Cardiff City, in partnership with the Welsh Football Trust, is hosting a Mini Kickers Turn up and Play session in your area. This is a great opportunity for young players between the ages 4-7 to get involved in the beautiful game gaining quality coaching from Cardiff City’s community coaches. This is open to you and all your friends if you’d like to come along and get involved in football and also make new friends in the process.

This turn up and play session will follow the Cardiff City academy syllabus where all players are encouraged to have more ‘player ball’ time to help the players become more comfortable and confident on the ball. This is all done through fun technical practices and small sided games.

VENUE
Treforest Football Club
Dan Y Bryn Road
Treforest
Pontypridd
CF37 1AD

DATE:
Wednesday May 23rd from 6pm to 8pm

COST
Free to attend

AGE
4-7 years

For Further Information or to register a place please contact:

Lawrence Badman
Mobile: 07786808539
Email: lawrence.badman@
welshfootballtrust.org.uk

Following the first FAW / UEFA Pro Licence residential course at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon last month, the candidates assembled in Cardiff today for another intense five days of study for this prestigious qualification.

Technical Director Osian Roberts and Course Tutor Lennie Lawrence led the afternoon session when candidates undertook Advanced Planning tasks on real life scenarios within the modern game.

The evening lecture was taken by Damien Comolli who has only recently left Liverpool as Director of Football Strategy. Damien was instrumental in bringing Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, and Wales own international Craig Bellamy to Anfield before he departed his role last month.

His lecture focused on the role of the Sporting Director in football today giving an insight into how football clubs are run at the highest level and the different elements of the day- to-day departments within a club that the Sporting Director oversees including Data Analysis, Scouting, Academy, Squad Management, Player Liaison, Commercial, Medical and Technical Analysis.

Roberts commented “The role of the Sporting Director is the norm on the continent and is increasingly commonplace over here. Therefore our students need to understand their role, and how they can support them in becoming successful by developing a fruitful working relationship. I’m delighted to have secured Damien as a guest on our course this evening, he gave a great insight into the role of the Sporting Director which I’m sure the course students would have found highly beneficial with the many elements that he covered generating some good candidate discussion.”

Pictured below is Technical Director, Osian Roberts and Damien Comolli,

Cymru Alliance league side Penrhyncoch hosted the morning
games on day two of the Cymru Cup and both games again produced some flowing
football and a number of well taken goals that would grace any game. The
Regional Wales side beat North Wales 4-0 with Connahs Quay Nomads’ George Rathbone grabbing himself a hat-trick and Joe McNulty (Bristol City) scoring the other.

Central Wales took on South Wales in the second game of the morning in a very even contest. Central Wales took a two goal lead into the interval with goals from Sam Jones (Porthmadog) and Josh Maksimovic (Cambrian & Clydach). The second half saw South Wales come back into the game and Ben Williams (Llanelli) scored with ten minutes remaining but it was Central Wales who held on for a deserved victory.

The afternoon saw the four teams return to Aberystwyth and both games were played in some difficult windy conditions. All teams adapted to the wind very well with some good passing football being played on the floor. Central Wales produced a very good performance to narrowly lose out to the Wales Regional team by 2-0. The Regional goals came from Ryan Harrington (Everton) and Ibi Sosani (Cardiff City)

The final match of the Cymru Cup was played between the North and South Academy teams. Again the standard of football continued to show and the game was evenly contested with North Wales winning 4-1. Goal scorers for the North were Harry Galiotti (Bangor City) George Griffiths (Bangor City) and Thomas Bridges (Connahs Quay Nomads) The South goal came from an own goal.

Osian Roberts commented “ I’m delighted with the standard of the games over the course of the weekend and there have been some outstanding individual performances and some fantastic goals. The games have shown that our Academy structure within Wales is of a high standard and improving every year. I would also like to thank both the officials and many volunteers of Aberystwyth Town and Penrhyncoch Football Club who have helped stage a wonderful weekend of youth football”.

The 2012 Cymru Cup started today in Aberystwyth in glorious sunshine with the Aberystwyth ground staff having worked very hard to present the pitch in a fantastic playing standard following torrential rain earlier in the week.

The first game between the Wales Regional Squad and the South Wales WPL Representative side finished 6-1 with both sides playing some fast flowing attractive football.

The Regional side took the lead in the first half  with a goal by Nathan Broadhead (Everton).After the interval Daniel Omeregie (Haverfordwest) equalised for the South Wales WPL team almost straight from the re-start. As the second half progressed coaches Allan Bickerstaff and Gareth Davies made a number of changes and further goals followed from Sam Williams (Aldershot Town), Elijah Chilekwah (Bristol City), Liam Smith (Stoke City), and two from Ibi Sosani (Cardiff City).

The second game of the day between the Central and North Wales WPL representative teams was an openly contested affair which saw three goals in the first half with Central Wales leading through Sion Bradley (Porthmadog) and Ian Brown (Porthmadog) and Thomas Ellis (Bangor City) replying for the North Wales team.

