The Voice

THE VOICE EICH LLAIS EICH GÊM EICH GWLAD

Y LLAISYOUR VOICE YOUR GAME YOUR COUNTRY

#4 SPRING 2012 GWANWYN FAW OFFICIAL MAGAZINE CYLCHGRAWN SWYDDOGOL CBDC

‘It makes no difference whether the players are men or women. High standards and quality are everything in international football.’

‘Nid yw’n gwneud gwahaniaeth p’un a yw’r chwaraewyr yn ddynion neu’n fenywod. Safonau uchel ac ansawdd yw’r unig bethau sy’n cyfrif mewn pêl-droed rhyngwladol.’

FOOTBALL – THE FUTURE IS FEMININE

DYFODOL DISGLAIR I BÊL-DROED BENYWAIDD

Welcome to the first edition of The Voice in 2012. This is my first opportunity in the magazine to write about the tragic events back in November last year.

We at the Football Association of Wales were devastated by the death of our then manager Gary Speed. It has been a very difficult couple of months and indeed we are still trying to come to terms with his death. Gary was more than a manager of the national side. He had embraced the whole of Welsh football. He was a colleague whose smile and personality made him so popular with all the staff at the FAW.

We have lost a friend, a colleague, a manager. However, his family have lost a husband, a father, a brother and a son. Our thoughts are very much with them.

We have to now look forward and have appointed a new manager. Out of respect we did not want to rush into anything. We had no wish to carry out the process in public. Eventually Chris Coleman was appointed as Gary’s successor. Chris was a close friend of Gary and I am confident that he will build on Gary’s firm foundations.

We look forward to the match against Costa Rica, a celebration of Gary’s life and we hope to see you all there paying tribute to a football legend and a genuine great guy.

As ever, thank you for your support of Welsh football.

Croeso i’r rhifyn cyntaf o’r Llais yn 2012. Dyma fy nghyfle cyntaf yn y cylchgrawn i drafod y newyddion ofnadwy a gawsom yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd.

Roedd hi’n gyfnod erchyll a thrist iawn i bawb yng Nghymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ar ôl clywed am farwolaeth ein rheolwr ar y pryd, Gary Speed. Mae’r misoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn rhai anodd iawn ac yn wir, rydym ni dal yn ceisio dod i delerau â’i farwolaeth. Roedd Gary yn fwy na rheolwr tîm Cymru yn unig, roedd pêl-droed Cymreig yn llenwi ei galon. Roedd ei wên a’i bersonoliaeth yn golygu ei fod yn boblogaidd iawn gyda holl staff y Gymdeithas.

Rydym ni wedi colli cyfaill, cydweithiwr a rheolwr. Fodd bynnag, mae ei deulu wedi colli gŵr, tad, brawd a mab. Mae ein meddyliau gyda nhw yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn.

Nawr, mae gofyn i ni edrych i’r dyfodol, ac rydym ni wedi dechrau gwneud hynny drwy benodi rheolwr newydd. Fel arwydd o barch at Gary, nid oeddem ni am ruthro’r broses hon nac ychwaith ei chynnal yn gyhoeddus. Fel y gwyddoch erbyn hyn wrth gwrs, cafodd Chris Coleman ei benodi fel olynydd Gary. Roedd Chris yn un o’i ffrindiau agos ac rwy’n hyderus y bydd yn adeiladu ar sylfeini cadarn ei gyfaill.

Rydym ni’n edrych ymlaen at y gêm yn erbyn Costa Rica, bydd yn gyfle i ddathlu bywyd Gary. Rwy’n gobeithio eich gweld chi gyd yno yn talu teyrnged i arwr o Gymro a dyn a hanner.

Unwaith eto, diolch i chi am barhau i gefnogi pêl-droed yng Nghymru.

Jonathan Ford,Chief Executive Prif WeithredwrFA Wales CBD Cymru

24

28

02 CONTENTS

Acknowledgements/Diolchiadau

Editor/GolygyddIan Gwyn Hughes

Sub-Editor/Is-olygyddCeri Stennett

Contributors/CyfranwyrMark BloomRebecca CrockettJonathan FordRichard GunneyIan Gwyn HughesDave JonesSteve JonesJarmo MatikainenCeri StennettPaul WalkerNeil Ward

Photographers/FfotograffwyrDavid Rawcliffe (Propaganda)Media WalesRichard GunneyTony Mottram – Trinity MirrorCeri StennettFAW Trust

Contact us/Cysylltwch â niFAW/CBDCOn our new website/ar ein gwefan newyddwww.faw.org.uk029 2043 5830

Design and production/ Dyluniwyd a chynhyrchwyd ganPeter Gill & Associateswww.petergill.com

First published Spring 2011all content copyright the Football Association of Wales.

