First-ever goal
The first-ever goal in the League of Wales was scored by Mitch Patton in a 2-1 Afan Lido win over Connah's Quay Nomads on 15 August 1992.| Welsh Premier League |
 THE Corbett Sports Welsh Premier - the national league of Wales - again kicked-off the 2011/12 season with 12 clubs, after a reduction in size from 18 clubs in 2009/10. Afan Lido were promoted from Macwhirter Welsh League Division One, replacing Haverfordwest County, but Huws Gray Alliance champions Gap Connah's Quay failed to secure a returnto the top flight after being denied the necessary FAW domestic licence. Twelve months earlier, the five lowest-placed clubs in the top flight - Cefn Druids, Caersws, Welshpool, Porthmadog and Connah's Quay - were relegated to the Alliance along with the 2009 champions Rhyl, who finished sixth, but also failed in their licence application and appeal. Bangor City finished the campaign as champions for the third time, with The New Saints winning the League Cup for the third consecutive season. TNS were league runners-up with Neath claiming the final Europa League spot through the first-ever play-offs. There is no route for promotion from the Welsh Premier, although the champion side is entered in the Uefa Champions League, with two clubs entered in the Europa League alongside the Welsh Cup winners, who go straight into the second qualifying round. Fixture format The clubs will play each other twice in the first phase of the 2011/12 competition. The league will then split into top six and bottom six, with the clubs in those groups playing each other twice again to make a 32-fixture league season. No club in the bottom six may finish higher than seventh, no matter how many points are gained during the split stage. Clubs finishing in third to seventh position will then take part in a play-off to determine who gains the third Europa League spot the following season. Should the Welsh Cup winners be amongst those clubs, the eighth placed club would be invited into the play-offs. Because of this, the season will be extended, as the play-offs will not be able to take place until after the Welsh Cup final. Prize money Winners £15,000 Runners up £12,500 3rd £10,000 4th £8,000 5th £7,000 6th £6,000 7th £5,000 8th £4,000 9th £3,000 10th £2,000 |