Following a successful Cymru Cup last year in Aberystwyth, the journey continues south this forthcoming bank holiday 27th and 28th of May into the brand new National Football Development Centre ‘Dragon Park’ in Newport. This ‘phoenix from the flames’ event has seen some excellent football games and moreso some extraordinary football being played. This bank holiday is by no means an exception.

The showcase event will involve three teams from the Welsh Premier Academy system and a combined regional team from both North and South squads who meet regularly throughout the year. This festival of football sits inside an ever expanding programme of talent identification and player development.

Playing games over a two day period, talented boys from all over Wales who were born in 1999, will play against each other and be coached by up- and-coming Academy coaches who have selected squads based on the talent involved within the Academy system from each of the North, Central and South areas across Wales.

In addition to the Academy Coaching staff in each team there will be WFT members of staff working alongside them providing them with guidance and support as the event develops.

Fixture Programme

Monday 27 May 2013

3.30pm – Fixture – Regional Boys v South Wales Boys

5pm – Fixture = North Boys v Central Boys

Tuesday 28 May 2013

10.15am – Fixture – Regional Boys v North Wales Boys

11.30am – Fixture - Central Boys v South Boys

3pm – Fixture – Regional Boys v Central Wales Boys

4pm – Fixture – North Boys v South Boys

All fixtures will take place at Dragon Park, National Football
Development Centre, Newport International Sports Village, Newport, NP19 4RA

The Welsh Football Trust, in partnership with the University of South Wales, is offering a Sports Science Internship.

Intern Role

To support the Women’s and Girls Sports Science programme of the Welsh Football Trust in the 3 main areas of work; national squad support, player development and coach education.  Working under the supervision of the Coach Education Coordinator, the intern will receive training and development and will have the opportunity to work directly with coaches and players.  This is a wide-ranging role which will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to work with elite players and coaches.

Hours of Work

Average of 25 hours per week (on top of MSc study time), including weekend work and unsociable hours, but not in conflict with course contact time. Internship will continue throughout the year including during university semester breaks.

Duration of Internship

The Internship will run from August 2012 to July 2013.

Place of Work

The Internship will be based at Dragon Park, NISV, Newport, but work will also be undertaken away from the offices. International travel may be required.

For further Information please visit http://hesas.glam.ac.uk/news/en/2013/may/10/welsh-football-trust-sports-science-internship-ava/

To apply please email a CV and Covering Letter to James Rowberry Coach Education Co ordinator – Welsh Football Trust james.rowberry@welshfootballtrust.org.uk

Closing Date :- 14 June 2013.

Last chance to reward your grassroots football hero via The Welsh Community Football Awards presented by McDonald’s

They might be your coach or a club or league in your local area. Maybe it’s the person who turns up in rain or shine to help put up the nets or who keeps the tea coming on those cold winter days. There are outstanding people who volunteer their time week in, week out and without them the game simply wouldn’t exist. The Welsh Community Football Awards presented by McDonald’s aim to recognise and reward people across the country that make a difference to grassroots football in their local community – the people who dedicate their time to developing tomorrow’s young talent and help ensure safety and best practice in hundreds of clubs up and down the country.

The awards offer a chance to all those involved in grassroots football to shout about the person, or team of people that have made a real difference to their experience whilst playing or just being involved in the beautiful game. Winners are awarded at a regional and national level so there’s plenty of opportunity for grassroots football heroes across the country to be recognised.

Nominate your grassroots hero here http://www.welshfootballtrust.org.uk/pages/en-gb/home/grassrootsfootball/welshcommunityfootballawards.aspx
whether they are a coach, a groundsman or even the tea lady – show your
appreciation and get them the recognition they deserve!

Nominations close on the 27^th May and a shortlist of candidates will
be selected by a judging panel in the search for the winners of these
prestigious awards. The ten national award winners will then be announced at The Welsh Community Football Awards presented by McDonald’s ceremony at the Wales v Serbia game in September.