Cyhoeddwyd am y tro cyntaf – gwanwyn 2011. Mae hawlfraint yr holl gynnwys yn perthyn i Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru.

60

03CYNNWYS

Y LLAIS CBDC GWANWYN 2012 faw.org.uk

contents cynnwys04 Welcome

06 Tributes

24 Welcome Chris Coleman

26 Wales v Costa Rica 2012

32 UEFA U19 Tournament 2013

20 Alan Shearer remembers Gary Speed

36 Jarmo Matikainen in conversation

28 The FAW Strategic Plan

42 The rise of Bala Town

46 Futsal in Wales

48 The Graham Williams story

52 Behind the scenes – FAW Registration

54 Ron Howells and Syd Thomas – two veterans remembered

56 Newport County – an eventful history

60 UEFA Grass Roots Charter – six star achievement

04 Croeso

06 Teyrngedau

24 Croeso Chris Coleman

26 Cymru v Costa Rica 2012

32 Cystadleuaeth Dan 19 UEFA 2013

20 Alan Shearer yn cofio Gary Speed

36 Sgwrs gyda Jarmo Matikainen

28 Cynllun Strategol CBDC

42 Y Bala’n mynd o nerth i nerth

46 Futsal yng Nghymru

48 Hanes Graham Williams

52 Tu ôl i’r llenni – Adran Gofrestru CBDC

54 Ron Howells a Syd Thomas – cofio dau o arwyr Cymru

56 Hynt a helynt clwb Sir Casnewydd

60 Siarter Llawr Gwlad UEFA – chwe seren i Gymru

GARY SPEED GARY SPEED

INTERNATIONAL (WOMEN) RHYNGWLADOL (MERCHED)

INTERNATIONAL (MEN) RHYNGWLADOL (DYNION)

ONE ON ONEHOLI AC ATEB

HOME AND AWAY CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

06

32

THE VOICE FAW SPRING 2012 faw.org.uk

04 WELCOME

welcomecroeso


05CROESO

Welcome to the first edition of The Voice in 2012.

In a small way we have the opportunity of paying tribute to Gary Speed who tragically died last November. The football community has and continues to pay its respects but of course the greatest loss is that suffered by his family.

I first met Gary when he was 18 in the BBC Wales television studios in Cardiff. I was fortunate to know and work with just a great person who will be greatly missed by everyone. The forthcoming game against Costa Rica in Cardiff will be a celebration for the life of a person who gave so much.

This edition will also reflect on everything else that has been taking place on and off the field in Welsh football. Jarmo Matikainen, the women’s coach, reflects on his role and preparations for the UEFA under -19’s finals here in Wales next year.

Chris Coleman was recently appointed as the manager of the Welsh national side and he has been busy travelling the length and breadth of Wales meeting supporters. We will learn more about Chris in the next edition.

Thank you for all your support and we hope for a full house to celebrate the life of Gary Speed on February 29th.

All the best, Ian.

Croeso i’r rhifyn cyntaf o’r Llais yn 2012.

Yn y rhifyn hwn, byddwn ni’n talu teyrnged i Gary Speed, a fu farw fis Tachwedd y llynedd. Mae’r gymuned bêl-droed yn parhau i gofio a thalu teyrnged, ond y golled fwyaf wrth gwrs yw’r un y mae ei deulu yn ei dioddef.

Fe gwrddais i â Gary am y tro cyntaf yn Stiwdio Deledu BBC Cymru yng Nghaerdydd, a hynny pan oedd yn 18 oed. Roeddwn i’n ffodus i gael adnabod a chydweithio gydag unigolyn mor arbennig, a bydd colled enfawr ar ei ôl. Bydd y gêm sydd wedi’i threfnu rhwng Cymru a Costa Rica yng Nghaerdydd yn gyfle i ddathlu bywyd gŵr a gyfrannodd yn helaeth at bêl-droed yng Nghymru.

