Welsh Premier League Cynghrair Bel Droid Cymru 2013 - 2014
The WPL is the national, semi-professional competition for Welsh clubs. It is currently ranked 48th out of 53 members by UEFA.
The WPL is fed by the Cymru Alliance in the north and the Welsh Football League in the south. Promotion is not automatic: the regional champions must submit an application, have a stadium that meets WPL standards and a domestic licence granted by the FA of Wales. If the regional champions do not apply the second placed club(s) may do so instead.
This season Cymru Alliance champions Rhyl replace Llanelli, who were wound up in the High Court at the end of last season because of unpaid taxes. Afon Lido, who finished last were reprieved because neither the champions nor runners up in the Welsh League hold an FAW licence.
Although the WPL season starts in the last week of August those sides that have qualified for Europe are in action from the beginning of July. Four places are available: one each for the champions, runners-up and Welsh Cup winners while the teams finishing 3rd to 8th play off for the remaining slot.
| 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 |
The WPL logo is the property of the Welsh Premier League. Crests are the property of the respective clubs.
The Green and Blacks had a poor 2012-13 season, finishing 10th. Their home kit is basically unchanged but is now usually worn with black shorts (white may be worn when short colours clash).
Afan Lido play at the Marston Stadium in Aberavon on the south Wales coast less than half a mile from their WPL rivals, Port Talbot Town. They finished last in 2012-13 but retained their place because the Welsh League did not produce a team qualfied for promotion.
The Wingmakers finished as runners up last season and started 2013-14 with a home tie against FK Ventspils on 4 July but were eliminated on away goals. Their usual all-blue home strip is updated to one of Macron's new designs. The matching black away strip trimmed in yellow replaces last season's silver and black outfit.
Bala qualified for Europe by beating Port Talbot in the Europa League play-off final despite a modest 7th place finish. They lost 3-2 on aggregate to FC Levadia Tallinn in the First Qualifying Round. Special kits were commissioned for the European campaign (the red version was not used).
One of the most successful Welsh teams, Bangor have played in the top tier since 1992 and have a long history of competing in Europe but were knocked out in the play-offs last season. The home kit has been updated while the away strip is unchanged apart from the new sponsor.
The Old Gold and Black improved on their 2012-13 performance, finishing sixth. The home strip is in their traditional colours, updated to Macron's latest template. A green and navy change strip replaces last season's white version.
Connah's Quay Nomads have updated their image restoring "Nomads" to their title, adopting a new badge and changing their colours to match those of the sailing ship that appears on the town crest.
This mid Wales club, formed in 1875, was a founder member of the FA of Wales. Newtown are the first club in the UK to have their kit supplied by the Italian firm, Givova, whose brand is prominent in Italy's lower leagues.
Formerly Port Talbot Athletic, the team are known as The Steelmen (the town is dominated by a huge steel works). Their new home strip is identical to that worn by Bangor and is also available in black. The yellow/navy alternative is new this season.
Prestatyn won the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history last season, beating Bangor City 3-1 in extra time.
Rhyl can trace their history back to 1879. Between 1932 and 1992 they played in England and made several attempts to join the Football League before reluctantly joining the new Welsh pyramid. They have won the WPL twice (2004, 2009) and were Cymru Alliance champions last season, having not lost a game. Their kit supplier is based in Thailand and, while their home kit is very smart, the change strip is the most garish combination in the WPL.
Now that Llanelli and Neath have been wound up, TNS are the only fully professional side in the WPL. Their superiority was evident last season when they won the title by a margin of 22 points. Their familiar hooped shirts have been updated for this season. A competition was organised among local primary schools to design the new away strip and was won by Ellie Jones.