The THE MACRON WELSH LEAGUE is authorised by its constitution to consist of as many as 72 clubs in three divisions, although it has been operating for a number of years with 54 clubs, or 18 in each division. Ordinarily, there is promotion and relegation of the top and borrom three clubs between the divisions, although this number may be adjusted to keep the numbers at 18 in each division if, for example, there have been mid-season resignations or mergers.

The bottom three clubs in Division 3 are considered for relegation into the lower level of the pyramid at the end of the season. This level is divided into three regions, namely, the Gwent FA, the South Wales FA and the West Wales FA. Each regional FA is entitled to one promotion place to the Welsh Football League each season, provided that the aspiring club meets the appropriate ground criteria.

LOWER LEVEL

Promotion from and relegation to the Gwent FA poses no problems. There is just one senior league - the Gwent County League - which supplies candidates to THE MACRON WELSH LEAGUE. This may be either the champions or the runners up, depending on whether the champion meets Welsh League criteria.

The South Wales FA poses more problems, as there are two leagues - the South Wales Senior League and the South Wales Amateur League - of equal stature. Assuming that the champions of each league meet the necessary criteria for promotion, they meet in a playoff to decide who will take up the place.

Even more complicated is the situation with the West Wales FA where, due to the geographical spread of the area, there are no less than four leagues of equal standard. These are the Carmarthenshire, Neath, Pembrokeshire and Swansea leagues. In theory, should all four champions meet the necessary criteria, they would compete in a complicated series of playoffs. However this rarely happens as few clubs at this level of football are willing to undertake the considerably - increased expenditure involved in travelling across the whole of South Wales for league matches.

It has to be said that it is by no means certain that there will be as many as three clubs nominated as above each year, in which case some of the bottom three Welsh League clubs may earn a reprieve, just as they may if mid-season resignations or mergers mean that even with three promoted clubs, the numbers might fall below the required number of clubs.

HIGHER LEVEL

The MACRON WELSH LEAGUE is obliged under the Pyramid rules to accept any club within its catchment area that is relegated from the national Welsh Premier League. In return, the champions of the league (or, if they decline promotion, the runners-up) are eligible for promotion to the Welsh Premier League should they meet the required criteria.

However this involves a considerable leap of faith for an aspiring club. Considerable expenditure must more often than not be incurred in bringing grounds up to Premier League standard, with the likelihood of recouping this expense in the short term doubtful to say the least. Furthermore, rounding up a team of part-time players for a midweek match in North Wales, and the expense involved in travelling, can often prove prohibitive for even the most well-organised club. The story of Cardiff Grange Harlequins in the season 2005-06 illustrates this example perfectly. Consequently it is by no means unusual for Welsh League clubs to turn down promotion to the Welsh Premier League.

This is seen by many people as a shame, and rightly so. Several clubs such as Bridgend Town and Ton Pentre have a long and distinguished history in football in the southern half of the United Kingdom, and fully deserve to grace the Welsh Premier League with their presence on the basis of their tradition alone. Several younger clubs have risen rapidly through the Welsh football pyramid thanks to a dynamic and dedicated personnel, and deserve a chance to try their hand at the highest level.

There seems to be support from national government to help clubs implement the "Taylor" report recommendations or the new "UEFA" grading committee standards (in stark contrast to what has happened in England) and little effort from the central football authority in Wales to sell the national game at club level throughout the country. The affair of "Ceaucescu's Palace", in which the central football authority spent the entire amount of the UEFA "Hat Trick" grant on luxurious new premises for itself instead of filtering the money down the pyramid to improve the infrastructure of its member clubs, left a nasty taste in the mouths of many people.

Add to this the fact that the national broadcaster completely and utterly neglects the nation's most popular sport at the expense of favouring its vested interests in a more parochial, elitist and yet dying pastime, and here you have all the elements of the tragedy that is modern Welsh football today.
© Eric Hall 2006

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