Welsh Football (domestic) thread

[Uros Predic]

There has been a bit of Twitter discussion about attendances in the Cymru Premier on opening weekend

To be fair, those opening weekend figures are hindered somewhat by Caernarfon, Flint and Aberystwyth all being away from home.

But generally, the picture isn't helped by the fact that a lot of Wales traditionally better supported sides – Barry, Bangor, Rhyl, Llanelli even – are no longer in the top tier. You've also got clubs like Colwyn Bay and Ammanford in the second tier whose support has grown in recent years, which makes those top tier attendances look worse. There's not a lot you can do about that as a governing body. You can't promote, relegate or deny promotion based on attendances.

So how do you solve it? Moving games to Friday nights? Works in one respect of avoiding a clash with the EPL/Championship clubs' games; but also massively reduces the likelihood of away fans turning up for anything other than a derby. A bigger top flight? Yes, helps make things a bit more interesting for fans, but then may dilute the quality of what you're watching.

There's no guaranteed fix all solution, but I do think a lot of the clubs themselves could do more. Cardiff Met are an outlier because of what they are, TNS too – because if 20 years of success hasn't seen your fanbase grow then its clear you really don't give a sh*t – but beyond that? One thing that's struck me about Colwyn Bay is that their fixtures are up in loads of pubs, bars and businesses in the town; they've made a big effort to connect with the community. I don't see that in Llandudno at all.

[Patrick Thistle]

It's geography as much as anything else. If the FAW were going to invest anywhere, then subsidising away travel would be a good start.

Agree you can't promote / relegate based on attendances and I think FPP would skew the league in a different direction. But doped clubs with no fans don't help.

Nationalised football with franchises is beyond the pale.

I don't really worry about the reduced quality of a bigger league. My team being in the bottom 6 last season meant we saw a lot of shit football. We saw the worst 5 teams twice over. Its deathly dull.

[Discordant Resonance]

As elguapo4 will state, Friday night matches have been no automatic panacea for the League of Ireland, even if average attendances have been rising in recent seasons, and are higher than they were in the Saturday/Sunday kick-off era.

The average Premier Division attendances as per the Irish forum Foot.ie:

2022: 2,716
2019 (last comparable pre-Covid season): 2,185
2018: 2,170
2017: 1,902
2016: 1,476
2015: 1,681
2014: 1,502
2013: 1,566
2012: 1,630
2011: 1,547

[Merlin the happy pig]

Not only have Pontypridd changed their name but for some reason, Futbology has changed their ground name from "USW Sports Park" to "USW Sports Park 3G", which means the previous name is listed as a (demolished) ground. The photo of the "new" ground looks exactly like the one I went to twice last season.

Speaking to a steward on Saturday, apparently the pitch they were on last season was too far from the changing rooms for Cymru Premier so they moved to the other side of the facility.

[Patrick Thistle]

Speaking to a steward on Saturday, apparently the pitch they were on last season was too far from the changing rooms for Cymru Premier so they moved to the other side of the facility.

I went twice last season and it was exactly the same pitch.

[Merlin the happy pig]

I went twice last season and it was exactly the same pitch.

Ah, maybe they moved last season then, but a few people said they'd moved.

[Patrick Thistle]

I think they did move and Futbology took their time catching up. It means my games last season are recorded on the wrong "ground" (pitch)

[Patrick Thistle]

This article could have done with an edit as it's a bit all over the place. But it's one of the few times I've read an article based around a game I've been to.

https://twitter.com/nationalwales/status/1560197310155571204?t=2-DPnmsW2f2Cq9wMRpqaAw&s=19

[Patrick Thistle]

Hmm, a new cup competition for the Tier 2 clubs.

I think they are making a big mistake regionalising it. Would be much more fun giving teams opportunities to travel.

The JD Cymru Leagues has launched a new cup competition - the Tier 2 League Cup - for clubs competing in the JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South.

