Welsh Premier League history

Left: Barry Town dominated the league until their relegation in 2004.


THE first national football league to encompass teams from the whole of the principality, the League of Wales was formed in 1992.
It was a long-standing dream of the Football Association of Wales to have its own national league and many would agree that its formation was long overdue.
However, better late than never, 19 clubs embarked on the inaugural campaign on 15 August 1992, sponsored by Konica Peter Llewellyn Limited of Swansea.
After a very exciting championship race, Cwmbran Town, managed by Tony Willcox, pipped Inter Cardiff for the title and became the first League of Wales club to play in Europe when they took on Cork City in the Uefa Champions Cup in August 1993.
The Crows won the first leg at home 3-2, but lost 2-1 in Cork and were eliminated on the away goals rule.
Bangor City won the title for the next two seasons in 1993/1994, Inter Cardiff being again runners-up. That title was decided when City won their final league match 2-0 at Porthmadog in front of a then record crowd of 2,400.
Afan Lido finished runners-up the following season, having made an impact on the league by winning the cup competition in 1992/1993 and 1993/1994. The Aberavon-based outfit were unfortunately relegated at the end of 1995/1996, only to gain promotion back into the league two years later.
The next four campaigns were dominated by Barry Town, who won the championship on four consecutive occasions and the League Cup, by then sponsored by James Gilbert Limited.
Three times the Dragons, under the guidance of player/coach Gary Barnett, were almost unbeatable domestically. They also enjoyed an excellent European campaign in 1996, beating FC Dinaburg from Latvia and Visutas Budapest from Hungary, before going down 6-4 on aggregate to Aberdeen. Over 6,000 people attended the second leg at Jenner Park.
League runners-up during the four years of Barry Town dominance included Newtown in 1995/96 and 1997/1998 and Inter Cable Tel in 1996/1997 and 1998/1999.
Barry’s long reign as champions came to an end at the close of the 1999/2000 campaign when they lost 2-0 at Connah’s Quay, making Total Network Solutions (Llansantffraid) only the fourth club to win the coveted league title.
In the summer of 2001 Barry became the first League of Wales club to win a UEFA Champions League tie when they defeated FC Shamkir from Azerbaijan.
The Dragons regained the league crown the following season and retained it for the next two years, before dramatically being relegated in 2003/4, when Rhyl were crowned champions for the first time and also won the Loosemores Challenge Cup.
Total Network Solutions won the title (and the Welsh Cup) the following season and went on to play reigning champions Liverpool in the Uefa Champions League, while Carmarthen Town and Rhyl both won first qualifying round Uefa Cup ties.
TNS retained the league title in 2006, adding the Challenge Cup to complete the double, and were again crowned champions 2007 (as The New Saints) when they became only the second domestic league club (after Barry Town) to win the FAW Premier Cup.
The league has seen numerous players move into English competitions over the years, notably Mark Delaney from Carmarthen Town to Aston Villa via Cardiff City, Andy Cooke (Newtown to Burnley), Lee Trundle (Rhyl to Swansea via Wrexham), Eifion Williams (Barry to Torquay), Owain Tudor Jones (Bangor to the Swans) and Gary Roberts (Welshpool to Rochdale). More recently, Steve Evans made the transition from TNS to Wrexham and the full Welsh international squad.

Eifion Williams, a goal a game in the Welsh Premier.

Williams (pictured), who was a prolific goalscorer in the League of Wales, moved from Caernarfon to Barry for £25,000, and was unchallenged as the league's leading marksman until his move to the West Country, where he scored a hat-trick on his debut at Plainmoor.
Only five clubs - Aberystwyth Town, Bangor City, Caersws, Connah's Quay Nomads and Newtown - of the original membership have played in all 16 seasons, while four founder members - Afan Lido, Haverfordwest County, Llanelli and Porthmadog - have fought their way back after relegation at one time or another.
Mickey Evans of Caersws was the longest-surviving manager from the 19 who entered the dugout in August 1992 until his retirement in 2007, while Colin Reynolds of Caersws currently holds the record for League appearances with more than 450.
The League has had its knockers and critics but has doubtless enhanced the stature of its clubs, through higher playing standards, better facilities and far more media interest. Long may it prosper.