BUILTH Wells have set their sights on becoming one of the premier teams in Tier 3 of Welsh football after they were belatedly granted promotion last week.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced the composition of its four regionalised third divisions, known as the Ardal leagues, last Thursday, June 9. The Bulls were delighted to hear they’d made the cut, and they will play Ardal North East League football next season.

They have been promoted to the third tier along with Mid Wales League champions Brecon Corries, who pipped them to the title by two points and were crowned champions on the final day of the campaign.

“I am delighted that Builth Wells have secured a place in Tier 3. We were desperately disappointed not to be in the original league but have worked very hard on and off the pitch to gain Tier 3 status,” said chairman Tom Price.

“After a great season on the pitch, it is a real reward for the players who stuck together when they could have easily gone elsewhere. It is also great news for our reserves who, as Mid Wales League South champions, can test themselves against some really good teams in the reserve league.

“This has just capped off what has been a superb year for Builth Wells sporting teams in general.

“There is no pressure on the club this year. However, we must keep building as we want to be at the sharp end of the league and our aims should be to become one of the strongest sides in Tier 3 for years to come.”

The Lant Field club had passed Tier 3 criteria last summer and were told again a few days after the end of the current season that they were eligible for the higher level off the field – but they faced an agonising wait on it as the authorities decided who would earn promotion.

Uncertainty clouded the entire 2021/22 season as speculation swirled about whether the Mid Wales League would be allowed to send up two teams or just one. The wait is now over and Builth were promoted along with 12 other tier four clubs who were also accepted.

They can now look forward to some mouth-watering local derbies, with the composition of the north-east league resembling a more familiar landscape, replicating the old Spar Mid Wales League. The Bulls will lock horns once again with fierce local rivals Llandrindod Wells and Rhayader Town, while fellow Powys sides Berriew, Caersws, Llanfair United, Llanrhaeadr, Machynlleth and Welshpool Town are also in the division. They will also pit their wits against Bow Street and Dolgellau AA, who are familiar foes, in addition to north Wales sides Cefn Albion, Corwen, Llanuwchllyn, Rhos Aelwyd and Penycae.

“As for the North East League we are in, we are under no illusions about the size of the task ahead of us, with some very strong clubs throughout,” added Price.

“However, we are excited about the new teams we will come up against, renewing rivalries with the former sides we played in the old Spar league as well as some local derbies to look forward to against Rhayader and Llandrindod who have had Tier 3 experience already.”

The vastly experienced Jason Samuel will guide the Bulls next season but is on the lookout for a new management team to support him following Stuart Turpin’s decision to accept a position at hometown club Pegasus, in Hereford.