The new competition, which kicks off on the opening weekend of September, will see the 32 second-tier clubs enter at the first round stage.

The competition will be regionalised in the early stages with the draw split into northern and southern sections until the two regional winners are confirmed.

The winners of the northern section will then take on the winners of the southern section as they battle it out to make history and become the first Tier 2 League Cup champions.

Nick Davies, Interim Senior Competitions Manager at the FAW, said: "We are delighted to launch a new cup competition exclusively for clubs competing in the JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South.

"The new competition will see clubs contest in an exciting competition format in the northern and southern sections, with an overall winner crowned at the end of the campaign.

"There are plenty of exciting ties and local derbies to look forward to in the first round, so hopefully we will see healthy attendances across the country throughout the new season."

The first round draw took place at the Football Association of Wales' HQ in Hensol, with the ties to be played over the weekend commencing Saturday 3rd September.

Please note all fixtures are subject to change.

Northern draw

Porthmadog v Cefn Druids

Conwy Borough v Buckley Town

Gresford Athletic v Guilsfield

Ruthin Town v Colwyn Bay

Mold Alexandra v Penrhyncoch

Llandudno v Llanidloes Town

Holyhead Hotspur v Prestatyn Town

Holywell Town v Chirk AAA

Southern draw

Barry Town United v Cwmbran Celtic

Llantwit Major v Trefelin BGC

Llanelli Town v Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC

Afan Lido v Pontardawe Town

Ammanford AFC v Briton Ferry Llansawel

Carmarthen Town v Goytre United

Swansea University v Ynyshir Albions

Abergavenny Town v Taffs Well

https://www.cymrufootball.wales/news...-2-league-cup/


Also it's really odd that this has been announced now, only 2 and a half weeks before the games are due to be played.

[Patrick Thistle]

Bookings for this close on Sunday

https://twitter.com/SWALInfo/status/1558067413853290497?t=_R9l9bgv3nlYo3LvG-XAOw&s=19

[Uros Predic]

Biggest surprise of the Welsh Cup today came in Llandudno where third tier Bodedern Athletic, who won 17-0 in the previous round, were beaten 2-0 by fifth tier Llandudno Amateurs.

Beyond that there were a further nine one-tier upsets to follow on from Cardiff Corinthians comfortable win over Llwydcoed on Friday night...

Brickfield Rangers 1-3 Llansannan
Rhos Aelwyd 0-2 FC Queens Park
Lliswery 0-1 Aberbargoed Buds
Ebbw Vale 3-5 Pill
Tonyrefail 1-3 Rockspur
Garden Village 2-2 Pencoed (2-3 on pens)
CKSV 2-2 Penrhiwceiber Rangers (3-1 on pens)
Canton Liberal 1-1 Abertillery Bluebirds (4-2 on pens)


All of the above were fourth tier sides beating third tier sides, but there was also a fifth tier victory over fourth tier opposition;
Hakin United 5-0 Penlan

[Patrick Thistle]

Just an update on the Tier 2 Cup. I've yet to find any fan who thinks it's a good idea. I've seen it compared to the Papa Johns Trophy.

[Kowalski]

Every league has a league cup, it's just a league cup with a larger catchment area

[Kowalski]

Biggest surprise of the Welsh Cup today came in Llandudno where third tier Bodedern Athletic, who won 17-0 in the previous round, were beaten 2-0 by fifth tier Llandudno Amateurs.

Beyond that there were a further nine one-tier upsets to follow on from Cardiff Corinthians comfortable win over Llwydcoed on Friday night...

Brickfield Rangers 1-3 Llansannan
Rhos Aelwyd 0-2 FC Queens Park
Lliswery 0-1 Aberbargoed Buds
Ebbw Vale 3-5 Pill
Tonyrefail 1-3 Rockspur
Garden Village 2-2 Pencoed (2-3 on pens)
CKSV 2-2 Penrhiwceiber Rangers (3-1 on pens)
Canton Liberal 1-1 Abertillery Bluebirds (4-2 on pens)


All of the above were fourth tier sides beating third tier sides, but there was also a fifth tier victory over fourth tier opposition;
Hakin United 5-0 Penlan

Apparently the draw for the next round is on facebook tomorrow (8pm kick oiff).