Bydd y rhifyn hwn hefyd yn adlewyrchu ar bopeth arall sydd wedi bod yn digwydd ym myd y bêl yng Nghymru, ar y cae ac oddi arno. Mae Jaarmo Matikainen, hyfforddwr timau’r merched, yn adlewyrchu ar ei rôl a’r paratoadau ar gyfer rowndiau terfynol Dan 19 UEFA a fydd yn cael eu cynnal yma yng Nghymru’r flwyddyn nesaf.

Cafodd Chris Coleman ei benodi fel rheolwr newydd Cymru yn ddiweddar, ac mae wedi bod yn brysur yn teithio ar hyd a lled y wlad yn cwrdd â chefnogwyr. Byddwn yn dysgu mwy am Chris yn y rhifyn nesaf.

Diolch i chi gyd am eich cefnogaeth ac rydym yn mawr obeithio y bydd Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd dan ei sang i ddathlu bywyd Gary Speed ar 29 Chwefror.

Cofion gorau, Ian.

Ian Gwyn Hughes

welcomecroeso

10 INTERNATIONAL


06 GARY SPEED

words of comfort and respect

For Gary Speed

SENT FLYING AGAINST AZERBAIJAN, WORLD CUP QUALIFIER 2004.

GÊM RAGBROFOL CWPAN Y BYD 2004 YN ERBYN AZERBAIJAN.


11RHYNGWLADOL 07GARY SPEED

After the sad news of Gary Speed’s death became public, the FAW was deluged with letters and emails from all four corners of the earth, as fans, administrators and the general public alike expressed their sadness and paid tribute to a remarkable man. The FAW set up an online book of remembrance, as well as having actual books at the FAW office and at the Racecourse, Wrexham. Here we feature a few lines from just a small proportion of those tributes.

V

Ar ôl cyhoeddi’r newyddion trist am farwolaeth Gary Speed, daeth llith o lythyrau ac e-byst i law’r Gymdeithas o bedwar ban byd wrth i gefnogwyr, cymdeithasau a’r cyhoedd fel ei gilydd fynegi eu tristwch a thalu teyrnged i ŵr arbennig. Aeth y Gymdeithas ati i greu llyfr cofio ar-lein, yn ogystal â rhoi llyfrau yn Swyddfa’r Gymdeithas ac yn y Cae Ras, Wrecsam. Yn y rhan hon, rydym wedi cynnwys detholiad bychan iawn o’r teyrngedau hynny a ddaeth i law.

GARY SPEED – GEIRIAU O GYSUR A PHARCH


10 INTERNATIONAL08 GARY SPEED

‘A privilege to watch you

play as a fan,

an honour to work with you w

hile a journalist.

I could not call you

a friend,

but I could call yo

u my hero.

I hope that you hav

e found your peace

.

‘Colled enfawr i bawb ym mhêl-droed, mae fy meddyliau gyda’i deulu.’

DAVID – YR ALBAN



‘A privilege to watch you

play as a fan,

an honour to work with you w

hile a journalist.

I could not call you

a friend,

but I could call yo

u my hero.

I hope that you hav

e found your peace

.

We believed.’

Roedd hi’n fraint fel cefnogwr i dy wylio

di’n chwarae, ac yn anrhydedd gweithio

gyda thi fel newyddiadurwr. Er nad oeddwn

i’n gallu dy alw’n di’n ffrind, ti oedd fy arwr.

Gobeithio dy fod mewn heddwch erbyn hyn.

Roedd gennym ni ffydd. CHRIS WATHAN, MEDIA WALES




‘The tragic news that has shocked the whole football community this past weekend has also left UEFA with a terrible feeling of deep sorrow and sadness. Gary Speed was indeed a marvellous example of dedication to country and club and of love for the beautiful game. I would like to express through you, to Gary’s loved ones and the whole Welsh football community, my personal and UEFA’s most sincere and heartfelt condolences.’

‘Mae’r newyddion trasig sydd wedi syfrdanu’r byd pêl-droed yng Nghymru dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf hefyd wedi ein gadael ni yn UEFA mewn galar a thristwch enfawr. Roedd Gary Speed yn batrwm rhagorol o ymroddiad i’w wlad a’i glybiau ac o gariad tuag at y gêm. Hoffwn, drwy CBDC, yn bersonol ac ar ran UEFA, gydymdeimlo o waelod calon â phawb a oedd yn agos at Gary a’r gymuned bêl-droed gyfan yng Nghymru.’

