Welsh Football League Division One


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

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.

Performance by club

ClubWinsWinning Years
Swansea Town / City Reserves
12
1912–13, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1975–76
Lovell's Athletic
7
1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1965–66
Barry Town & Reserves
7
1926–27, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89
Cardiff City Reserves
6
1922–23, 1928–29, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72
Llanelli
6
1913–14, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1977–78
Ton Pentre
6
1907–08, 1914–15, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1973–74, 1981–82
Newport County Reserves
5
1927–28, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1974–75, 1979–80
Aberdare
4
1904–05, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1920–21
Abergavenny Thursdays
4
1958–59, 1959–60, 1990–91, 1991–92
Merthyr Town & Reserves
3
1910–11, 1930–31, 1948–49
Haverfordwest County
3
1956–57, 1980–81, 1989–90
Merthyr Tydfil Reserves
2
1949–50, 1951–52
Pembroke Borough
2
1953–54, 1955–56
Bridgend Town
2
1968–69, 1972–73
Ebbw Vale
2
1952–53, 1987–88
Rogerstone
1
1905–06
Cwmaman
1
1906–07
Treharris
1
1909–10
Mid Rhondda
1
1919–20
Porth
1
1921–22
Pontypridd FC
1
1923–24
Pontllanfraith
1
1978–79

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.

Performance by club

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.