The second half was as evenly contested as the first, with both sides gelling well in their first game together as  regional representative sides. Central Wales increased their lead with a well taken near post header from Sam Jones (Cambrian & Clydach). In the closing minutes Josh Baldwin (Newtown) scored from 25 yards and Josh Maksimovic (Cambrian & Clydach) sealed the victory 5-1.

The scores of both games didn’t reflect the football that was played throughout the afternoon.

Tomorrow will see local side Penrhyncoch host two games in the morning before the final two development fixtures at Aberystwyth.

Purpose of the role - To co-ordinate the delivery of the technical programme of the centre. The co-ordinator will be part of the Welsh Football Trust coach mentor programme to assist the development of coaches in the Women & Girls’ game in Gwent. The role will require monitoring, evaluation and signposting of players with talent to the relevant player development structure.

Centre Background – The Welsh Football Trust is committed to developing football within the Gwent County area. We aim to provide a high quality player development structure for talented female players in the region to prepare them for regional and national squads.  The centre started in October 2011 with two age groups at U12’s and one at U10’s. For the 2012-13 season the centre will be expanding to offer provision for players from U10’s-U16’s.

For further information please see job description

http://www.welshfootballtrust.org.uk/pages/en-gb/home/aboutus/careers.aspx

Closing date for applications Tuesday 22^nd May 2012

JOHN HARTSON VISITS JOHNSTOWN FC TO LAUNCH SEARCH FOR COMMUNITY FOOTBALL HEROES

Johnstown FC enjoyed a morning with Wales legend John Hartson when the national hero visited the club to help promote the 2012 Welsh Community Football Awards,
presented by McDonald’s.

The Carmarthen club, who recently received a Gold Accreditation for their tireless work in the community, welcomed John some 18 years after his Wales international debut to help raise awareness of grassroots football heroes.

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 Carmarthen residents
urged to nominate their local football heroes via the McDonald’s Kickstart website.

As Community Partner of the FAW and WFT, McDonald is helping to promote grassroots football through The Welsh Community Football Awards which aim to recognise and reward people across the country who make a difference to grassroots football in their local community – from coaches and clubs, through to schools, players and volunteers – the people who dedicate their time to developing tomorrow’s young talent and help ensure safety and best practice in tens of thousands of clubs up and down the country.

Carmarthenshire is the birthplace of former Wales internationals Dai Davies and Byron Stevenson, all of which went from playing grassroots football in their communities to
representing the Dragons in full international matches.

Speaking at Johnstown FC, John was clear about the vital importance of the grassroots: “Grassroots football is the lifeblood of the game and we can’t underestimate its importance in communities across the UK.  I can still remember the coaches to this day spurring us on while I was a young player for my local team and willing us to do well – and I was lucky that it was at that club, with all of the support around me, that I got my first big break with Luton Town.”

Debbie Squires from Johnstown FC says: “It has been such an exciting day for the club as John is a real Welsh hero and to see him with the children, talking about his career and having a bit of a kick about will stay with us all for a long time. Initiatives such as the Welsh Community Football Awards are a great boost for clubs and it’s fantastic to see people’s hard work celebrated.”

Nominations for The Welsh Community Football Awards presented by McDonalds are now open. To vote for a football coach, club or volunteer go to   www.mcdonalds.co.uk/kickstart

Follow us on twitter: @2012Grassroots

The 2012 Welsh Community Football Awards, presented by McDonald’s celebrate national and regional winners in the following categories, with national winners being
announced in October:

• WFT Coach of the Year – sponsored by McDonald’s
• WFT Club of the Year – sponsored by McDonald’s
• WFT Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by McDonald’s
• WFT School of the Year
• WFT Girl player of the Year
• WFT Boy player of the Year
• WFT Disability Girl of the Year
• WFT Disability Boy of the Year
• WFT Lifetime Achievement

McDonald’s proudly supports football in Britain’s communities, providing more opportunities for anyone to volunteer and qualify as community coaches plus increasing access to free qualified coaching for youngsters everywhere.

McDonald’s is working with The FA which to help coaches play an even greater role in their local communities through the FA Charter Standard League programme to ultimately improve standards at grassroots level.

In its 10th year as The FA’s Community Partner, McDonald’s has helped to create more football for all by training and recruiting over 20,000 qualified football coaches and offering 2 million hours of free, quality football to young players across the UK.

The partnership will also support 400 000 volunteers, 6,000 grassroots clubs and create a total of 30,000 qualified coaches by 2014. For more information, visit McDonald’s.co.uk/football

Our coaching programme is led by:

• Sir Geoff Hurst
  MBE (McDonald’s Director of Football)
• Ian Rush
  (McDonald’s Head of Welsh Football)
• Pat Jennings
  (McDonald’s Head of Football in Northern Ireland)
• Eric Harrison
  (McDonald’s Head Coach and former Manchester United Youth Coach who influenced the careers of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes)

For further information please contact Tim Ward – tim.ward@redconsultancy.com | 020 7025 6565

Over 120 elite coaches will attend the FA Wales National Coaches’ Conference in Cardiff between 18 – 20 May. The conference is run by the Technical Department of the Welsh Football Trust which is responsible for the delivery of all Coach Education courses throughout Wales from grassroots level through to the professional game. The three day conference enables coaches to revalidate their FAW / UEFA ‘B’ Licence, FAW / UEFA ‘A’ Licence and FAW / UEFA Pro Licence qualifications interacting in a number of theory and practical based sessions.

