The Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) was a football league in Wales and operated at level 3 and 4 of the Welsh football league system in Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough, but with some teams from Denbighshire (Corwen and Llangollen Town) and Gwynedd (Llanuwchllyn). For sponsorship purposes it was last known as the Guy Walmsley & Co Welsh National League.
History The League grew out of the Wrexham and District League which ran during the early years of the twentieth century. At that time the senior clubs in the Wrexham area played in English leagues such as The Combination and the Birmingham & District League. Their reserve sides, along with local amateur teams, contested the Wrexham and District League (1903–1912). The Wrexham and District League folded in 1912 and its clubs joined the North Wales Alliance League.
In the inter-war years, the new Welsh National League with its various sections was organised. Clubs from the Wrexham area, and the rest of North Wales, joined the Welsh National League Northern Section which ran from 1921–1930.
Teams from the Wrexham Area competed in the Wrexham and District League (1925–1939).
After World War II they re-organised as the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area).
At the end of the 2019–20 season the league folded as part of the reorganisation on the Welsh football pyramid, with the Football Association of Wales taking over running tier 3 leagues and local football associations tier 4.
Member clubs for the final 2019–20 season
Club Ground Town Premier Division Brickfield Rangers Clywedog Park Wrexham Brymbo Brymbo Sports Complex Broughton Castell Alun Colts Castell Alun Sports & Leisure Complex HopeCefn Albion The Myga, Cefn MawrCefnChirk Amateur Athletic Association Holyhead RoadChirkFC Queens ParkThe DunksCaia ParkHolywell TownHalkyn RoadHolywellLlanuwchllyn Church StreetLlanuwchllynLlay Welfare The RingLlayMold Alexandra Alyn ParkMoldPenycae Afoneitha RoadPenycaePlas Madoc (club folded July 2020 after end of season)The Myga, Cefn MawrCefn MawrRhos Aelwyd Ponciau Park, PonciauRhosllanerchrugogRhostyllen Parish HallRhostyllenSaltney Town Saltney Community CentreSaltney Rhydymwyn Vicarage Road RhydymwynDivision One Cefn Mawr Rangers The Myga, Cefn Mawr Cefn MawrCoedpoeth United Penygelli Playing FieldsCoedpoethHalkyn & Flint MountainPant Newydd Pentre HalkynHawarden Rangers Gladstone Playing FieldHawardenJohnstown YouthMoreton Playing FieldsJohnstownLex XIStansty Park Summerhill Llangollen Town Tower Fields Llangollen Mynydd Isa Spartans Argoed Mynydd Isa New Brighton Villa New Brighton Community Centre New Brighton Overton Recreation Recreation Ground Overton-on-DeeRhosllanerchrugog (resigned from league in December 2019)Rhos Rugby ClubRhosllanerchrugog
Divisional Champions The league underwent various restructures in its history, with the number of divisions and their names changing.
For its first season the league had just one division, the Senior Division.
SeasonSenior Division1945–46Llay United
In 1946 two regional divisions were introduced below the Senior Division.
SeasonSenior DivisionEast DivisionWest Division1946–47Wrexham 'A'Gresford AthleticRhostyllen Sports Club1947–48Chirk AAARhostyllen/Bersham BLCoedpoeth1948–49Johnstown UnitedOverton St Mary'sCoedpoeth
In 1949 the regionalised divisions were merged and the resulting three divisions renamed Divisions One, Two and Three.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1949–50Chirk AAARuabon AthleticNew Boughton1950–51Druids UnitedPenycaeRubery Owen Rockwell1951–52Chirk AAAHolt NomadsRoyal Pioneer Corps1952–53Overton St Mary'sLlangollen TownBradley Rangers
In 1953–54 Division Three was not contested due to a lack of clubs.
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two1953–54Overton St Mary'sBradley Rangers
In 1954 Division Three was revived.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1954–55WelshpoolGresford CollieryBradley Rangers Reserves1955–56Buckley WanderersHolt NomadsTanyfron Youth Club1956–57WelshpoolRubery Owen RockwellPonciau Youth Club1957–58Brymbo SteelworksRoyal Pioneer CorpsMarshalls Sports Club1958–59Chirk AAARhos AelwydTanyfron1959–60Chirk AAABuckley RoversFron
In 1960 Division Three was discontinued once again.
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two1960–61Chirk AAAPentre Broughton1961–62WelshpoolRhosddu
In 1962 Division Three was revived once again.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1962–63Llay WelfareGresford AthleticSummerhill1963–64Ruthin TownSummerhillLlanuwchllyn1964–65WelshpoolBuckley RoversCoedpoeth Sports Club1965–66Brymbo SteelworksRubery Owen RockwellMarshalls Sports Club1966–67Brymbo SteelworksCoedpoeth Sports ClubBritish Celanese1967–68Llangollen TownBala TownRossett Villa1968–69Brymbo SteelworksRossett VillaBurntwood & Drury
In 1969 Division Three was split into two sections, A and B.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three ADivision Three B1969–70Brymbo SteelworksDruids UnitedGresford Athletic ReservesCefn Albion
In 1970 the two Division Three sections were reorganised into Divisions Three and Four.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four1970–71Brymbo SteelworksBurntwood & DruryRhosdduCastell Alun1971–72Llangollen TownRhosdduCastell AlunDruids United Reserves1972–73Denbigh TownRuabon St MarysHawarden RangersTreuddyn Villa1973–74Denbigh TownBuckley RoversCoedpoeth Sports ClubOverton Athletic
In 1974 the four divisions were reduced to just two.