MICHEL PLATINI, PRESIDENT – UEFA

‘Thank you for what you did for football. You were a true hero and will be a legend for all Newcastle fans around the world.’

TOOMAS VARA – ESTONIA

‘Gary will be sadly missed as a friend and as a member of the Welsh and the Flintshire football families. He will always have a place in our hearts and in the heart of Welsh football. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Louise, sons Ed and Tommy, his parents Roger and Carol and his sister Lesley and family.’

‘Bydd colled enfawr ar ôl Gary fel ffrind ac fel aelod o deuluoedd pêl-droed Cymru a Sir y Fflint. Bydd wastad lle iddo yn ein calonnau ac wrth galon Pêl-droed yng Nghymru. Mae ein meddyliau a’n gweddïau gyda’i wraig Louise, ei feibion Ed a Tommy, ei rieni Roger a Carol a’i chwaer Lesley a’i theulu.’

DAVID NICKLESS CHAIRMAN – WELSH SCHOOLS FA/ CADEIRYDD – CYMDEITHAS BÊL-DROED YSGOLION CYMRU

‘I have just been hearing on the news about the sad news about Gary Speed, A real shock and stunned and speechless. Please pass on my personal and Show Racism the Red Card condolences to his family.’

‘Rwyf newydd glywed y newyddion trist am Gary Speed ar y newyddion. Sioc enfawr ac rwyf wedi fy synnu. A fyddech cystal â chydymdeimlo â’i deulu ar fy rhan i ac ar ran Dangos y Cerdyn Coch i Hiliaeth.

PETER RIDSDALE

‘First of all please send on my condolences to everyone at the FAW regarding the sudden death of Gary Speed. I had known Gary since he was a young trainee at Leeds United and like everyone I am both saddened and shocked at the news.’

SANJAY VEDISHOW RACISM THE RED CARD /DANGOS Y CERDYN COCH I HILIAETH

PAGE 10:PLAYERS AND FANS OF EVERTON AND STOKE PAY TRIBUTE.

TUD 10: CHWARAEWYR A CHEFNOGWYR EVERTON A STOKE YN TALU TEYRNGED.



‘I wanted to write on behalf of colleagues across BBC Wales to express our shock and deep sadness at the death of Gary. He had won the respect and admiration of all for his passionate and determined leadership of the Welsh team. With your support, he had re-energised Welsh international football and created a real sense of possibility and optimism.’

‘Dyma ysgrifennu ar ran cydweithwyr ledled BBC Cymru i fynegi ein sioc a’n tristwch llethol yn dilyn marwolaeth Gary. Roedd wedi ennill parch ac edmygedd un ac oll am ei ddull angerddol a phenderfynol o arwain tîm Cymru. Gyda’ch cefnogaeth chi, roedd wedi rhoi’r egni yn ôl ym mhêl-droed rhyngwladol Cymru gan greu gwir ymdeimlad o bosibilrwydd ac optimistiaeth.’

RHODRI TALFAN DAVIESDIRECTOR/CYFARWYDDWR – BBC CYMRU/WALES

‘Gary, hero, idol, legend. You will be sadly missed by all. Thank you for the memories.’

BARRY

‘Mae Cymru wedi colli trysor cenedlaethol. Fel chwaraewr a rheolwr, fe rois di obaith a ffydd i ni mewn tîm a gwlad y mae pob un ohonom yn eu caru. Wales has lost a national treasure. As a player and a manager, you gave us the gift of hope and belief in a team and country that we all love.’ THE ‘BARRY HORNS’

‘It is with deep sorrow that I write to you today following the untimely death of your national team manager. Gary Speed was a hugely talented player and a great servant for both club and country who will be greatly missed. I would like to offer my deepest condolences on behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football to you, the FAW and his wife Louise, and their two sons, as well as Gary Speed’s friends and family.’

