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I have been invited to submit three Hopes and a Fear, for Welsh Football for 2020/21. Wow. That’s quite a courageous bid by the website moderators there. Be careful what you wish for eh?
I decided to structure my thoughts into Club, Country and….media. Cyfarchion o Gymru!
David Collins
#Hope1: The Club Scene
Although I support Cardiff City, I also take an interest in the fortunes of the League of Wales: the JD Sports Cymru Premier.
I tend to watch Cardiff MET, “The Archers.”
Cardiff MET is a university based team that has clawed its way to the Europa League via the Welsh pyramid. I will forgive the Liverpool-supporting Taffia for not noticing this.
More importantly, though, they are my closest local team. I could walk to the ground. When they draw AC Milan or Manchester United, I shall let my house out to eager Milanese or Mancunians.
I watch quite a few games at this level, having visited Penybont, Newtown, Carmarthen Town and Barry Town United recently. The standard is decent though each stadium is modest. Pitches & programmes are improving.
The thing that needs most work though is, I dunno, it all feels a bit, non league, a touch “home made?”
Will Catterrall, writing as Supporters Liaison & Matchday Media Man for Connah’s Quay Nomads (current League Champions), believes that the level of play is improving year on year and that it arguably compares with the National League in England. The difference, he points out, is the overall match experience.
He is right. When I last visited TNS, who have dominated the league in recent years, the home side were on the cusp of threatening Ajax’s 44-year hold on the world record for the most consecutive wins. But far from feeling as if I was Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, the atmosphere at Park Hall, was, well, ordinary. History did not feel “in the making.” A handful of friends & family in the stands, no away support to speak of and no real impact on the experience from the terraces.
I’m not saying that I want Welsh football to be a seething cauldron of sectarianism, prejudice and parochialism but the Match Day experience certainly could stand improvement. Barry Town have a vociferous away support and Caernarfon usually attract a few but they are rarities at this level.
There is hope though. Colwyn Bay, who have now joined the Welsh pyramid in search of European glory, attracted close to 1,000 spectators for a New a Year’s Day Derby with Prestatyn Town this year. That compares well with average attendances in Scottish football’s lower tiers. Merthyr would revitalise things further if they were to follow the lead of Colwyn Bay and join the Welsh set-up.
My #Hope1 therefore is to improve the experience of attending games in the JD Sports Cymru Premier. I don’t mean perimeter fencing, 15,000 seats and a lavish clubhouse; I mean fanzines, club shops and perhaps a decent Home End? I reckon the whole match day experience needs lifting at these clubs if we are to rub shoulders with Milan or Motherwell.
Thing is though, is that down to them…..or down to us?
#Hope2. Euromilions
If my first Hope seeks to influence the Grass Roots of Welsh Football, then my second, leans towards the upper echelons of the game here. The Hopes & Dreams of a Nation.
2016 will live for ever in the annals of British Football. Yes, you read that right: British Football. For these were Glory, Glory Days. Courtesy of the Princes of Wales.
My whole life as a football fan has been spent awaiting that day in the sun. For every game at Newport or Barry, should I not expect occasional trips to the Nou Camp? Surely my day would come? “30 years of Hurt?” Try 60 years of Trying……
Well, come it did. And then some.
Wales, as we all know, reached the Semi Finals. Our Golden Generation. I went to France twice, watched games up the pub and appeared on TV, Radio and in the hard press. Welsh celebrities knew me by name. Famous for 15 minutes. I took my place alongside National Heroes. Together, Stronger.
Well, quite simply. I want it again. 2016 galvanised a nation in a way not seen before on the sporting scene. For this was no once a year extravaganza punctuated by cries of “I loves the Rugby I Do” from drunken Valleys wenches. This was the global game. Like a never ending stag night, we drank it in, each new roll of the dice bringing a momentum we never thought possible. Bale led the line. Full backs from Reading urged “chin up,” a nation cried as our wee superstar missed the Semi Final.
Could we do it all again please? In 2021? This time next year, we’ll be Millionaires…..
#Hope3. My Media Moan
Imagine the scene. I’m tuned into Talk Sport awaiting news of the next round of the Europa League draw. Three Welsh teams feature.
Here it comes….Spurs, it seems, will play Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Never heard of ‘em. Plovdiv sounds like a made up place.
Rangers travel to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar. I recall my own visit to that unusual arena, as I await news of the Welsh teams……
“An accident on the M25 southbound is causing delays as you head towards……..”
Eh? WTF….?
Sadly, the outcome came as no surprise.
Welsh football is grossly overlooked by the so called UK media.
All aspects of the broadcasting world seem to pay little regard to our affairs. How many of my English or Scottish readers have heard of Cardiff MET for example?
Yet I have heard of Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion and Sutton United. How is that? Is the licence fee in Cardiff not the same as in Canterbury? If Sky Sports show games from Motherwell, could they not show the odd game from Mid Wales? The profile (and the pennies) would do much for our national game.
My hope for 2020/21 is that the UK media pays more regard to our affairs. This is the last of my dreams; and probably the least likely. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. If indeed, it comes at all……
#Fear1.
If you are not a close student of the game in Wales, you could be forgiven for thinking that the future looks bright at international level. You would have a point. Household names from the likes of Madrid, Juventus, Spurs and Manchester United; promising youngsters from Liverpool, Chelsea and beyond. Even some representation from our leading domestic clubs, Cardiff City and Swansea City. Yes, it’s a decent outlook.
Indulge me here though.
Slip into my “glass half empty” frame of mind for a moment.
Wales is a small nation. Down the years, we have occasionally punched above our weight. The same could be said of the Republic of Ireland. In those years, home grown Taffies have always enjoyed the benefit of ancestors and alibis. A single Welsh grandparent can earn a youngster many years representing Y Ddraig Goch. It’s a long list: Ian Evans, Trevor Hockey, Vinnie Jones even. The 2016 heroes were captained by “Englishman” Ashley Williams, historic goals came from Robson-Kanu and Vokes. Few Welsh accents amongst that lot. We can even add the likes of Rob Earnshaw, born in Africa.
I have little problem with this set-up. Like I say, I have grown accustomed to their face. It has always been so.
But our teams down the years have also always relied on home grown talents. John Charles, the Gentle Giant from Swansea; Toshack & Bellamy from the Kairdiff Capital. Joey Jones, Arfon Griffiths, Rush, Hughes & Speed: Northern Lights all.
I am genuinely worried that the supply lines may be drying up though. This is my Fear.
New Cardiff City signing, the current Darling of Welsh football, Kieffer Moore is from Torquay, Dan James hails from Hull. Brooks (Warrington), Ampadu (Exeter). All lovely, committed players…. but what has happened to the supply lines? Nottingham born Brennan Johnson has just been called up I see.
At the back, Chris Mepham is a Cockney. James Lawrence, Will Vaulkes, Ben Woodburn: all born “the wrong side of the Bridge.” We could arguably field an entirely English born team at this rate.
Whilst I embrace each and every one of these guys and have no doubt as to their commitment, I wonder where the next home grown generation will spring from. Excluding Cardiff born Gareth Bale, who was the last Welsh-born striker to score for Wales? I’m struggling to think. Are Welsh schools breeding Prop Forwards not Centre Forwards?
Am I worrying unnecessarily here? Should I await the development of Wrexham-born Harry Wilson and Neco Williams and be grateful for the accidents of genetics that have given us this exciting, new crop of youngsters?
Maybe.
Or am I right to fear for the future. The past was great, the present looks promising……. but what does the future hold? Will the next local hero come from Rhyl, or Ripon?
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