After an historic summer for women’s football in Wales with the national team’s appearance at Euro 2025, the Adran Premier returns this Sunday, with eight teams once again battling for glory.
Last season the glory belonged to Cardiff City, as they won the league by 10 points and lifted the FAW Women’s Cup.
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The other piece of domestic silverware was won by The New Saints, as they beat Cardiff, Briton Ferry Llansawel and Swansea in the knockout rounds to win the Adran Trophy.
Cardiff City and The New Saints meet on the opening weekend, as all eight teams look to start strongly to qualify for the Championship Conference.
The final round of phase one games takes place on Sunday, 25 January, before the top four teams compete for the title.
It was a remarkable return to the top flight of Welsh women’s football for Briton Ferry, who finished second behind Cardiff with just five defeats all season.
The New Saints finished third, three points behind Briton Ferry, while Wrexham were a further point behind and bottom of the Championship Conference.
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Last season was a disappointment for six-time top flight winners Swansea City, who missed out on the top four after a slow start to the season.
It was a similar story for Barry Town United and Aberystwyth Town, who will both be hoping for an improved showing this campaign.
Pontypridd Town returned to the top flight at the first time of asking having beaten Connah’s Quay Nomads in the play-off final to seal promotion.
All eight teams have big ambitions for 2025-26, so here are the views from each camp.
Cardiff City (2024-25, 1st) – Hannah Power
[FAW]
“It’s been a good pre-season, we’ve worked really hard and everybody’s put in loads of effort,” said Cardiff captain Hannah Power.
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“Obviously we went to the Champions League, so we’ve had good experience and good exposure against some really good teams this pre-season.
“When you win, people want to beat you. No matter who you’re playing, they want to take points off you, so we definitely feel like there’s a target on our back.
“I think that motivates us and makes us want to win even more and work even harder against the teams we play in the league.
“The New Saints are going to be a tough team to play to start, especially away from home, but we’re looking forward to playing them and I think we’ve got the capabilities to go there and get the three points.
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“They’ve signed new players, we’ve signed new players, so it’s going to be a good battle.”
Briton Ferry (2024-25, 2nd) – Anya Welch
[FAW]
“We never came into the league saying we’re going to finish first or second or third or anything,” said Briton Ferry midfielder Anya Welch.
“We wanted to have the respect for the club and ourselves to really just put out a performance every single week. We’d obviously love to go one further. That would be absolutely amazing.
“There’s different ambitions in the way that we play, not just a certain placement in the table, but just making sure we play good football and we’re all there for each other and working together and having a good season.
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“Everyone that comes to Old Road has the pressures of playing Briton Ferry.
“We don’t just have solid players and strong players and players who want to play for the team and fight for each other, but we have an amazing kind of support network.
“Our supporters are amazing, they’re loud. I can imagine them being quite intimidating so I think coming to Ferry is not the easiest fixture for any team.”
The New Saints (2024-25, 3rd) – Lexi Jones
[FAW]
“Last season was just amazing,” said The New Saints’ Lexi Jones, who was nominated for Young Player of the Season in 2024-25.
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“We achieved stuff that we hadn’t done as a club before, we reached so many milestones and it was just amazing, it couldn’t have gone better.
“It will definitely set a benchmark on how we play and how we might go on playing this season.
“We’ve worked really hard in pre-season and it will pay off – hopefully.
“The goal is to get to as many finals and have those opportunities to win silverware.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the club as well and we’ve definitely got the players and the facilities so we can compete and we can win.”
Wrexham (2024-25, 4th) – Jodie Bartle
[FAW]
“I’m champing at the bit, I’m buzzing, I just want to get going,” said Wrexham summer-signing Jodie Bartle.
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“I’ve been told that [the first game against] Briton Ferry is quite a tasty affair, quite a physical game which to be fair is my bread and butter and I just want to get stuck in.
“I just think the team as a whole, I think we’re going to make an impact.