‘Gyda thristwch mawr yr wyf i’n ysgrifennu atoch heddiw yn dilyn marwolaeth cynamserol eich rheolwr cenedlaethol. Roedd Gary Speed yn chwaraewr hynod dalentog a gyfrannodd yn fawr at ei glybiau a’i wlad. Bydd colled fawr ar ei ôl. Hoffwn gydymdeimlo’n fawr ar ran FIFA a’r teulu pêl-droed byd-eang â phawb yn CBDC, ei wraig Louise a’u dau fab, yn ogystal â gweddill ffrindiau a theulu Gary Speed.’

JOSEPH S. BLATTERPRESIDENT – FIFA



‘Thanks for everything Speedo, R.I.P. for one of the greatest footballers in the Premiere League for all time.’

MARK POGREBISSKIY, MOSCOW

‘Can I offer you and everyone at the Football Association of Wales the heartfelt condolences from everyone at Llanelli AFC at the sad passing away of Gary Speed.’

‘Hoffai pawb yn CPD Llanelli gydymdeimlo o waelod calon â chi a phawb yng Nghymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn dilynmarwolaeth drist Gary Speed.’

NIGEL RICHARDSLLANELLI AFC/CPD LLANELLI

‘Gary our hero … a passionate, proud man, who brought Wales back as a footballing nation. Gone, but never forgotten.’

MANDY, SAM and THE MCCANN FAMILY

WALES CAPTAIN AARON RAMSEY PAYS TRIBUTE WITH HIS ARSENAL TEAMMATES.

CAPTEN CYMRU, AARON RAMSEY, YN TALU TEYRNGED GYDA GWEDDILL TÎM ARSENAL.



‘My thoughts go out to his family and all of you who were close to him. I have listened to the radio and watched Sky News today and I can only add to the wealth of praise and eulogies he has received.’

‘Mae fy meddyliau gyda’i deulu a phob un ohonoch chi a oedd yn agos ato. Rwyf wedi gwrando ar y radio ac wedi gwylio newyddion Sky heddiw, a’r cwbl alla ’i ei wneud yw ychwanegu at y clod a’r moliant sydd wedi dod i law.’

‘Our thoughts and prayers are, of course, with his family at this sad time. On behalf of the Malta Tourism Authority I would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences after having heard the shocking news that Gary Speed has passed away.’

‘We obviously understand the distress at the FAW. We would wish to offer our condolences to all the Association at this very difficult time for all who knew him and worked with him. As football fans and supporters of the Welsh team we were all deeply saddened by the news. We are finding it difficult to come to terms with his loss ourselves, and we can imagine how hard this time is for you all within the FAW.’

‘Hoffwn gydymdeimlo’n fawr â phawb yn y Gymdeithas yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn, pawb a oedd yn ei adnabod ac yn cydweithio ag ef. Fel cefnogwyr pêl-droed a chefnogwyr tîm Cymru, roedd pob un ohonom ni’n drist iawn i glywed y newyddion. Rydym ni’n ei chael hi’n anodd dod i delerau â’r golled ein hunain, a gallwn ni ddychmygu pa mor anodd yw’r cyfnod hwn i bawb ohonoch chi o fewn CBDC.’

‘Please accept our sincere condolences due to death of Mr Gary Speed, headcoach of the football team of Wales. News of the tragic event deeply saddened all of us in the Serbian football and the FA of Serbia. We will remember Gary Speed as an exceptional person and a footballer of great quality, long-term player of the Welsh national team and the headcoach of the national team of your country.’

‘Hoffwn gydymdeimlo o waelod calon â chi yn dilyn marwolaeth Gary Speed, prif hyfforddwr tîm pêl-droed Cymru. Mae’r newyddion am y digwyddiad trasig wedi synnu a thristau pob un ohonom ni ym myd pêl-droed Serbia ac yn CBDC Serbia. Byddwn ni’n cofio Gary Speed fel unigolyn eithriadol a phêl-droediwr o’r radd flaenaf.’

‘YOU WERE A GREAT PLAYER AND AMBASSADOR FOR THIS GAME OF FOOTBALL AND A TOP BLOKE.’ ‘ROEDDET TI’N CHWARAEWR GWYCH, YN LLYSGENNAD DROS BÊL-DROED, AC YN DDYN A HANNER.’

