Founded | 1904 |
---|---|
Folded | 2020 |
Country | Wales |
Number of teams | 16 |
Level on pyramid | 1 (1904–1992) 2 (1992–2019) 3 (2019–2020) |
Promotion to | Cymru South |
Relegation to | Welsh Football League Division Two |
Domestic cup(s) | Welsh Cup Welsh Football League Cup |
Last champions | Trefelin BGC (2019-20) |
Current: 2019–20 Welsh League Division One |
The Welsh Football League Division One, known as the Nathanielcars.co.uk Welsh League First Division for sponsorship reasons, was a football league in South Wales. It formed the top division of the Welsh Football League and the second level of the Welsh football league system until the 2019–20 season when it was replaced by the Cymru South. From the 2019–20 season it operated at the third level of the Welsh football league system.[1]
If the team which finished top of the Division had good enough ground facilities, it was promoted to the Welsh Premier League and was replaced by one of the two teams finishing bottom of the Premiership. If the Division champions' ground did not meet Premiership standards, then the team which finished second may have been promoted. The team which finished in bottom position was relegated to the Welsh Football League Division Two.
From its inception in 1904 it had always been the top flight of the Welsh League, or the Rhymney Valley League and Glamorgan League as it was known until 1912. This division changed its name on numerous occasions, which includes Premier Division and National Division.
In 1992 it became level two of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Welsh Premier League.
In 2019 it became level three of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Cymru South. It folded in 2020 after the Football Association of Wales took over the running of tier 3 leagues and the responsibility for tier 4 passed to regional football associations.
Member clubs for the final 2019–20 season
Top Division of the Welsh League (1904–1992)
Since its inception in 1904 it has always been the top flight of the Welsh League for the teams located in South Wales.
This division has changed its name on numerous occasions.
Performance by club
- 22 Clubs won Top Division of the Welsh League (1904–1992) in South Wales.
Club | Wins | Winning Years |
---|---|---|
Swansea Town / City Reserves | 12 |
1912–13, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1975–76 |
Lovell's Athletic | 7 |
1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1965–66 |
Barry Town & Reserves | 7 |
1926–27, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89 |
Cardiff City Reserves | 6 |
1922–23, 1928–29, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72 |
Llanelli | 6 |
1913–14, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1977–78 |
Ton Pentre | 6 |
1907–08, 1914–15, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1973–74, 1981–82 |
Newport County Reserves | 5 |
1927–28, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1974–75, 1979–80 |
Aberdare | 4 |
1904–05, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1920–21 |
Abergavenny Thursdays | 4 |
1958–59, 1959–60, 1990–91, 1991–92 |
Merthyr Town & Reserves | 3 |
1910–11, 1930–31, 1948–49 |
Haverfordwest County | 3 |
1956–57, 1980–81, 1989–90 |
Merthyr Tydfil Reserves | 2 |
1949–50, 1951–52 |
Pembroke Borough | 2 |
1953–54, 1955–56 |
Bridgend Town | 2 |
1968–69, 1972–73 |
Ebbw Vale | 2 |
1952–53, 1987–88 |
Rogerstone | 1 |
1905–06 |
Cwmaman | 1 |
1906–07 |
Treharris | 1 |
1909–10 |
Mid Rhondda | 1 |
1919–20 |
Porth | 1 |
1921–22 |
Pontypridd FC | 1 |
1923–24 |
Pontllanfraith | 1 |
1978–79 |
Welsh Football League Division One (1992–2019)
In 1992 it became level two of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Welsh Premier League.
Seasons | Winner |
---|---|
Welsh Football League Division 1 | |
1992–93 |
Ton Pentre |
1993–94 |
Barry Town |
1994–95 |
Briton Ferry Athletic |
1995–96 |
Carmarthen Town |
1996–97 |
Haverfordwest County |
1997–98 |
Ton Pentre |
1998–99 |
Ton Pentre |
1999–00 |
Ton Pentre |
2000–01 |
Ton Pentre |
2001–02 |
Ton Pentre |
2002–03 |
Bettws |
2003–04 |
Llanelli |
2004–05 |
Ton Pentre |
2005–06 |
Goytre United |
2006–07 |
Neath Athletic |
2007–08 |
Goytre United |
2008–09 |
Aberdare Town |
Goytre United | |
Bryntirion Athletic | |
Cambrian & Clydach | |
West End | |
Monmouth Town | |
Caerau (Ely) | |
Cardiff Met | |
Barry Town United | |
Llanelli Town | |
Pen-y-Bont |
Performance by club
Club | Wins | Winning Years |
---|---|---|
Ton Pentre | 7 |
1992–93, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2004–05 |
Goytre United | 3 |
2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10 |
Llanelli Town | 2 |
2003–04, 2017–18 |
Barry Town | 2 |
1993–94, 2016–17 |
Briton Ferry Athletic | 1 |
1994–95 |
Carmarthen Town | 1 |
1995–96 |
Haverfordwest County | 1 |
1996–97 |
Bettws | 1 |
2002–03 |
Neath Athletic | 1 |
2006–07 |
Aberdare Town | 1 |
2008–09 |
Bryntirion Athletic | 1 |
2010–11 |
Cambrian & Clydach | 1 |
2011–12 |
West End | 1 |
2012–13 |
Monmouth Town | 1 |
2013–14 |
Caerau (Ely) | 1 |
2014–15 |
Pen-y-Bont | 1 |
2018–19 |
Welsh Football League Division One (2019–2020)
In 2019 it became level three of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Cymru South.
Seasons | Winner |
---|---|
Welsh Football League Division 1 | |
2019–20 |
Trefelin BGC |
References
- ↑ Pritchard, Tom (20 June 2019). "Welsh Football League re-branded as Caerau and Ely Rangers' relegation confirmed". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. Retrieved 24 June 2019.