“I’m sure there’s teams that are looking to survive, there’s teams that are looking to solidify. We’re going to be the ones that are competing. We’re throwing our hat in the ring to go and compete.
“The sky’s the limit in all honesty. I’ve joined the side because I want to compete.
“There’s three opportunities for silverware and there’s also Champions League qualifications to go for. And I think it would be a massive, massive thing if we could bring Champions League football to the Racecourse, so we’re definitely throwing our hat in the ring to be at the top.”
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Swansea City (2024-25, 5th) – Caitlin Williams
[FAW]
“Reflecting on last season, we all understand as a team that that’s not where we desire to be as a club and it’s never where we have been,” said Caitlin Williams, who joined from Gwalia United in January.
“Swansea is such a successful club in the league and have done so well over the years. We want to get back to that place and perform at that level because we know our performances last year weren’t there.
“I think obviously we’ve had a few changes which has really strengthened us, not to say that there was anything wrong with anyone or anything but it has really strengthened us.
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“We’re a much closer group this year I think it’s really helped. I think pre-season has definitely brought us closer we’re now training three times a week so we’re seeing each other a little bit more.
“But every game now, you can never turn up and think we’re going to win. We need to take that step up with the league as well.”
Barry Town United (2024-25, 6th) – Emily Freeman
[FAW]
“We want to compete this season,” said Barry Town United captain Emily Freeman.
“Last season we made vast improvements but we didn’t finish where we want to finish.
“I think we know we’re capable of that top four finish.
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“We’re not going into any games aiming to take a point or aiming to just keep a clean sheet, we’re going in with that winning mentality of everything and I think we are capable to go on and do big things.
“I think also we’ve got our eyes on the cups as well because we didn’t do as well as we wanted to last season so that’s definitely also a focus.
“I think hopefully we’ll be more kind of cohesive unit going into this season now.
“We want to be one of those big clubs that people come through the age groups and want to play for.”
Aberystwyth Town (2024-25, 7th) – Megan Ryan
[FAW]
Aberystwyth Town named Rhys Jon James as the club’s new manager just four days before the start of the season, after Chris Church stepped down on 1 August.
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But summer signing, goalkeeper Megan Ryan, says the changing of manager and disruption in August has not had a negative impact on the team.
“If anything it’s just brought everyone closer together,” said Ryan.
“Everyone’s working together, the people behind the scenes have worked really hard. I wouldn’t say there’s been any impact negatively on the club, it’s all been really good.
“I don’t think Aberystwyth ever needs to prove itself, it’s an historic club. We will prove ourselves with our football and play strong football year in, year out.
“The aim is always a top four finish and just to keep playing our football, doing what we do. You’ve always got to aim for those trophies, that’s what you want at the end of the day.
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“All the girls are brilliant, the level is fantastic. Obviously there are key players but they’ll only make those around them better so the team is strong.”
Pontypridd Town (2024-25, Adran South champions & play-off winners) – Jemima Lister
[FAW]
“We are not just looking to come up to the Adran Premier and hang around,” said Pontypridd Town summer signing Jemima Lister.
“I think it’s about looking to push for those top spots and have teams say, ‘Look at them’, and not just think they are the newly promoted team.
“A lot of the girls have experience in the Adran Premier, so we’re ready to fight and stay in the top flight. We don’t want to go back down, so we’re ready to get going on Sunday really.”
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Asked if being seen as the underdogs would give Pontypridd an advantage, Lister said: “I think that’s sort of the energy we’re going for.
“For us it is just about getting the basics right and then you can push on from there and hopefully the results will follow.
“If you get all of that going and get the spirit together hopefully we will give teams some surprises.”
Adran Premier opening fixtures
Sunday, 7 September:
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Barry Town United v Swansea City (14:00 BST)
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Pontypridd Town v Aberystwyth Town (14:00 BST)
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Briton Ferry Llansawel v Wrexham (14:00 BST)
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The New Saints v Cardiff City (17:35 BST)
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