Barry Town United secure UEFA Men's Club Licence and FAW Men's Tier 1 Club Licence

Barry Town United AFC has secured its UEFA Men’s Club Licence and its FAW Men’s Tier 1 Club licence ahead of the 2026/2027 season.

The first instance body met on Wednesday, 8th April, to assess and consider applications for the upcoming season.

It comes as a boost to the Jenner Park side's hopes of reaching the Conference League, as Barry currently sit in 3rd, with one game of the regular season remaining, as they face TNS on Saturday evening.

Llantwit Major was one of 17 clubs to be refused a licence, on the grounds of sporting, infrastructure, personnel & administration and financial criteria.

The FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence is required for clubs to participate in the JD Cymru Premier, and for those clubs who qualify for European competitions, a UEFA Licence is also a prerequisite. 

The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales. Licensing is a transparent process that enables clubs to demonstrate to their stakeholders that they meet quality standards. 

In total, seventeen of the 34 applications received for a Tier 1 licence were successful, including 10 of the current JD Cymru Premier Teams and seven clubs in Tier 2. In addition, nine of the JD Cymru Premier clubs have achieved a UEFA Licence, including Barry Town United.

Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:

• Sporting: Player Medicals, Youth & Coaching
• Social and Environmental Sustainability
• Infrastructure
• Legal
• Personnel & Administration
• Financial

During the 2024/25 season, the FAW launched the Future Growth Fund, allocating £1.2 million into Tier 2 to ensure clubs finishing in the top three positions in the 2025/26 season had the financial support to develop their infrastructure to attain Tier 1 standards. 

Following Tuesday's meeting, the independent FIB Panel decided on the following: 

Awarded UEFA Men’s Licence for 2026/27 season (9 clubs) 

• Barry Town United
• Briton Ferry Llansawel
• Caernarfon Town
• Cardiff Met
• Connah’s Quay Nomads
• Flint Town United
• Haverfordwest County
• Penybont
• The New Saints

Refused UEFA Men’s Licence for 2026/27 season (2 clubs)

• Colwyn Bay – Refused on Personnel & Administration
• Llanelli Town – Refused on Infrastructure, Personnel & Administration, Legal & Financial

Awarded FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for 2026/27 season (17 clubs)

• Aberystwyth Town
• Airbus UK Broughton
• Ammanford
• Barry Town United
• Briton Ferry Llansawel
• Caernarfon Town
• Cambrian United
• Cardiff Met
• Connah’s Quay Nomads
• Flint Town United
• Haverfordwest County
• Llandudno
• Llanelli Town
• Newtown
• Penybont
• The New Saints
• Trefelin BGC

Refused FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for 2026/27 season (8 clubs)

• Bala Town – Refused on Personnel & Administration
• Caerau Ely – Refused on Financial
• Carmarthen Town – Refused on Personnel & Administration
• Colwyn Bay- Refused on Personnel & Administration
• Holywell Town – Refused on Personnel & Administration
• Llantwit Major – Refused on Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel & Administration and Financial
• Newport City – Refused on Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel & Administration, Legal & Financial
• Penrhyncoch – Refused on Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel & Administration and Financial

Withdrawn FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence Applications for 2026/2027 season (9 clubs)

• Afan Lido
• Brickfield Rangers
• Buckley Town
• CPD Y Rhyl 1879
• Denbigh Town
• Gresford Athletic
• Guilsfield
• Pontypridd United
• Ruthin Town

A spokesperson said “The FIB Panel extended its congratulations to those clubs successful in attaining Tier 1 and UEFA licences.”

“Those clubs who have been refused a Licence by the First Instance Body, have six days in which to submit an appeal with the Appeals Body, meeting on 16 April 2026.”