Technical Director Osian Roberts is delighted again to have secured a number of high profile guest speakers for the weekend including Ipswich Town Manager Paul Jewell, Port Vale Manager Micky Adams, former Wales international Robert Page and Welsh- born Lee Congerton, a recruit of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and now Technical Director at SV Hamburg. Roberts commented “I’m delighted to have such a variety of highly qualified guest speakers delivering on elements of the youth and senior game. It’s fantastic for our Welsh based coaches to continue to learn from coaches who have worked at a higher level and also to interact and share ideas with each other on the course.”

Roberts, along with FAW Head of Public Affairs Ian Gwyn Hughes will lead a question and answer session with guest speakers for the first time at an official coaches’ dinner on the Friday evening. This will form part of an intense three days to enable coaches to revalidate their UEFA Licences for a further three years.

Following a successful Cymru Cup last year in Denbigh the journey continues this weekend (12^th and 13^th of May) into the picturesque seaside resort of Aberystwyth
and the surrounding area. This ‘phoenix from the flames’ event has seen some excellent games and more so some extraordinary football being played. This weekend 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 will see talented boys from all over Wales who were born in 1998 playing against each other and 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 a WFT member of staff working alongside them providing them with guidance and support as the event develops.

Clubs such as Aberystwyth Town FC and Penrhyncoch FC have agreed to host the games with the fixtures set below;

Saturday 12 May

15.00pm – Fixture – Regional Boys v South Wales Boys

16.30pm – Fixture = North Boys v Central Boys

Both fixtures will take place at Aberystwyth Town FC, Park Avenue, Aberystwyth,   SY23 1PG

Sunday 13 May

10.00am – Fixture – Regional Boys v North Wales Boys

11.30am – Fixture - Central Boys v South Boys

Both Fixtures will take place at Penrhyncoch FC, Cae Baker, Penrhyncoch, SY23 3EL

14.30pm – Fixture – Regional Boys v Central Wales Boys

16.00pm – Fixture – North Boys v South Boys

Both Fixtures will take place at Aberystwyth Town FC.

Technical Director Osian Roberts, a previous player within the event, looked forward to the weekend:

“I know from personal experience the value of the Cymru Cup and would like to take this opportunity to thank key people such as Andrew Howard, Gus Williams and Meirion Appleton for the coordinated arrangements to make this event happen. Thanks also to the FAW and the WPL Board, without whom substantial funding would not have been possible to hold such a prestigious event. We are indebted to Penrhyncoch FC and Aberystwyth FC for the use of their splendid facilities and finally thanks to all the officials who will take care of all the matches over the weekend. Without their enthusiastic support and expertise we would have no games.”

The start of a busy few months of Coach Education Courses lies ahead for the Technical Department of the Welsh Football Trust.

On Sunday the FAW/UEFA A Licence will commence with 24 students who have been selected from over 60 applicants to enrol on the course.Technical Director Osian Roberts is delighted with the quality of the applicants and the future benefits to Welsh Football.

“I’m delighted that we’ve got good quality and a good cross section of students on the course. Welsh football will be the winner in the longer term as we have several coaches who work at Welsh Premier League level, others at Tier 2 level and other coaches who work at Welsh Academy level.  I am pleased also that we continue to substantially support coaches financially here in Wales.

For the first time ever we also have four coaches who work in the Women and Girls game, which is particularly pleasing, and demonstrates the success of Coach Education in the Women and Girls game.”

Former Welsh International and current Plymouth Argyle manager Carl Fletcher will join Les Ferdinand, Tim Sherwood and Julian Dicks to provide some considerable additional profile to the course and this continues to demonstrate the reputation of the Coach Education Department in Wales.

The first of six residential contacts over the next 12 months will see the students undertake theory and practical sessions covering Match Analysis, Fitness and Conditioning, Psychology for Football, Personal Effectiveness and the Role of the Top Coach all within an intensive first five days.

The Llani6 2012 Women and Girls Football Tournament will be held at Cae Hafren Fields, Llanidloes on August 18th & 19th.

For Entry Form and Tournament Rules and Guidelines please download below -

llani6

Further information can be obtained from Tim Broome Football Development
Officer – Club Development / Swyddog Datblygu Pêl-droed – Datblygu Clybiau

Welsh Football Trust,
Newtown Football Club, Latham Park, Newtown, Powys, SY16 1EN

Tel: 07789 371 693

Facebook page www.facebook.com/llani6