For any queries please contact Jay Probert

Regional Development Coordinator / Cydgysylltydd Datblygu
Rhanbarthol

Welsh Football Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru

Dragon Parc,
National Football Development Centre,Newport International Sports Village, Newport. NP19 4RA

Parc y Ddraig, Y Ganolfan Datblygu Pêl-droed Genedlaethol, Pentref Chwaraeon Rhyngwladol Casnewydd, Casnewydd, NP19 4RA

Twitter:
@JProbertWFT

Twitter:
@WelshFballTrust

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Welsh-Football-Trust-Coach-Champions/271427662962

JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/welshfootballtrust/Donate

(Tel / Ffôn)   01633 282911

(Fax / Ffacs) 01633 278815

(Tel / Ffôn)   07792 265745

National Team Manager Chris Coleman and Technical Director Osian Roberts presented last year’s U16 Boys with their first international caps at a ceremony in Cardiff yesterday (Saturday 11^th May).

The event, which marks one of the highlights of the Player Development Calendar, was attended under the watchful eye of proud family members and friends.

Technical Director Osian Roberts commented “ This is the first step on the international ladder for the players and I hope that they continue to win more international caps working through the intermediate age groups with Geraint Williams. In order to do this, the hard work starts now, especially as the players now compete in UEFA Tournaments experiencing European international competition for the first time. I believe this particular age group have a fantastic opportunity of making history and becoming the first Welsh team to qualify for a UEFA Elite Tournament”.

Grassroots club Mardy Tigers FC enjoyed an evening with Wales manager Chris Coleman when he visited the club to help promote the 2013 FAW Community Football Awards, presented by McDonald’s.

The club welcomed Chris to celebrate their achievements in last year’s FAW Community Football Awards with the club’s Wayne Jeremiah winning the national Coach of the Year Award.

Local coaches, clubs, leagues and volunteers can all be nominated now and be in with a chance of being awarded at regional or even national level with Pontypool residents urged to nominate their local football heroes via McDonalds.co.uk/awards.

As coach, manager and organiser of Mardy Tigers/PILCS LFC, Wayne’s main achievement has been to showcase women’s and girls’ football in the area – establishing a senior side who have just won their division at the first attempt.  Currently, the junior section of the club has more than 100 girls taking part, whilst the senior team comprises of a 20 strong squad – making the club a prominent organisation for women’s football.

Wayne also works closely with local schools and has established a mini Tigers Academy, developing a young team who he has taken onto represent Wales in national competitions.  Some former members have even gone onto win full international caps for Wales, thanks largely to Wayne’s coaching involvement and commitment.

Mardy Tigers FC has a huge reputation across the UK for producing excellent players with many of the girls progressing to the very top in Welsh and UK football.

Whilst at the club, Chris caught up with Mardy Tigers FC’s players and coaches and watched a training session, before taking part in a Q&A about his own grassroots career and his community heroes.

Speaking at the club, Chris was clear about the vital importance of the grassroots game: “Grassroots football is the lifeblood of the national game, without it football simply wouldn’t exist.  All the players in each of my national squads would have started at clubs like Mardy Tigers and all will remember their first coaches and those who helped them when they were younger. The coaches and volunteers who sacrifice their time for these young footballers are priceless and deserve all the recognition they get from the Community Football Awards. I still remember the various coaches to this day standing in the rain when I was a young player and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for the support from them when I was a youngster I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Wayne Jeremiah, Mardy Tigers FC coach, says: “It has been a fabulous day for the club and the kids as Chris is a real hero around here and to see him talking about his career and overseeing today’s training will stay with us all for a long time. Winning the Coach of the Year award last year was a great honour for me and a lot of it was down to the club as a whole and everyone involved in Mardy Tigers.  We strive as a club to offer grassroots football to the entire community, girls, boys, young and old to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the game we love so much.”

