The Genero Adran Premier has progressed significantly in the past few years, with continued investment both on and off the pitch, increased media coverage, and an increased competition and quality.
However, there is still a long way to go until it is a direct route for the national team. It is why players will move across the border, with the ambition of playing in the WSL system.
Speaking on the Adran Leagues Show, former Aberystwyth Town and Cymru U19s goalkeeper Elen Valentine spoke about that step up to the English system. She joined Newcastle United in 2023, and was a key part of their Development side last season.
In the summer she joined FA Women’s National League side Norton & Stockton Ancients in the Division One North. Lleucu Mathias and Yas Davies are two names that might sound familiar, with Adran Premier and Welsh youth links – they both play in the same league as Elen with Durham Cestria.
Valentine explained to Cymru Sport on the movement of players to England: “It’s a step up in a sense the money that’s surrounded in our league. There’s a lot of players in other teams who are on decent contracts and that wasn’t the case when I was playing in Wales.
“A lot of ex professionals have dropped into these leagues so the quality is really good. There’s not a lot of difference between tier three and tier four now.
“I’ve definitely had to switch on, I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve felt like I’ve been in the deep end, but I’ve enjoyed it. Playing in the Adran Premier has helped me make that step up.
“It’s the opportunity to progress, the pyramid is a lot more stable. The outlook of it now is if you want to be playing senior football, you need to be playing it as soon as you can.
“The ability to progress with teams who have ambition to reach tier three, WSL 2 and the WSL. I think that’s a big pull. Plus it’s just the exposure and the media coverage around it.”
Whilst moving across to England still has a significant progression advantage, women’s and girls football and opportunities within it in Wales has improved.
There has also been a common theme in recent seasons of players starting senior football as soon as the opportunity presents itself, which Valentine sees as an important step for players.
She explained: “It’s good for girls to be playing senior football. I think there’s only so long you can be playing in an academy system for. You need to be playing and you need to be playing against stronger players.
“From my experiences in being in academies and playing senior football, I think I wish I did it sooner.
“It has (Adran Premier) definitely progressed. You only have to look at the players coming into the league. You’ve got the likes of Wrexham and TNS stepping up, when I left it was still just Cardiff.
“I know Jodie (Bartle) and Katie Barker who have gone to Wrexham now, so the quality is a lot better than what it was two/three years ago when I was playing. You’ve got a good group of teams who have good ambition.“
The Adran Premier Strategy is set to be released at the end of this season, with a comprehensive and analysis review of the Adran Premier.
Valentine believes encouraging players part of Wales youth squads to play in the domestic leagues, and providing the development for them to do that, should be part of the plans.
Phoebie Poole and Olivia Seren Francis both progressed through the Adran Premier with Cardiff City and Pontypridd United respectively, and were part of the recent Wales squad, and continue to impress now they’ve made the move across the border to the English system. But, they showed that talent in the Adran Premier at the beginning, which is still uncommon.
She said: “It’s getting the players in the Welsh setup in whatever way, they need to be playing in the Welsh league. It’s your setup it’s your league, and it’s a great way to showcase them in a senior environment.
“At the point I was playing in the Welsh league they had the Welsh Academies and they were just playing against boys teams. They sort of realise now that’s probably not the way to go.
“Seeing more Welsh players starting their journey in the league is going to be the best way to keep moving forward.
“You need to be playing against people that you are going to be playing against however long you’re in the league.
“You look at Phoebie (Poole), she has had senior experience from a young age and she’s been able to take that into the environment she’s in now, and she’s reaping the rewards by getting the senior callup. I think that speaks for itself.“
