The first book ever to cover the complete history of the Cymru Premier has been released.
Written by freelance football journalist Mark Langshaw, A League of Our Own: The Cymru Premier Story takes a deep dive into the Welsh top flight’s first three decades, complete with exclusive interviews, photographs and illustrations.
The book brings together 30 years’ worth of captivating stories from Welsh domestic football, including the league’s controversial beginnings, the rise, fall and return of Barry Town, Rhyl FC’s famous quadruple in 2003/04, The New Saints’ world record-breaking feats, and much more.
Many of the biggest names from the domestic game have given interviews for the book, including the league’s record goalscorer Marc Lloyd Williams, former Bangor City boss Nigel Adkins, Wales legend Neville Southall, TNS manager Craig Harrison and ex-Rhyl player and manager Greg Strong.
Three full chapters dedicated to Bangor City
Bangor City’s role as founder club of the original League of Wales, the two title wins in the 1990s, the 2011 title win, and the club’s downfall followed by the emergence of the phoenix club Bangor 1876
Exclusive interviews with Nigel Adkins, Marc Lloyd Williams and Craig Garside about their time at Bangor
The stories behind Bangor’s most famous European outings against sides including Maritimo, Napoli and Atletico Madrid
“I felt compelled to write this book after doing some ground-hopping around Wales,” said Langshaw, who has written for numerous football publications in the past, including Four Four Two. “I was instantly won over by the community vibe, standard of football and club culture there, and was eager to find out more about the league. I was hoping there would be a book I could dig into for this, and when I found out there were none in existence, I took it upon myself to write one.
“Some of the stories I discovered along the way absolutely captivated me. From the ‘Irate Eight’, to the Barry Town supporters’ fight to bring their club back from the brink, there are so many tales from this league that deserve to be retold time and time again, and I feel privileged that I got to compile them together in one place, complete with first-hand accounts from the people involved.”
Published by St David’s Press, A League of Our Own: The Cymru Premier Story is available now through bookstores, online retailers and direct from the publisher.