Nominations for The FAW Community Football Awards presented by McDonald’s are open until 27^th May. To vote for a football coach, club or volunteer go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards

Follow us on twitter: @2013Grassroots

Wales U15′s beat a strong Belgium team 2-0 last night at Jenner Park, in the last game of a Tri Nation Development Tournament played against Switzerland and Belgium.

In an encouraging performance Wales had narrowly missed out in getting a deserved draw against Switzerland in the opening game on Tuesday, but yet again bounced back to secure another historic win to follow on from the success in Poland two weeks ago.

Wales took a deserved lead after 10 minutes when Nyasha Mwamuka was set free to slot calmly past the advancing Belgian goalkeeper. Wales should have extended their lead 15 minutes later when Morgan Jones’ header just went the wrong side of the far post from a well taken free kick by Joe McNulty.

Head Coach Osian Roberts made one change at the interval replacing Everton’s Nathan Broadhead,who had worked hard during the first half, to be replaced by his club team-mate Ryan Harrington. Wales had to be disciplined and organised defensively to deal with the creative and talented Belgians as they pushed for an equaliser.

National Team Manager Chris Coleman, watching this age group for the first time this year, must have been delighted with what he was seeing as the young Welsh team had certainly bought into the Welsh philosophy that has been implemented across all the national teams.

As the second half progressed Wales grew in confidence and belief despite the loss of Jack Challis, their inspirational leader, who was forced to leave the field with an injury after a brave challenge.

Both teams were looking for the all-important next goal in the match and it was Wales who secured it when Wrexham’s James Papirnyk rose high to head home to give Wales a fully deserved victory, but more importantly a solid professional team performance.

Osian Roberts commented after the game, “ I’m delighted with how the boys have responded this evening after Tuesday’s game with Switzerland. We felt we deserved at least a draw on Tuesday based on the performance, so to come out and play like we did against a top international team such as Belgium speaks volumes for the character and ability in this squad.  Tonight we were
everything - organised, committed, controlled and the most pleasing for me is
that the boys have taken on board our philosophy. Even though the most important factor at this level is development and making sure our young international players gain as much experience of international football as possible, I’m pleased the boys are experiencing winning as well. I can’t think of any Welsh team at this age group to have beaten Poland and Belgium - two of the top European countries in youth football.”

Photos courtesy of Scott Warne www.thinkphoto.co.uk

thinkphoto

We are pleased to announce the inaugural trials for the Welsh Deaf Futsal Team.

Please see link below for full details:-

Welsh Deaf Futsal Squad Trial Application Form

Over 1000 pupils took part in this season’s regional school disability football tournaments at under 14, under 16 and over 16 age groups. Events were held in Treforest, Swansea, Conwy and Wrexham with regional winners qualifying for the National Finals on May 22^nd 2013 at Blaendolau Playing Fields Aberystwyth. Running alongside this year’s finals will be a primary school aged football festival with the emphasis on fun and participation.

This initiative is part of the schools disability football programme delivered in partnership between the Welsh Football Trust and Welsh Schools FA.

Schools that have qualified for the National Finals can be found in the table below.

For more information regarding the disability school football programme please contact: rob.franklin@welshfootballtrust.org.uk / 07788 314887

Final score from Jenner Park this evening in the final game of the Tri Nation Tournament, Wales 2 Belgium 0

Match Report and reaction to follow.

We are delighted to announce that Marcel Desailly will join us as a guest for the 2013 National Coaches Conference taking place in The Village Hotel, Cardiff on the 10 – 12 May.

The former Chelsea star also played for numerous prestigious teams including Marseille and AC Milan, winning UEFA Champions League winners medals for both clubs in 1993 and  1994 respectively.

In 1998 Marcel was part of the World Cup winning French National team with whom he gained a total of 116 Caps.

Desailly completed the UEFA A Licence here in Wales and is currently a candidate on our UEFA Pro Licence course. His knowledge and experience has proved invaluable on both courses and we are confident that this will be the case at this years conference.

For further details on the National Coaches Conference please download the below application form.

National Conference Application Form 2013