Latest news with #AdranPremier
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
FAW to review women's domestic game in Wales
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is reviewing the Adran Premier in an attempt to improve the domestic women's Adran Premier, as well as the second-tier Adran North and Adran South, came into being in 2021 as a result of an FAW restructure designed to raise standards within women's football in governing body has now begun a review – which will be led by consultancy agency Portas – as it attempts to build on Euro 2025, where Wales featured at a major women's tournament for the first FAW says the review will offer insight into the "overall league quality of the Adran Premier, community and fan engagement and the current commercial landscape that the league sits within".The findings will be reflected in a new "high-performance strategy" which the FAW will present in spring broken new ground by qualifying for the European Championship in Switzerland, Wales exited at the group stage after being well beaten in their three games against the Netherlands, France and chief executive Noel Mooney acknowledged in the wake of the tournament that Wales have a long way to go to bridge the gap to the top-tier nations.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wrexham complete purchase of The Rock
The Rock will become the long-term permanent home of Wrexham Women after the club completed the purchase of the Rhosymedre Adran Premier side have used the north Wales facility - the historical home of Cefn Druids - for their home matches and as their training base since the beginning of the 2023-24 Jenny Sugarman's side will now have full use of the stadium on a permanent basis, while Cefn Druids will continue to have use of the facilities for their training and chief executive officer Michael Williamson said: "The acquisition of The Rock represents a significant milestone for the club, providing Wrexham AFC Women with a permanent home and dedicated training facility. "It illustrates our continued commitment to supporting and growing the women's game in north Wales." Wrexham say they plan to improve the facilities at The Rock in a bid to ensure the women's side can remain competitive in the Adran Premier - the top tier of domestic women's football in added: "Having a venue in the Wrexham County Borough and close to the Stok Cae Ras gives us flexibility, allowing the women's first team to train and play matches locally, while still having access to a larger venue when needed."We'll begin with essential maintenance ahead of the new season, followed by a longer-term vision to enhance the pitch, stadium, and surrounding infrastructure."Our goal is not only to establish a top-tier facility for our Women's team but also to protect and revitalise a key community asset, one that can inspire the next generation of women's football across the region."Wrexham ended the 2024-25 regular season in fourth place, ensuring they competed in the Championship Conference over the second half of the also reached the final of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup last term, losing 3-1 to league champions Cardiff City in on the sale of The Rock, Cefn Druids chairman Des Williams said: "I am delighted that The Rock passes into the hands of Wrexham AFC and becomes the official home and training centre of Wrexham AFC Women."He added: "I can think of no more fitting venue for them to continue their adventure at the very highest level of Welsh women's football. I wish them all the very best of luck for the new season."
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff 'in much better place' to compete in Europe
Iain Darbyshire believes Cardiff City Women are in a far better place at present to challenge in Europe as they prepare for their Champions League qualifying Bluebirds, the Adran Premier title holders, go to reigning League of Ireland Women's Premier Division champions Athlone Town in the semi-finals of the first qualifying round on Wednesday night (19:30 BST).It will be Cardiff's third successive season of competing in the Champions League qualifying phase, although they are yet to win in having dominated the domestic game of late, head coach Darbyshire feels the club are now better equipped to challenge further afield."We have been successful but we hadn't been in the Champions League prior to the last couple of years, I think it was 10 years before that," he said."The women's game changes incredibly quickly. The first couple of years in the Champions League were a real steep learning curve for us, and we feel that, right now, we're in a much better place. "The group have been together for well over a year now and we feel we can have a positive week when we're away in Ireland." In 2023, the Bluebirds were beaten by Lithuanian side FC Gintra and Irish club time out, they lost to Dutch powerhouses FC Twente and North Macedonian outfit they go into their latest European campaign having won the Adran Premier for a third consecutive year in addition to winning the Bute Energy Welsh Cup four seasons in a says success in Europe is key to ensuring Cardiff build on their progress on Welsh soil."It's about maintaining our standards and building year on year and not just resting on the fact that we've been so successful," he added."We want to keep being successful and set ourselves even bigger targets for the future."I