Club Statement - Academy

Bala Town F.C. Statement Regarding FAW Academy Licensing Changes

Following a recent inspection by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), we have been informed that from the 2025/26 season, Bala Town F.C. will be permitted to operate under a Category C FAW National Academi License. This license, however, allows provision for only two age groups — U15s and U19s — and is subject to annual re-approval.

As a result of this directive, and despite our significant efforts and investment in our academy programme, we are no longer in a position to sustain a full player development pathway into our first team. Consequently, the difficult decision has been made to withdraw from the FAW National Academi programme.

In March 2023, Bala Town F.C. was awarded a Category C license under the leadership of our then Head of Academy, Carwyn Edwards. This decision, however, led to the immediate withdrawal of all financial support from the FAW over the past two years. Despite the tireless work of Carwyn’s successors, Dan McNeil and more recently Dr Nicholas Jones (following Carwyn’s departure in August 2023), the Club has had to self-fund the academy’s continued operation. We maintain that meeting the FAW’s stringent academy standards is extremely difficult without financial support from the national governing body.

Our ambition has always been to grow a sustainable academy that nurtures talent from across North Wales, progressing players into both our first team and national squads. Regrettably, the restrictive framework of the revised licensing model now prevents us from realising this goal. This is not a decision we have made lightly, nor one made by choice — it has been forced upon us by changes introduced by the FAW. We strongly believe this new structure undermines the development work being done by community-focused, progressive clubs like ours. The impact is especially disheartening for our young players, their families, and our dedicated coaching staff.

In early 2025, the FAW proposed the introduction of a new U21 league as part of its restructured national league pathway. Should this league be formally established, Bala Town F.C. fully intends to transition players from last season’s U16 and U19 squads — alongside a carefully selected group of talented young players —into this competition. We believe this would provide a more competitive and appropriate platform for their continued development and help reinforce the pathway into our first team.

Throughout the last two years, Bala Town F.C. has remained in regular dialogue with the FAW, raising concerns about the challenges this evolving system poses to clubs like ours. Our commitment to youth development across North Wales remains resolute, and we will continue to explore alternative opportunities to provide meaningful and high-quality football experiences for young players.

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Datganiad Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Y Bala ynghylch a Newidiadau Trwyddedau Academïau

Yn dilyn archwiliad diweddar gan Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CPD Cymru), rydym wedi cael gwybod y bydd Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Y Bala, o dymor 2025/26 ymlaen, yn cael gweithredu dan Drwydded Academi Categori C gan CPD Cymru. Fodd bynnag, dim ond ar gyfer dwy grŵp oedran – Dan 15 ac Dan 19 – y mae’r drwydded hon yn caniatáu, ac mae’r drwydded yn nodi ail adolygiad blynyddol.

O ganlyniad i’r cyfarwyddyd hwn, ac er gwaethaf ein hymdrechion sylweddol a’r buddsoddiad ariannol i fewn i’r rhaglen academi, nid ydym bellach mewn sefyllfa i gynnal llwybr datblygu llawn i’n tîm cyntaf. Felly, mae’r penderfyniad anodd wedi’i wneud i dynnu’n ôl o raglen Genedlaethol Academïau CPD Cymru.

Ym mis Mawrth 2023, dyfarnwyd trwydded Categori C i Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Y Bala dan arweiniad ein cyn Bennaeth yr Academi, Carwyn Edwards. O ganlyniad, collodd yr academi bob cymorth ariannol gan CPD Cymru dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Er gwaethaf ymdrechion di-ffael olyniaid Carwyn – Dan McNeil ac, yn fwyaf diweddar, Dr Nicholas Jones (ers i Carwyn adael y clwb ym mis Awst 2023 )– bu’n rhaid i’r clwb hunan-ariannu’r academi i’w chynnal. Rydym yn dadlau ei bod yn hynod anodd i unrhyw academi fodloni safonau llym CPD Cymru heb gymorth ariannol gan y corff llywodraethu cenedlaethol.

Ein nod erioed fu tyfu academi gynaliadwy sy’n meithrin talent ar draws Gogledd Cymru, gan ddatblygu chwaraewyr i’n tîm cyntaf ac i dimau cenedlaethol. Yn anffodus, mae’r fframwaith trwyddedu cyfredol yn atal y nod hwn rhag cael ei wireddu. Nid penderfyniad gan y clwb yw hwn, ond un sydd wedi’i orfodi arnom gan newidiadau CPD Cymru. Credwn yn gryf bod y dull hwn yn tanseilio’r gwaith datblygu sy’n cael ei wneud mewn clybiau cymunedol blaengar fel ein clwb ni. Mae’r effaith ar ein chwaraewyr ifanc, eu teuluoedd, a’n staff hyfforddi ymroddedig yn siomedig dros ben.

Yn gynnar yn 2025, cynigiodd CPD Cymru gyflwyno cynghrair Dan 21 fel rhan o’i strwythur newydd. Os caiff y gystadleuaeth hon ei sefydlu’n ffurfiol, mae Clwb Tref Bala yn bwriadu trosglwyddo chwaraewyr o’n timau Dan 16 a Dan 19 y tymor diwethaf – ynghyd â grŵp dethol o dalent ifanc – i gymryd rhan. Credwn y byddai hyn yn cynnig llwyfan mwy cystadleuol ac addas ar gyfer eu datblygiad parhaus, a byddai’n cryfhau’r llwybr i’n tîm cyntaf.

Dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf, rydym wedi cynnal trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda CPD Cymru, gan amlygu’r pryderon sydd, yn ein barn ni, yn peri anawsterau sylweddol i glybiau. Mae ein hymrwymiad i ddatblygu ieuenctid yng Ngogledd Cymru yn parhau’n gadarn, a byddwn yn parhau i archwilio ffyrdd amgen o ddarparu cyfleoedd pêl-droed ystyrlon i’n chwaraewyr ifanc.