The 2025–26 Cymru Premier (; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 34th season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. This was the final season of the competition to utilise a 12 team format, and the final to not use VAR (video assistant referee), in advance of its introduction for 2026–27.
The New Saints were league champions - their 18th title and the fifth in row.
Teams The league consisted of twelve teams; the top ten teams from the previous season, one team promoted from the Cymru North, and one team promoted from the Cymru South. The New Saints entered the season as defending champions (for the fourth consecutive season). This was the final season to consist of twelve teams, with the league set to expand to sixteen teams from 2026 to 2027.
Team changes The following teams changed division since the 2024–25 season. Promoted to Cymru Premier Relegated from Cymru Premier Colwyn Bay Llanelli Town Newtown Aberystwyth Town
The promoted teams were the 2024–25 Cymru North champions Colwyn Bay (returning to the top flight after a single-season absence), and the 2024–25 Cymru South champions Llanelli Town (returning to the top flight for the first time since 2018–19). They replaced the 2024–25 Cymru Premier bottom two teams Newtown and Aberystwyth Town (both relegated from the Cymru Premier for the first time in their histories).
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2024–25 season 3,000 2,650 2,300 3,000 1,620 ↑ 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,100 ↑ 3,700 3,000 2,034
↑ Promoted from the Cymru North and Cymru South
Notes:
Personnel and kits Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsorBala Town MacronAykroyd'sBarry Town United MacronRIM MotorsBriton Ferry Llansawel Macron Woodpecker Garden BuildingsCaernarfon Town Surridge SportWilliams Timber SolutionsCardiff Metropolitan University NikeNuffield HealthColwyn Bay Hope + GloryKHSConnah's Quay Nomads AdidasCastle Green HomesFlint Town United MacronEssityHaverfordwest County Tor SportsDragonBetLlanelli Town MacronRed Town TavernsPenybont Macron Nathaniel CarsThe New Saints MacronSiFi Networks
Managerial changes Pre-season Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of arrivalConnah's Quay Nomads Billy PaynterSacked13 April 2025 John Disney25 May 2025Bala Town Colin CatonResigned3 June 2025 Steve Fisher10 June 2025
During the season TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced byDate of appointment Round PositionLee JohnSacked9 January 20262112thTerry Boyle13 January 2026Steve JenkinsChanged role1 February 2026236thAndy Legg1 February 2026Lee FowlerChanged role19 March 2026299thSteve Evans19 March 2026
Regular season League table
Results
Championship Conference The top six teams from the regular season entered the Championship Conference, playing every other team in the group for the third and fourth time (once at home and once away). Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.
League table
Results
Play-Off Conference The bottom six teams from the regular season entered the Play-Off Conference, playing every other team in the group for the third and fourth time (once at home and once away). Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.
League table
Results
Conference League play-off Teams placed 3rd–7th qualified for one-off play-off matches, with the winners earning the third spot in the 2026–27 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round; the higher-placed team per game received home advantage. Since the 2025–26 Welsh Cup winners (Caernarfon Town) finished in the top seven (4th), a spot was vacated.
Bracket
Semi-finals
Final
Season statistics Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Jordan WilliamsThe New Saints242 Rhys HughesConnah's Quay Nomads14 Ryan BrobbelThe New Saints Ben AhmunHaverfordwest County5 Harry FranklinConnah's Quay Nomads13 Jordan DaviesColwyn Bay
Hat-trick
Player For Against Result Date Adam DaviesCaernarfon TownLlanelli Town6–1 (H)16 August 2025 Noah DaleyPenybontBarry Town United2–3 (A)22 August 2025 Elliott ReevesFlint Town UnitedLlanelli Town0–5 (A)6 September 2025 Jordan WilliamsThe New SaintsHaverfordwest County5–0 (A)6 September 2025 James CrolePenybontCardiff Metropolitan University0–4 (A)23 September 2025 Harry FranklinConnah's Quay NomadsBriton Ferry Llansawel0–3 (A)11 October 2025 Elliott ReevesFlint Town UnitedLlanelli Town4–0 (H)11 October 2025 Jordan WilliamsThe New SaintsPenybont6–2 (H)11 October 2025 Jordan DaviesColwyn BayPenybont5–4 (H)29 November 2025 Rory HoldenThe New SaintsPenybont6–0 (H)7 February 2026 Dan HawkinsHaverfordwest CountyLlanelli Town6–0 (H)19 April 2026
Notes (H) – Home team(A) – Away team
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Nathan ShepperdThe New Saints162 George RatcliffeBarry Town United133 Joel TorranceBala Town104 Ifan KnottHaverfordwest County8 Will FullerBriton Ferry Llansawel Kit MargetsonConnah's Quay Nomads Alex BrownColwyn Bay
Discipline Player Most yellow cards: 12 Joseph Lloyd (Llanelli Town)
Most red cards: 2 Mitchell Bates (Briton Ferry Llansawel) Harry Owen (Flint Town United)
Club Most yellow cards: 72 Connah's Quay Nomads
Fewest yellow cards: 38 Bala Town
Most red cards: 5 Flint Town United Penybont
Fewest red cards: 1 Caernarfon Town Llanelli The New Saints
Monthly awards
MonthPlayer of the MonthManager of the MonthManagerClubPlayerClubJuly/ AugustTom WaltersBriton Ferry LlansawelRichard DaviesCaernarfon TownSeptemberGabe KircoughPenybontCraig HarrisonThe New SaintsOctoberRhys HughesConnah's Quay NomadsMichael WildeColwyn BayNovemberJordan WilliamsThe New SaintsJohn DisneyConnah's Quay NomadsDecemberHarry FranklinConnah's Quay NomadsJohn DisneyConnah's Quay NomadsJanuaryRhys HughesConnah's Quay NomadsCraig HarrisonThe New SaintsFebruaryBen MargetsonBarry Town UnitedAndy LeggBarry Town UnitedMarchCameron FergusonBala TownMichael WildeColwyn BayAprilMatty JonesCaernarfon TownRichard DaviesCaernarfon Town
See also 2025–26 Cymru North 2025–26 Cymru South 2025–26 Welsh Cup 2025–26 Welsh League Cup
References