2018–19 Welsh Premier League

The 2018–19 Welsh Premier League was the 27th and final season of the Welsh Premier League, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. The New Saints are the defending champions. The season fixtures were announced on 27 June 2018.[1] The season began on 10 August 2018. Teams play each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups at the end of January 2019 – the top six and the bottom six.

Welsh Premier League
Season2018–19
ChampionsThe New Saints (13th title)
RelegatedLlandudno
Llanelli Town
Champions LeagueThe New Saints
Europa LeagueConnah's Quay Nomads
Barry Town United
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Matches played186
Goals scored611 (3.28 per match)
2019–20 →

The season ended on 26 April 2019.

Teams

The bottom placed team from the previous season, Prestatyn Town, and Bangor City, were relegated to the Cymru Alliance for the 2018–19 season. Despite finishing 2nd the FAW Club Licensing Appeals Body decided to revoke Bangor City's Tier 1 and UEFA licence[2] meaning that they would automatically drop down to the second level of Welsh football. This meant a reprieve for Carmarthen Town who had finished second bottom and would otherwise have been relegated.

Bangor and Prestatyn were replaced by Llanelli Town and Caernarfon Town, champions of the 2017–18 Welsh Football League Division One and 2017–18 Cymru Alliance respectively. Caernarfon Town are playing in the Welsh Premier League for the first time since the 2008–09 season, while Llanelli Town are a new side, replacing the original Llanelli AFC who were relegated at the end of the 2012–13 season and then wound up in the high court. The arrival of Barry Town United the previous season means that both of the former South Wales 'giants' are now back in the Welsh top-flight. In addition, Cardiff Met remain and Carmarthen Town were reprieved, so the balance of power is slowly shifting from what was for a while, an almost predominantly North Wales-based league.

Locations of the 2018–19 Welsh Premier League teams

Stadia and locations
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aberystwyth Town Aberystwyth Park Avenue 5,000
Bala Town Bala Maes Tegid 3,000
Barry Town United Barry Jenner Park 3,500
Caernarfon Town Caernarfon The Oval 3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff Cyncoed Campus 1,620
Carmarthen Town Carmarthen Richmond Park 3,000
Cefn Druids Wrexham The Rock 3,000
Connah's Quay Nomads Connah's Quay Deeside Stadium 1,500
Llandudno Llandudno Park MBi Maesdu 1,013
Llanelli Town A.F.C. Llanelli Stebonheath Park 3,700
Newtown Newtown Latham Park 5,000
The New Saints Oswestry Park Hall 2,000

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Front shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Neville Powell/

Matthew Bishop

 Declan Walker Acerbis Cambrian Tyres
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris Venables Macron Aykroyd's
Barry Town United Gavin Chesterfield Jordan Cotterill Macron RIM Motors, LDS Motor Factors
Caernarfon Town Sean Eardley Nathan Craig Errea Gofal Bro Cyf., Parc Gwêl y Fenai
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Bradley Woolridge Errea Cardiff Metropolitan University
Carmarthen Town Neil Smothers Lee Surman Legea ATB Davies & Son, Castell Howell Foods
Cefn Druids Huw Griffiths Neil Ashton Errea Wrexham Lager
Connah's Quay Nomads Andy Morrison George Horan Macron Gap Personnel
Llandudno Iwan Williams Danny Hughes Adidas Bengal Dynasty
Llanelli Town Andy Hill Joe Clarke Macron Gravell's Motors
The New Saints Scott Ruscoe Paul Harrison Legea RUK Group
Newtown Chris Hughes Jay Denny Errea Nidec Corporation

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1 The New Saints (C) 32 23 5 4 99 16 +83 74 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Connah's Quay Nomads 32 19 5 8 76 33 +43 62 Qualification to the Europa League first qualifying round
3 Barry Town United 32 17 5 10 54 51 +3 56 Qualification to the Europa League preliminary round
4 Caernarfon Town 32 13 7 12 45 47 −2 46 Qualification for the Europa League play-offs
5 Newtown 32 13 7 12 53 56 −3 46
6 Bala Town 32 13 5 14 55 63 −8 44
7 Cardiff Metropolitan University (O) 32 16 3 13 53 40 +13 51 Qualification for the Europa League play-offs
8 Aberystwyth Town 32 13 5 14 44 61 −17 44
9 Carmarthen Town[lower-alpha 2] 32 12 6 14 49 53 −4 39
10 Cefn Druids 32 10 9 13 43 49 −6 39
11 Llandudno (R) 32 5 7 20 33 65 −32 22 Relegation to FAW Championship North & Mid
12 Llanelli Town (R) 32 4 4 24 31 101 −70 16 Relegation to FAW Championship South & Mid
Source: Welsh Premier League,Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Matches won; 5) Play-off.[3]
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other twice (22 matches), before the league splits into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last 10 matches.
  2. Carmarthen Town were deducted 3 points

Results

Teams play each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups – the top six and the bottom six.

Matches 1–22
Home \ Away ABE BAL BAR CAE CMU CMR CDR CQN LND LNE NTW TNS
Aberystwyth Town — 3–2 0–1 0–0 1–4 1–1 0–2 1–6 1–0 3–1 0–2 1–0
Bala Town 2–3 — 0–1 1–3 3–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 3–2 1–1
Barry Town United 2–1 3–2 — 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 5–2 4–1 0–2
Caernarfon Town 4–0 2–2 0–1 — 2–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–3 3–0 0–3 0–3
Cardiff Metropolitan University 2–3 3–0 3–0 0–1 — 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–1 4–0 2–1 4–1
Carmarthen Town 2–2 1–2 2–3 4–3 2–0 — 2–3 3–2 0–0 2–0 3–0 0–3
Cefn Druids 1–0 2–2 2–5 1–1 1–1 4–0 — 1–2 2–1 2–3 1–1 0–3
Connah's Quay Nomads 2–1 4–1 2–2 0–1 6–1 3–1 3–1 — 3–0 6–0 3–1 1–0
Llandudno 0–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–4 — 1–2 0–0 0–4
Llanelli Town A.F.C. 1–3 1–7 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–7 2–1 — 1–3 0–2
Newtown 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 7–1 — 1–1
The New Saints 6–0 0–0 5–1 0–1 1–1 6–0 7–0 3–0 6–1 5–0 4–0 —
Source: Welsh Premier League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–32

UEFA Europa League play-offs

Teams that finish in positions third to seventh at the end of the regular season will participate in play-offs to determine the third participant for the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, who will qualify for the preliminary round.

Semi-finals
Newtown1–2Bala Town
  • Kenton  89'
 Report
  • Smith  40'
  • Jones  53'
Attendance: 424
Referee: Kevin Parry
Caernarfon Town2–3Cardiff Met.
 Report
The Oval (Caernarfon)
Attendance: 1,280
Referee: Lee Evans

Final
Bala Town1–1 (a.e.t.)Cardiff Met
  • Jones  20'
 Report
  • Evans  24'
Penalties
 1–3
Attendance: 623
Referee: Dean Jones

Season statistics
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
August Andy Morrison Connah's Quay Nomads Henry Jones Bala Town
September Gavin Chesterfield Barry Town United Callum Morris Connah's Quay Nomads
October Scott Ruscoe The New Saints Robbie Patten Barry Town United
November Neville Powell Aberystwyth Town Nathan Craig Caernarfon Town
December


References
  1. "WPL Fixtures for New Season Announced - Welsh Premier League". Welsh Premier League. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  2. "Decisions of the FAW Club Licencing Appeals Body". Welsh Premier League. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  3. "European Qualification from the WPL". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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