymru Premier seasons
Wales
Wales
1