47 former WNT players presented Cymru caps

At a special ceremony in St Fagan’s Museum last night, 47 former Cymru Women’s players that represented their country between 1973-1992 were awarded official caps.

Ninety-four women represented their country during that period, but as the teams weren’t affiliated to the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the players didn’t receive Welsh caps.

The event, jointly hosted by S4C and the Football Association of Wales, coincides with a documentary telling the story of women’s football in Wales for the first time, Yr Hawl i Chwarae (The Right to Play). The documentary will be broadcast on S4C platforms on 22 October.

The ceremony, hosted by Catrin Heledd, had two panel sessions in between the cap presentation, where the FAW’s Acting President Mike Jones and newly appointed Head of Women’s Player Development Vicki Linton presented the caps. Following the presentation, a thank you message was played to the former players from current Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson.

The first panel looked back at the history of the women’s game in Wales, featuring former player Michele Adams; Former Head of Women and Girls’ football at the FAW, Lowri Roberts; and Hawl i Chwarae documentary presenter, Ffion Eluned Owen.

The second panel explored the future of the game in Wales and included Cymru U19 Head Coach Nia Davies; FAW Senior Women & Girls’ Grassroots Manager Beth Woolley; and UEFA Vice President and former player, Laura McAllister. This discussion also looked at the FAW’s strategy update on its women’s and girls’ football strategy, ‘Our Wales: For Her’.

The evening can be watched back in full on RedWall+.

Here are the names of the 47 players that received their Cymru caps:

Brenda Blythyn, Carolyn Petersen, Claire O’Sullivan (collected by Alex Bateman), Colleen O’Connor, Deb Fox, Debbie Faulkner, Debbie Pearson, Dee Meade, Diane Totty, Elaine Cozens, Gail Paterson-Manning, Gail Thomas, Gaynor Blackwell, Gill Doyle, Gloria O’Connell, Helen Pritchard (collected by Allan Pritchard), Jackie Williams, Jamie Johnson, Jan Burton, Jan Lewis, Jayne Angove, Julie Richards, Karen Jones MBE, Karen Wells, Kay Merrill, Laura McAllister CBE, Lesley Ann Judd, Liz Harrington, Louise Stephens, Mai Griffith, Mandy Beach, Mandy Gornicki, Michele Adams MBE, Naldra Ball, Sally Manley, Samantha Porter, Sandra Hunt, Sandra Moore (collected by Mai Griffith), Shelley Walters, Sian Williams, Su Young (collected by Alex Bateman), Sue Johnson (collected by Mai Griffith), Tina Cosatori, Valerie Bevan (collected by Frances Cuss), Wendy Reilly, Wendy Slade (collected by Martin Slade), Yvonne Gagen.

23 players were unable to attend the event and their caps will have their caps delivered, some as far as Australia, Canada and France:

Alison Leatherbarrow, Angela Power, Ann Joy Jenkins, Carole Paul, Caroline Brunt, Caroline Cullen, Caroline Green, Helen Beer (now Edwards), Helen Green, Helen Worgan, Jane Banham, Jane Bartley, Jackie Weir, Judith Hughes (nee Turner), Julia Merola, Julie Ferrett, Karen Bennett, Louise Thomas, Lynette Roberts, Lynne Reece, Sandra Ann Bretag, Sherryl Evans, Sue Webber.

Details on 24 players are yet to be discovered. If you have contact details for a player or family member of those listed below, please contact press@faw.cymru.

Missing player list

Pat Griffiths, Linda James, Ann Rice, Julie Yale, June Houldey, Barbara Jones, Christine Ross, Karen Atkins, Jean McCarthy, Wendy Wood, Jacqueline Butt, Nikki Groves, Suzy Faul, Jill Anson, Chris Coyle, Gill Bellis, Paula Cleeve, Val Williams, G Day, Delyth Wyn Jones, Jackie Weir (nee Jones), Annette Jones, T Heaton, Caroline Brunt.

Watch here

Cap presentation

Available to watch on RedWall+

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Cymru v Slovakia

Tuesday 29 October, Cardiff City Stadium

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