The Welsh Football League Division One, known as the Nathanielcars.co.uk Welsh League First Division for sponsorship reasons, was a football league in South Wales. It formed the top division of the Welsh Football League and the second level of the Welsh football league system until the 2019–20 season when it was replaced by the Cymru South. From the 2019–20 season it operated at the third level of the Welsh football league system.
If the team which finished top of the Division had good enough ground facilities, it was promoted to the Welsh Premier League and was replaced by one of the two teams finishing bottom of the Premiership. If the Division champions' ground did not meet Premiership standards, then the team which finished second may have been promoted. The team which finished in bottom position was relegated to the Welsh Football League Division Two.
From its inception in 1904 it had always been the top flight of the Welsh League, or the Rhymney Valley League and Glamorgan League as it was known until 1912. This division changed its name on numerous occasions, which includes Premier Division and National Division.
In 1992 it became level two of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Welsh Premier League.
In 2019 it became level three of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Cymru South. It folded in 2020 after the Football Association of Wales took over the running of tier 3 leagues and the responsibility for tier 4 passed to regional football associations.
Member clubs for the final 2019–20 season
Aberbargoed Buds Abergavenny Town AFC Llwydcoed Bridgend Street Caldicot Town Croesyceiliog Dinas Powys Garden Village Goytre Monmouth Town Penydarren BGC Pontardawe Town Port Talbot Town Risca United Ton Pentre Trefelin BGC
Top Division of the Welsh League (1904–1992) Since its inception in 1904 it has always been the top flight of the Welsh League for the teams located in South Wales. This division has changed its name on numerous occasions. SeasonsWinner Rhymney Valley League Division 1AberdareRogerstoneCwmamanTon PentreAberdare Glamorgan League Division 1TreharrisMerthyr TownAberdare Welsh Football League Division 1Swansea Town ReservesLlanelliTon Pentre Not played due World War IMid RhonddaAberdarePorthCardiff City ReservesPontypridd FCSwansea Town ReservesSwansea Town ReservesBarry Town ReservesNewport County ReservesCardiff City ReservesLlanelliMerthyr Town ReservesLovell's AthleticLlanelliSwansea Town ReservesSwansea Town ReservesSwansea Town ReservesNewport County ReservesLovell's AthleticLovell's Athletic Not played due World War IILovell's AthleticLovell's AthleticLovell's AthleticMerthyr Town ReservesMerthyr Tydfil ReservesSwansea Town ReservesMerthyr Tydfil ReservesEbbw ValePembroke BoroughNewport County ReservesPembroke BoroughHaverfordwest CountyTon PentreAbergavenny ThursdaysAbergavenny ThursdaysTon PentreSwansea Town ReservesSwansea Town ReservesSwansea Town Reserves Welsh Football League Premier DivisionSwansea Town ReservesLovell's AthleticCardiff City ReservesCardiff City ReservesBridgend TownCardiff City ReservesLlanelliCardiff City ReservesBridgend TownTon PentreNewport County ReservesSwansea City ReservesLlanelliLlanelliPontllanfraithNewport County ReservesHaverfordwest CountyTon PentreBarry Town Welsh Football League National DivisionBarry TownBarry TownBarry TownBarry TownEbbw ValeBarry TownHaverfordwest CountyAbergavenny ThursdaysAbergavenny Thursdays
Performance by club 22 Clubs won Top Division of the Welsh League (1904–1992) in South Wales. ClubWins Winning yearsSwansea Town / City Reserves1912–13, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1975–76Lovell's Athletic1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1965–66Barry Town & Reserves1926–27, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89Cardiff City Reserves1922–23, 1928–29, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72Llanelli1913–14, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1977–78Ton Pentre1907–08, 1914–15, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1973–74, 1981–82Newport County Reserves1927–28, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1974–75, 1979–80Aberdare1904–05, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1920–21Abergavenny Thursdays1958–59, 1959–60, 1990–91, 1991–92Merthyr Town & Reserves1910–11, 1930–31, 1948–49Haverfordwest County1956–57, 1980–81, 1989–90Merthyr Tydfil Reserves1949–50, 1951–52Pembroke Borough1953–54, 1955–56Bridgend Town1968–69, 1972–73Ebbw Vale1952–53, 1987–88Rogerstone1905–06Cwmaman1906–07Treharris1909–10Mid Rhondda1919–20Porth1921–22Pontypridd FC1923–24Pontllanfraith1978–79
Welsh Football League Division One (1992–2019) In 1992 it became level two of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Welsh Premier League. SeasonsWinner Welsh Football League Division 1Ton PentreBarry TownBriton Ferry AthleticCarmarthen TownHaverfordwest CountyTon PentreTon PentreTon PentreTon PentreTon PentreBettwsLlanelliTon PentreGoytre UnitedNeath AthleticGoytre UnitedAberdare TownGoytre UnitedBryntirion AthleticCambrian & ClydachWest EndMonmouth TownCaerau (Ely)Cardiff MetBarry Town UnitedLlanelli TownPen-y-Bont
Performance by club ClubWins Winning yearsTon Pentre1992–93, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2004–05Goytre United2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10Llanelli Town2003–04, 2017–18Barry Town1993–94, 2016–17Briton Ferry Athletic1994–95Carmarthen Town1995–96Haverfordwest County1996–97Bettws2002–03Neath Athletic2006–07Aberdare Town2008–09Bryntirion Athletic2010–11Cambrian & Clydach2011–12West End2012–13Monmouth Town2013–14Caerau (Ely)2014–15Pen-y-Bont2018–19
Welsh Football League Division One (2019–2020) In 2019 it became level three of the Welsh Football Pyramid following the creation of the Cymru South.
SeasonsWinner Welsh Football League Division 1Trefelin BGC
References
See also Football in Wales Welsh football league system Welsh Cup Welsh League Cup FAW Premier Cup List of football clubs in Wales List of stadiums in Wales by capacity