Preview: Cwpan Gary Speed

This week marks the beginning of the inaugural Gary Speed Cup, a new tournament dedicated to celebrating the remarkable legacy of the late, great Cymru legend.

Taking place across north Wales from August 23rd to 31st, the competition will see Cymru MU16 face off against Japan, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland in an exciting round-robin format. 

This new cup will replace Cymru’s position in the historic Victory Shield, which has long been a cornerstone of Welsh youth football success, and offers a unique opportunity for elite youth players to experience international football in a competitive yet developmental environment.

Many alumni, including Ethan Ampadu, Ben Cabango, and Rabbi Matondo, have progressed from this tournament to senior national team appearances and major international competitions. Notably, Ampadu captained the Cymru U16s to victory against England, underscoring the tournament’s significance.

Speed’s influence on Welsh football is immeasurable. As a player, Speed was a stalwart of the national team from 1990 to 2004, earning 85 caps and captaining Wales 44 times, making him the most capped outfield player in Welsh history until 2018, when Chris Gunter surpassed him. His leadership and unwavering professionalism both on and off the pitch set a standard for generations to follow.

Speed’s distinguished club career included spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, and Everton, demonstrating his talent at the highest level of English football. Transitioning into management in 2011, Speed inherited a Welsh team struggling at their lowest FIFA ranking of 117th. Through his strategic vision and a focus on nurturing young talent, highlighted by his bold decision to appoint 20-year-old Aaron Ramsey as captain, he swiftly revitalised the national side. 

Under Speed’s guidance, Wales rose through the ranks and earned the title of ‘Best Movers’ in international football, laying the groundwork for the nation’s future achievements on the global stage.

Although his managerial career was tragically cut short, Speed’s enduring impact continues to inspire Welsh football, cementing his place as a beloved and transformative figure in Cymru’s sporting history.

Leading the Cymru squad in the Gary Speed Cup will be National Age Group Coach Adrian Harvie, who aims to win the inaugural tournament on home soil. 

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for the players,” Harvie said. “With it being the first camp of the season, it is always exciting to see the players and staff again as a group in person. It’s even more exciting that we will be hosting the tournament in Wales and that the tournament is being named after the great man that was Gary Speed. 

“Honouring Gary has been in the planning by the FAW for some time now and we feel it was a perfect opportunity to honour this legacy with a tournament. We wanted to create a tournament that can be hosted in Wales, can attract teams from across the world and has player development at the heart of it. This is something Gary was passionate about – helping others become better players and better people.”

He added: “I couldn’t be more proud to be leading a group of staff and players in the first ever Gary Speed Cup. North Wales has always made us feel welcome and have come out to support the youth national age groups so we are really looking forward to what will no doubt be a well supported tournament.

“For us it’s about giving absolutely everything during the nine days together both on and off the pitch, both staff and players. We want to showcase our qualities with and without the ball across the three games and for the players to express themselves. Outworking our opponents is a non-negotiable when representing Cymru. I couldn’t be more proud of this group’s journey so far and have all the confidence that we will compete for everything. People remember moments and we want to do this over the next nine days where we can look back on this time with huge pride and satisfaction that we’ve given everything.”

In addition to celebrating football, the tournament will support an important cause, raising funds for Mind Cymru, a leading mental health charity dedicated to supporting people across Wales.

Tickets for each fixture will be sold at the venues on match day, £3 adults and £1 children. Matches will take place across Ruthin Town, Buckley Town and Colwyn Bay.

Cwpan Gary Speed Fixture Calendar

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).