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two1974–75Denbigh TownLex XI
In 1975 Division Three was reintroduced.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1975–76Denbigh TownCoedpoeth Sports ClubCastell Alun Colts
In 1976 Division Three was discontinued once again.
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two1976–77Brymbo SteelworksCastell Alun Colts1977–78New BroughtonCefn Albion
In 1978 Divisions Three and Four were revived.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four1978–79Brymbo SteelworksChirk AAAPenleyTunnel Cement
In 1979 Division Four was discontinued once again.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1979–80Cefn AlbionRuthin TownGrapes NB: The NW Sport sitenwsport.co.uk/2020/05/27/farewell-to-the-welsh-national-wrexham-area-league-a-tribute/amp/ disagrees that Division Four was not in operation for season 1979-80, and gives the four divisional winners as Cefn Albion, Ruthin Town, Ruthin Town Reserves, and Grapes, respectively.
In 1980 Division Four was once again revived.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four1980–81Cefn AlbionRhostyllen VillaGrapesNew Broughton1981–82Brymbo SteelworksGrapesHawkesbury VillaCoedpoeth1982–83Brymbo SteelworksRhos AelwydCoedpoethLlay RBL
In 1983 Division Four was split into two sections, North and South.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four (North)Division Four (South)1983–84Chirk AAALex XI ReservesPenycaeConnah's Quay ReservesJohnstown Athletic
In 1984 the two Division Four sections were merged back and the four divisions renamed Premier, One, Two and Three.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1984–85Lex XILlay RBLChirk AAA ReservesLlangollen Town Reserves1985–86Mold AlexandraLlangollen TownPenycae ReservesBradley1986–87Mold AlexandraLlay WelfareCorwenFlint Town1987–88Lex XICorwenSt Marys RuabonNew Broughton1988–89Lex XIRhostyllen VillaMarchwiel VillaKelloggs1989–90Mold AlexandraBala TownNew BroughtonKinnerton
In 1990 Division Three was discontinued. SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two1990–91Marchwiel VillaLlay WelfareBradley1991–92Wrexham ReservesTreuddyn VillaBritish Aerospace1992–93PenleyCefn Druids ReservesRhostyllen/Bersham1993–94PenycaeBrymbo ReservesRhosddu1994–95Oswestry TownRhostyllen/Bersham RBLWrexham Colts1995–96Gresford AthleticWrexham ColtsGresford Athletic Colts1996–97Wrexham ColtsCastell ACOwens Corning1997–98PenleyBala TownBradley Villa1998–99CorwenBradley VillaBorras Park Albion
In 1999 Division Three was revived.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1999–2000British AerospaceHand HotelCefn UnitedBuckley Town2000–01Gresford AthleticCefn UnitedLlay Welfare ColtsQueen's Park2001–02Mold AlexandraMynydd IsaQueen's ParkBrynteg Village2002–03Castell Alun ColtsQueen's ParkBrynteg VillageRuabon Villa2003–04Bala TownAcrefair YouthCoedpoeth UnitedBuckley Town Reserves2004–05Queen's ParkBrynteg VillageNew Brighton FCMold Juniors2005–06Rhos AelwydCastell Alun ColtsBala Town ReservesVenture Community2006–07BrymboBala Town ReservesVenture CommunityBrymbo Reserves2007–08BrymboAirbus UK ReservesGarden VillageFC Cefn
In 2008, all reserve and colts teams were split off, leaving two divisions for first teams and two divisions for lower teams.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneReserves DivisionReserves & Colts Division2008–09Llangollen TownFC CefnBala TownCastell AC2009–10Rhos AelwydGarden VillageAirbus UKRuthin Town2010–11PenycaePenyfforddRhos AelwydAirbus UK2011–12FC CefnSaltney TownChirk AAAMold Alex2012–13Chirk AAABorras Park AlbionRuthin TownBuckley Town2013–14Mold AlexandraFC Nomads of Connah's QuayPenycaeFC Nomads of Connah's Quay2014–15Gresford AthleticFC Queens ParkCefn DruidsMold Alex2015–16FC Nomads of Connah's QuayCefn AlbionMold AlexSaltney Town2016–17FC Queens ParkLex GlyndwrCefn DruidsFlint Town United2017-18Buckley TownBrymboRuthin TownBrickfield Rangers2018-19CorwenPlas MadocCefn DruidsHolywell Town FC2019-20Holywell TownHawarden RangersMold AlexandraConnah's Quay Nomads
References
External links League website
See also Football in Wales Welsh football league system Welsh Cup List of football clubs in Wales List of stadiums in Wales by capacity