Ambitious clubs apply to join West Wales elite

YNYSTAWE Athletic, regarded as one of the top Swansea Senior League clubs for several years, have underlined their ambitions by applying to join the West Wales Premier League for the 2022-23 season.

They will need to comply with the FAW Tier 4 ground criteria standard and also finish in the top two places of the Swansea League at the end of the current season.

As things stand, both of these objectives are certainly achievable.

Currently in top spot, Ynystawe are in contention principally with Rockspur Fords and St Joseph’s for honours this season.

Two Neath & District League clubs – Brynamman-based Bryn Rovers and Clydach FC – have also submitted applications.

They will also join the West Wales Premier League next season if they too can satisfy Tier 4 ground criteria and finish in the top two of the 2021-22 Neath Premier league season.

They are currently sixth and second respectively, with Clydach FC, especially, looking a good bet to finish in the top two.

Nigel Richards, secretary of the WWPL, also reports that six current member clubs of the league have applied to the FAW for a Tier 3 licence, which would allow them to progress through to the Ardal League South West.

They are Evans & Williams, Mumbles Rangers, Morriston Town, Penlan Club, Seven Sisters Onllwyn and South Gower.

Likewise, those clubs need to finish in the top two places of the current West Wales Premier League season and to satisfy Tier 3 FAW ground criteria in order to achieve promotion.

Should the FAW return to play protocols, based around Welsh Government Covid guidance, allow it, as is expected, then clubs will return to league action this Saturday.

There are some intriguing games. Seven Sisters Onllwyn will be hopeful of knocking free-scoring Penlan Club off their perch when they travel to Mynydd Newydd, while Giants Grave will undoubtedly prove to be tough opponents for secondplaced South Gower.

Evans & Williams still harbour realistic hopes of the title. They enter the new year in third position, just three points off leaders Penlan. But the Llanelli side have played two games more.

Pontarddulais Town are back in eighth spot, but the season has been a struggle for Dafen Welfare and CK Swiss Valley. Dafen are 10th of the 11 teams, with Swiss Valley at the bottom with just a point to their name.