Everyone has their Cymru Stori. Meet members of Wal Goch y Menywod Judy, Holly, Jaz, and Cerian sharing their Cymru Stori.
Everybody has a story of where it all started. A story that makes you smile. A story from a time when new friendships were made. A story about watching or playing football for the first time. A story about watching your first Cymru match.
Wal Goch y Menywod was set up for fans of the Cymru women’s national team to arrange meet-ups before games, coordinate travel, share information and bring fans together. As part of the Cymru Stori series the FAW spoke to group members to understand more about their Cymru Stori.
Cerian joined Wal Goch Y Menywod as a solo fan and first attended a Cymru match in 2021, she has been closely following the team and now attends away matches too:
“I really enjoy sport and I enjoy supporting women doing great things and I love Wales, so the combination of everything was great to me.”
When I watch the women play, I just feel happy it’s such a great environment. If I am going away, I love travelling and seeing different places.”
Across this campaign, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) has highlighted the importance of male allyship across all areas of the game and Jaz, a male fan who started watching the team in 2018 emphasised the significance of male advocacy in the women’s game:
“Forget about comparing men’s and women’s football, they represent Cymru and they are playing for the shirt the same as the men do, there is really no difference. Come and watch some brilliant footballers doing their best for Cymru.”
Jaz also shared how the team have inspired him in his own life:
“The team have inspired me, I’ve started learning Welsh again. I don’t think that would have happened had I not come across the Welsh speakers in the team conducting interviews in Welsh.” said Jaz.
Discussing stereotypes in football, mother and daughter Judy and Holly discussed how important it was to break these down around football fans:
“There’s often a stereotype of fathers and sons going to football together, but both my Mum and I, love football and we go along with my Dad as well. It’s a whole family thing and it is just about doing something together building the relationship, and just having a great time together.” Holly said.
Looking forward to Cymru’s EURO play-off final against the Republic of Ireland on Friday 29th November Cerian said:
“To anyone thinking of attending a Cymru game home or away it is such a welcoming experience, the team have inspired me one to play football and two just to put myself out there more and meet new people and go to different places.”
Holly added: “This group of players are incredible, they’re forging paths themselves and for girls coming through, I think it’s fantastic not only for the women’s game in Wales but the whole world”
Start your Cymru Stori next Friday. Secure your tickets and be a part of a record-breaking crowd.