think we need to win a game in the Champions League. It is the next step for us - we're not going there to just make up the numbers."We need to do this as a group and overcome the hurdles that we've had over previous years."Domestically, we're aiming to win everything - that's the standards we've set ourselves. We feel that we can do it - we've got a good squad." Since joining from Barry Town United in the summer of 2022, defender Megan Bowen has been a pivotal figure in the Bluebirds' 19-year-old is confident Cardiff can take the next step by emerging victorious on the continent."We like breaking down the barriers. We went unbeaten, we won the treble and hopefully the next step is to win games in the Champions League. That's our aspirations as a squad," she said."I believe the growth and development in this squad is hopefully going to make it possible this year."The winner of Cardiff's contest with last year's FAI Women's Cup runners-up Athlone will face newly-crowned Croatian champions ZNK Agram in the final on Saturday, 2 victor of that fixture in Ireland will progress to the second qualifying round - with Icelandic side Breidablik lying in wait in the Twente and Serbian side ZFK Crvena Zvezda are the potential opponents for the final and third-place play-off.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jones among departures as Swans Women announce retained list
Swansea City Women are in discussions with Lauren Davies (pictured) over the possibility of a new contract, but former Wales international Nia Jones is among seven players leaving the have revealed their retained list going into the 2025-26 campaign, with 17 members of last season's squad to stay on with the Jones, 33, who is also a Wales netball international, departs Swansea having signed last Haynes, Rachel Cullen, Jasmine Guymer, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks and Robyn Pinder have also left the Adran Premier side.A club statement read: "Swansea City Women wishes all departing players the best in their future careers."Swansea City Women retained list: Chloe Chivers, Steph Turner, Aimee Deacon, Lucy Finch, Katy Hosford, Stacey John, Sammy Wynne, Madison Murray, Emily Thomas, Jessica Williams, Emily Richards, Taite Trivett, Maisie Miller, Caitlin Williams, Verity Jones, Opal Rayner, Megan Clarke.
Leader Live
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Awesome quartet of awards over at Connah's Quay Nomads
The club secured four prizes in the FAW National League Awards, which took place in Cardiff. In the Adran North section, Nomads' unbeaten season was recognised by three awards. Jordan Parry was named as the league's manager of the season, while there was double joy for Polly Wild-McGregor. The Connah's Quay skipper, who scored 21 goals from midfield, made it a season to remember by winning the Adran North player of the season and young player of the campaign accolades. Added to this, there was also success for the club in the men's awards. Former Wales U21 international Rhys Hughes was the standout performer for Connah's Quay Nomads over the course of the campaign and his impressive displays earned him the Cymru Premier player of the season award. Hughes joined the Nomads from Tranmere Rovers last summer and he featured in every league fixture. He scored 15 goals for Connah's Quay and Hughes also helped Nomads to reach the final of the Welsh Cup for the second consecutive season, where they were pipped 2-1 by league champions The New Saints. Former Wrexham striker Louis Lloyd, the league's joint-top goalscorer, claimed the young player of the season accolade and The New Saints' Craig Harrison was named as the manager of the season. Wrexham duo Abbie Iddenden and Lili Jones missed out on Adran Premier awards. Iddenden, who scored nine goals and supplied nine assists as the Reds finished the season in fourth place, was a nominee for player of the season, which went to Cardiff City's Shannon Evans. Midfielder Jones, who finished joint-third in the assists chart with seven, lost out to Cardiff's Fiona Barry for the young player prize. Rhys James, of Briton Ferry Llansawel, took the manager of the season nod. Iddenden and Jones were named in the league's team of the season, while a special recognition award went the way of Cheryl Foster. Earlier this year, Foster brought the curtain down on a playing and refereeing career that broke down boundaries and made history in both the Welsh domestic game and on the international stage. Now overseeing refereeing pathways with the English FA, Foster's achievements were celebrated with this award. Four Nomads players - Molly France, Wild-McGregor, Evie Chard and Ella Jones - were included in the Adran North team of the season. Also in the line-up is Flint's Taylia Chaloner. Airbus were acknowledged in the Cymru North awards, with Kaiden Cooke being named as young player of the season. The teenager scored seven goals in 28 games for the Wingmakers to establish himself as an important part of Mark Allen's side. Striker Danny Warren picked up the Cymru North top scorer award, while Colwyn Bay chief Michael Wilde claimed the manager of the season accolade and the player of the season nod went to Seagulls' captain Sam Hart. Three Airbus players - Jordan Evans, Warren and George Peers - are included in the Cymru North team of the season. They are joined by Buckley Town's Adam Smith and Holywell Town's Jamie Breese.
