Volunteers leave a lasting legacy at UEFA Under-19 EURO

When the UEFA European Under-19 Championship arrived in Cymru this summer, the spotlight naturally fell on Europe’s brightest young footballers. 

But behind every match, every ceremony, every social media update and every unforgettable moment was a dedicated team of volunteers whose passion, professionalism and commitment helped bring the tournament to life.

From welcoming young mascots onto the pitch and coordinating pre-match ceremonies to capturing the action through media and communications, volunteers played an invaluable role throughout the championship.

For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a major international tournament on home soil, while for others it represented another important step on their journey within Welsh football.

For Mari Jones, who volunteered as a mascot chaperone at fixtures held at Denbigh Town FC, the experience was inspired by her involvement in grassroots football.

“I am involved with my local football club, Denbigh Town FC, and thought that since several of the Under-19 games were being held at Denbigh, I would volunteer for the tournament,” she explained.

“There is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes at a tournament than you realise. Showing mascots what their role involves and practising with them takes patience and the right mixture of having fun and keeping them safe. It is a big responsibility.”

Among her favourite memories were seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they met the players, while also forming lasting friendships with fellow volunteers.

“Making new friends, getting to know new people and seeing the smiles on the mascots’ faces when they met the players.”

Her advice to anyone considering volunteering in Welsh football is simple: “Go for it. It was a great experience, one of the best for me and my daughter. I learnt some new skills and met lots of lovely people.”

For Yasin Becer, an International Football Business student at UCFB, volunteering offered the chance to gain invaluable experience working at an elite UEFA competition.

As part of the Ceremonies Team, Yasin supported mascot, flag bearer and ball kid operations, coordinated rehearsals, managed matchday timings and assisted with pitch-side responsibilities across multiple venues.

“I volunteered because I wanted to gain practical experience in international football and understand how a major UEFA tournament is delivered behind the scenes,” he said.

“It was an excellent opportunity to apply my academic learning in a professional matchday environment, work alongside experienced UEFA and FAW personnel, and contribute positively to Welsh football.”

The experience gave him a deeper understanding of the teamwork and precision required to stage international football.

“I learned how much detailed preparation, communication and teamwork are required to deliver an international football match successfully.

“Standing pitchside and seeing the ceremonies we had rehearsed come together successfully in front of the supporters made me feel incredibly proud because I could see the direct impact of our work.

“Being involved in the final of an international UEFA competition was an unforgettable experience and showed me the scale and excitement of elite tournament delivery.”

Alongside unforgettable matchday memories, Yasin also valued the opportunity to build relationships with UEFA and FAW staff and receive career advice that will help shape his future in football.

His message to future volunteers reflects the impact the experience had on him.

“Volunteering in Welsh football is much more than helping on a matchday. It allows you to learn, meet inspiring people, build confidence and make a genuine contribution to the game.

“You may begin as a volunteer, but you can leave with new knowledge, friendships, professional contacts and greater confidence about your future. My advice is simple: take the opportunity, show enthusiasm and keep the spark.”

The tournament also showcased the opportunities available to aspiring sports journalists and media and communication professionals.

Having represented Cymru at the UEFA Under-19 Championship in Romania in 2025 as part of the prestigious UEFA/AIPS Young Reporter Programme, Begw Elain returned to the competition this summer as part of the volunteer media team.

Selected as one of just 12 young journalists from around the world – and the first Welsh journalist to take part in the programme – Begw brought valuable experience after spending 16 days covering the tournament in Bucharest, producing live reports and feature stories while developing her skills in sports journalism.

Alongside her international experience, Begw has also volunteered as Media Officer at Caernarfon Town FC, one of the host venues for this summer’s tournament, giving her a unique understanding of both club and international football operations.

“Returning to the Under-19 Championship in Wales felt incredibly special. Having experienced the tournament from a journalist’s perspective in Romania, it was rewarding to contribute to its success on home soil while continuing to learn from experienced media professionals.

“The opportunity reinforced how many different pathways there are within football beyond the pitch, and volunteering has been an important part of my journey.”

Another volunteer helping to tell the tournament’s story was Rhys Jones, who managed the Cymru national team social media channels on matchdays throughout the competition.

Already an established member of the FAW’s domestic football media team on a freelance basis, Rhys regularly works across the Cymru Leagues, helping to raise the profile of clubs and competitions across Cymru every weekend. His volunteering journey also includes seven years as Media Officer at Gresford Athletic FC in the JD Cymru North, experience that has helped prepare him for the demands of international football coverage.

Throughout the tournament, Rhys played a key role in delivering live updates, behind-the-scenes content and matchday coverage across the Cymru digital channels, ensuring supporters could follow Cymru’s journey wherever they were.

“Working on the Cymru national team channels during a UEFA tournament was an incredible experience,” he recalled. “Every matchday is fast-paced, but being trusted to tell the story of the team and connect with supporters made it hugely rewarding.

“Volunteering at club level gave me the experience and confidence to take opportunities like this. It’s proof that getting involved locally can open doors to some amazing experiences.”

For lifelong football supporter Dilwyn Roberts, volunteering at the age of 70 fulfilled a lifelong ambition.

“As a 70-year-old football fanatic, I thought this was an excellent opportunity to take part in a small way in an important European tournament. It was a great way to see close up some stars of the future. I probably won’t see this again in Wales, so it was a marvellous opportunity.”

Watching the tournament unfold also gave Dilwyn a new appreciation of the work required to host an international competition.

“I learned about the depth and detail involved in planning and hosting such a prestigious tournament.”

His favourite memory came at the Racecourse Ground, where he watched an entertaining final between record ten-time winners Spain and previous winners Germany.