The Adran Premier (English: Premier Division, formerly the Welsh Premier Women's League), currently known for sponsorship reasons as Genero Adran Premier, is the highest level of league competition for women's football in Wales. Established in 2009, it is organized by the Football Association of Wales and features four semi-professional teams. As of 2024, the league is ranked 48th overall by the UEFA Women's association club coefficients.[1]
History
In its first three seasons, the league was divided into two Conferences that played a double round robin, with the winner of both contesting a final for the championship. The first season featured no relegation, from the 2010–11 season onwards, the last placed team in each conference got relegated.[2]
Llandudno Junction's stay in the league lasted just one season before they were relegated; they were replaced by Northop Hall Girls.
In May 2021, the Football Association of Wales announced a restructuring of the league, including cutting the number of teams from nine to eight, splitting the second tier into northern and southern conferences, and the introduction of a U19 development league. The restructuring saw Abergavenny Women's FC, Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies demoted to the second tier, while Barry Town United Ladies FC and The New Saints joined the Premier League.[6] The choice of top-tier teams in the restructuring was met with a significant amount of criticism, as Abergavenny had finished within the top four during the 2020–21 season and The New Saints did not have a complete senior women's side.[7][8] FAW head of women's football Lowri Roberts stood by their decision, adding that "we have to be able to compete with Tier 3 in England. The WSL and Championship in England are professional and semi-professional and we’re a long way off that. It’s unlikely we’ll get to a professional level."[9]
Rebranding
In August 2021, the league also announced a rebranding initiative, changing the name from "Welsh Premier Women's League" to "Adran Premier", adopting the Welsh word adran (division). For sponsorship reasons it is named the "Genero Adran Premier" (sponsored by Welsh firm Genero).[10] The second tier conferences were likewise renamed Adran North and Adran South. The rebranding was in part an effort to remove the word "Women's" from the league name to achieve better parity with the men's game. [10] The league cup was likewise rebranded to the Adran Trophy.
Competition format
The club with the highest number of points at the end of the season are the League Champions. In the event of two or more clubs having the same number of points the League winners will be decided by the difference between goals scored and goals against. In the event of more than one club having the same goal difference, the club that has scored the highest number of goals will be the Champions.[11]
Promotion and relegation
One club may be promoted to the Adran Premier, from Adran North or from Adran South, and the same number relegated out of the first tier. To determine which conference sees a club promoted, the top club from each of the two leagues that meets the other requirements for being in the Premier compete in a playoff.[12]
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