Women’s football team secures top tier licence

Cascade Ladies YC have been awarded the Tier One licence for the 2020/21 season in their first attempt.

After attaining the licence, all that is left to do for the football club is to win the Welsh Women’s League, which would see them become a Welsh Premier Women’s League club.

The second-tier side, who have alternated between playing at Blackwood Comprehensive School, Duffryn Playing Field and Penybryn this season, could bring top-flight football to Caerphilly County Borough for the first time since 2012.

The Penpedairheol-based side are currently top of the division, however the season has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Clubs are assessed on a number of criteria, including finances, codes of practice, infrastructure, legal, personnel and administration, as well as youth sides and coaching.

A statement posted on the club’s Facebook page read: “The club are delighted to announce that the ladies’ team has today achieved their FAW [Football Association of Wales] tier one status to be eligible to play in the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

“There has been a huge amount of hard work behind the scenes to enable this to happen and without the commitment of players, coaches, committee members and supporters we wouldn’t have achieved this.

“The ladies are currently sitting top of the Welsh Women’s League and are hopeful that a fair decision will soon be reached and enable the ladies to play top-flight football from next season.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support us.”

The FAW’s First Instance Body met to assess the applications for the domestic tier one and UEFA licences earlier in April.

Sam Daniels’ side joined Abergavenny, Briton Ferry Llansawel, Cardiff Metropolitan Cyncoed, Port Talbot and Swansea City in attaining the licence.

Cascade’s title rivals Barry Town United also met the necessary criteria.
But while Cascade were successful in their pursuit of the licence, others were not so lucky.

Current Welsh Premier Women’s League sides Aberystwyth Town and Cardiff City were both refused, with Welsh Women’s League side Caldicot Town also rejected.