There has been huge success for the Football Association of Wales off the field throughout 2024 the implementation and development of a number of initiatives that have benefited thousands of people involved in our game.
The FAW remains committed to supporting individuals and communities across the country with record investment once again headlining so many different success stories, and with much more to come in 2025. To celebrate the great work that has taken place during the last 12 months, here are a few highlights and special stories that make Welsh football so much more than just sport.
The year began applications being invited to join the BE. Football mentoring programme. The programme entered it’s third year and provides mentors to women who are looking to advance their careers in football, while offering networking opportunities and media training. The programme has been successful in helping women gain confidence and advance their careers in the game.
A Facility Vision between the FAW and the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF) was also launched in February. “We know that facilities in Wales are not where they need to be,” explained FAW CEO Noel Mooney. “This vision gives us a clear plan to bring facilities across Wales at all levels into the present day. We want to be able to invest at least £10 million a year into improving facilities in communities across Wales to bring them up to standard.”
The national Football v Homophobia (FvH) awards 2024 saw four nominations received from Wales, with the FAW continuing to show its imperative support of FvH in a stand against all forms of anti-LGBT+ discrimination to ensure football truly is a game for all. Meanwhile, a special recognition award from Welsh Blood Service was received following the success of the ‘Blood, Sweat and Cheers’ campaign that was initially launched in November 2020 to encourage blood donations through our domestic clubs.
The awards continued in May as Noel Mooney was named Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Wales. The month also saw the opening of a new 3G facility in Caernarfon following a £1.2 investment funded by the CFF as part of their Fit-For-Future Facilities project. “This new facility in the heart of Caernarfon will benefit so many in the local community and we’re so pleased that we can support a project of this magnitude,” said CFF Director Aled Lewis.
The investment continued at CPD Clydach FC as a £300,000 investment enabled the construction of new changing facilities, while additional projects at Denbigh Town, Trefelin BGC and CPD Felinfach took the total facility investment to £17m. “We are extremely pleased and proud to have supported so many projects in such a short space of time that will deliver such an impact within our communities,” Lewis added.
Dai Carpenter was appointed as the FAW’s Grassroots Disability & Inclusion Manager with the responsibility to increase the number of participants from ethnically diverse community football and to establish plans to support the development of football opportunities for people from under-represented groups. Meanwhile, the FAW became the first National Association to join the Common Goal project, designed to transform communities through football.
In August it was announced that a £3m investment would be made to improve club facilities in North Wales ahead of the UEFA MU19 Championship Finals that will take place there in 2026, while in October the FAW confirmed its intention to bid to host the 2027 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in collaboration with the Principality Stadium and Cardiff Council.
The FAW PAWB Fund panel have continued to support players, clubs and families across the country during the 2024/25 with tens of thousands of pounds awarded to enable access to football opportunities and equipment. The PAWB Fund has consistently delivered in its remit of making the game accessible and affordable for people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Meanwhile, the Huddle programme for young girls now has 74 providers across the country, with over 1,000 girls participating regularly.
The Cymru men’s team showed their support for the White Ribbon campaign for the UEFA Nations League match against Iceland, with the FAW aiming to raise awareness of the urgent need for men to lead the change in tackling harmful attitudes, behaviours and violence towards women. “By dedicating this match to White Ribbon, we are encouraging everyone, to step up, reflect, and take action to ensure football and society are safe and inclusive spaces for all,” said Mooney.
It was also a significant year for our female match officials, with Cheryl Foster being awarded the MBE for her services to the game. Meanwhile, Assistant Referee Ceri Williams was appointed to officiate at the FIFA WU17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic at the end of the year. “Hopefully, if things go well on this tournament and I can get to a major tournament, we can really show to the new girls coming through that those pathways are possible,” said Williams.
The success of Rhian Wilkinson’s Cymru team in qualifying for EURO 2025 has again highlighted the sacrifices that were made by the pioneers and trailblazers who began our women’s football story. In recognition of their contribution to the game in Wales, a special ceremony was held at St. Fagen’s Museum in October to officially present caps to those who played for Cymru between 1973 and 1992. It was an emotional and deserving occasion for those who paved the way for the current squad.