[Patrick Thistle]

Every league has a league cup, it's just a league cup with a larger catchment area

But that's the MG Cup.

[Kowalski]

i meant each league, or tier as it is these days, has a cup specifically for clubs in their league / tier.

Having said that the league cups can feel a bit needless and some league have more than one, and a reserves cup. Sometimes the league cups become "You have to play 5 matches in 10 days et the end of the season Cups" by April.

[Patrick Thistle]

The main complaint is the lateness of the announcement, several games into the season. There was a gap in the league schedule - one Barry regular booked groundhopping trip to Germany not expecting Barry to be playing. (My take on it is that it was an opportunity for Cymru North and Cymru South teams to play each other and at least we would see some different teams. As it is, it feels quite unthrilling.)

Is there an Ardal North cup this year?

[Kowalski]

There is and we've drawn Hawarden Rangers in the first round, (3rd Nov)

[Patrick Thistle]

The Ardal Cups felt more worthwhile because games are played across the divisions. I'd like there to be a cup-winners play off between the North and South winners.

[Patrick Thistle]

Welsh Cup first round draw

JD WELSH CUP ROUND 1 DRAW



Northern Section

Llanidloes Town v Gresford Athletic
Penparcau v Rhyl 1879
Denbigh Town v Bow FC or Llanrwst United
Penrhyncoch v Caersws
Llansannan v Glantraeth
Llandudno Amateurs v Llanrug United
Llay Welfare v Flint Mountain
Mochdre Sports v Chirk AAA
Conwy Borough v Kinmel Bay
Porthmadog v Mold Alexandra
Nefyn United or Llangefni Town v Llandudno Albion
Talysarn Celts v FC Queens Park
Y Felinheli v Y Glannau
Trearddur Bay v Penycae
Abermule v Hawarden Rangers
Machynlleth v Prestatyn Town
Llanfair United v Llanuwchllyn
Bow Street v Bangor 1876

Southern Section

CKSV v Aber Valley
Abergavenny Town v Treharris Athletic Western
Canton Liberal v West End
Afan Lido v Hakin United
Trefelin BGC v Llandrindod Wells
Risca United v Aberbargoed Buds
Croesyceiliog v Ynysygerwn
Pill AFC v Caldicot Town
Llanelli Town v Goytre AFC (Gwent)
Penydarren BGC v Ynyshir Albions
Baglan Dragons v Pontardawe Town
Cefn Cribwr v Newport City
Cwmbran Celtic v Ammanford
Trethomas Bluebirds v Ton Pentre
Pencoed Athletic v Brecon Corries
Chepstow Town v Rockspur
Treowen Stars v Cardiff Corinthians
Aberfan v Porthcawl Town Athletic

Ties to be played on 17 September. I'm travelling back from holiday that day so I don't think I will make it to Cardiff Corinthians's next game in the competition. Unless I can persuade Mrs Thistle to extend our holiday with a stop in Treowen on the way.

[Discordant Resonance]

Presumably Abergavenny Town is the successor club to Thursdays?

[Ray de Galles]

Not really domestic necessarily but I thought this needed recording ;

https://twitter.com/iolocheung/status/1562135452123013121?s=21&t=KvBi_fxaMmHrAo8v_ONkMQ

[ursus arctos]

He upgraded his title?

[Patrick Thistle]

Presumably Abergavenny Town is the successor club to Thursdays?

Sort of. Thursdays plummeted to the bottom of the Gwent county league and dissolved. The Thursdays Trust retained the ground. Another local team and whatever was left of Thursdays "merged" (rebranded) as Abergavenny Town, playing at the ground.

[Patrick Thistle]

I'd seen that about Prince Cisse. Really intriguing.