This month’s international window saw six players from across the Genero Adran Leagues called up to represent their respective nations.
Wrexham goalkeeper Lucy Farrell earned a call-up to the Cymru squad for their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against Albania. In doing so, she became the first player to be plying her trade in the Welsh domestic top-flight at the time of a senior Cymru call-up since Ellie Lake in 2018.
Farrell was an unused substitute in both legs of the tie as Rhian Wilkinson’s side triumphed 4-0 on aggregate to progress to the play-off final against Norway in December.
However, there was a significant moment for a former Genero Adran Premier star as ex-Pontypridd United forward Olivia Francis made her senior international debut as a substitute in the first leg in Shkodër, before also coming off the bench in the second leg in Llanelli.
Farrell’s Wrexham teammate Natasha Thomas was called up to Jamaica’s squad for their pair of friendlies away in Mexico.
Thomas was an unused substitute as the Reggae Girlz were 4-3 winners in a thrilling first encounter, before coming off the bench for her seventh cap four days later – playing the final 24 minutes – as Mexico earned revenge with a 3-1 victory.
The third Wrexham player to earn an international call-up during the window was Faye Knox, as she was included in the first ever Cymru Under-23s squad for a training camp.
The camp concluded with a behind-closed-doors friendly against WSL 2 side Watford, which Knox featured in but the scoreline was unreported. The forward then returned to Wrexham to score a hat-trick in the Red Dragons’ impressive 8-1 away win over Swansea City last weekend.
Sticking with Cymru’s age-grade sides, new Cardiff Met signing Amelia Collins was selected for the Under-19s squad for their pair of friendlies against Greece at Dragon Park, Newport.
The 15-year-old, who joined the Archers from the FAW Girls Academy and made her Genero Adran Premier debut in the win over Aberystwyth Town at the end of September, played 90 minutes in both matches as Cymru were beaten 2-1 by Greece before gaining revenge with a 1-0 win three days later.
Finally, The New Saints winger and Pontypridd United midfielder Anna Howard were both included in Gibraltar’s squad for their friendly away in Liechtenstein.
Chapman started the game to earn her 14th international cap, while Howard – who joined Ponty last month – was an unused substitute as Gibraltar were beaten 3-0.
Impressively, Chapman returned to start on the bench for TNS against Briton Ferry Llansawel in the Genero Adran Premier the following day; coming on as a substitute to contribute an assist in a 3-1 victory as the Saints continued their perfect start to the campaign.
