Inaugural Cwpan Gary Speed competition to be launched in north Wales

The Cwpan Gary Speed, a new invitational tournament for MU16 teams, will take place in north Wales later this month, honouring the legacy of one of Cymru’s most cherished footballing figures.

This prestigious event offers a unique opportunity for elite youth players to experience international football in a competitive yet developmental environment. It is more than a showcase of emerging talent, it is a celebration of the values that Gary Speed stood for: leadership, dedication, and pride in wearing the shirt.

Japan, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar will take part alongside Cymru in this year’s edition of the tournament, with matches taking place in Ruthin Town, Buckley Town and Colwyn Bay. Matches will take place between 26-31 August.

The Cymru squad will be managed by Adrian Harvie and features 22 players from across the UK.

Speaking about the tournament, FAW’s Chief Football Officer Dr. David Adams said.

“We’re very proud to be launching the Cwpan Gary Speed tournament this year, honouring Gary’s enduring legacy and his profound impact on Welsh football. We hope the tournament will be a good platform for our future talent to compete and develop on the international stage, serving as a powerful reminder of how Gary’s passion and commitment to high performance can shape the future of the game.”

Tickets for each fixture will be sold at the venues on match day, £3 adults and £1 children.

Cymru MU16 squad: Harry BARROW (Bradford City), Oscar HATTON (Stoke City), Tom ALCOCK (Stoke City), Fabian WILLIAMS (Aston Villa), Noah ANYADIKE (Cardiff City), Sonny PEYTON (Crewe Alexandra), Joe DEIGHTON (Manchester United), Ali TUCKER (Bristol City), Leo KELLEHER (Bristol Rovers), Hugo DANIEL (Cardiff City), Archie WALLS (Blackburn Rovers), Alffi HUGHES (Swansea City), Harrison BROWN (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ralphie BECKWITH (Millwall), Paul MORENO (Cardiff City), Gruffydd EVANS (Cardiff City), Axel DONCZEW (Cardiff City), Jayden SMYTH (Wrexham), Dembo JAITEH (Cardiff City), George WILLIAMS (Exeter City), Bobby LEWIS (Swansea City), George THOMAS (Aston Villa).

Fixture calendar

Tuesday 26 August

Northern Ireland v Gibraltar 11:00am Ruthin

Cymru v Japan 6:00pm Colwyn Bay

Thursday 28 August

Japan v Northern Ireland 11:00am Ruthin

Cymru v Gibraltar 6:00pm Buckley

Sunday 31 August

Gibraltar v Japan 10:30am Ruthin

Cymru v Northern Ireland 10:30am Colwyn Bay

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