DUNCAN ALDREDMANAGING DIRECTOR/ RHEOLWR GYFARWYDDWR – VAUXHALL MOTORS & CEO/ PHRIF SWYDDOG GWEITHREDO OPEL IRELAND

TONY RICHARDSON

TOMISLAV KARADZIÆ PRESIDENT – FA OF SERBIA/LLYWYDD – CBDC SERBIA

JOSEF FORMOSA GAUCICHIEF EXECUTIVE - MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY

RHYS BOOREDIRECTOR/ CYFARWYDDWR GOL FOOTBALL CENTRES/ CANOLFANNAU PÊL-DROED GÔL

16 GARY SPEED


‘The news about Gary is tragic and he is a loss for Wales and Welsh football. Our thoughts here at Brains are with his family; one can hardly imagine what they are going through.’

‘Mae’r newyddion am Gary yn drasig ac yn golled i Gymru ac i bêl-droed yng Nghymru. Mae meddyliau pawb yma yn Brains gyda’i deulu, mae’n anodd iawn dychmygu beth maen nhw’n ei ddioddef ar hyn o bryd.’

‘Met you in 1984 at the FAW Schools’ week at Aberystwyth. You were in my group as I was a staff coach. Small but much ability – I suggested your name to the selectors, but to no avail! No schoolboy cap! God Bless you Gary.’

BYRON HUGHES, POWYS SCHOOLS FA.

‘Rwy’n siŵr nad fi yw’r cyntaf nac ychwaith yr olaf i ddweud nad oeddwn i’n gallu amgyffred y newyddion a glywais ddoe. Colled enfawr i’r gêm yng Nghymru ond colled fwy fyth i’w deulu. I’m sure I’m not the first and won’t be the last to say that I just couldn’t comprehend the news yesterday. A huge loss for the game in Wales but an even greater loss for his family.’

ALED ROWLANDSAELOD CYNULLIAD/WELSH ASSEMBLY MEMBER

RICHARD DAVIESSA BRAIN & CO.LTD.



The death of Gary is such sad news. I can’t describe how shocked I was to hear about it. I only met Gary a few times ... he was a charming man and someone who I’m sure you will all miss greatly. The tragedy puts all of our own difficulties into perspective. My thoughts are with his family and close friends.

‘I was shocked and sad to hear the news about Gary Speed; from me and all the people here at the Cyprus FA my sympathy and condolences to the family.’

Mae marwolaeth Gary yn newyddion mor drist. Alla ’i ddim disgrifio’r sioc a gefais i ar ôl clywed y newyddion. Dim ond ychydig o weithiau wnes i erioed gwrdd â Gary...... roedd yn ŵr bonheddig a rhywun dwi’n siŵr y byddwch chi gyd yn ei golli’n fawr. Mae’r drasiedi yn rhoi ein trafferthion ein hunain mewn persbectif. Mae fy meddyliau gyda’i deulu a’i ffrindiau agos.

HOWARD TOLLEY, JUST SOLUTIONS

PHIVOS VAKISGENERAL SECRETARY CYPRUS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

‘YOU WERE A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER AND MANAGER, THANKS FOR ALL YOU DID FOR WELSH FOOTBALL AND ALL THE MEMORIES.’

KARMAN – HONG KONG.

GARY APPOINTED MANAGER OF WALES DECEMBER 2010.PICTURED WITH FAW PRESIDENT PHIL PRITCHARD AND CEO JONATHAN FORD.

PENODI GARY FEL RHEOLWR CYMRU, RHAGFYR 2010.YN Y LLUN HEFYD: LLYWYDD CBDC, PHIL PRITCHARD, A PHRIF WEITHREDWR CBDC, JONATHAN FORD.

18 GARY SPEED


for everything you have done and‘A huge thank-you

hopefully we will continue your legacy.’

ANTHONY COOMBES

FANCH GAUMECHIEF EXECUTIVE, BRETAGNE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

‘Diolch enfawr am bopeth yr wyt ti wedi’i wneud a gobeithio y byddwn ni’n gallu parhau â’r holl waith da.’

‘I have personally been so lucky to watch Wales and Gary Speed play on several occasions and have been in contact with the FAW administration over a few decades and it’s extremely hard coming to terms with the fact that this tragedy has overtaken someone so young and talented.’



for everything you have done and‘A huge thank-you

hopefully we will continue your legacy.’

PAUL EDWARDS COUNTY DURHAM

‘Though I never met him, it is clear from

all of the tributes that while his professional

achievements speak for themselves,

he was a remarkable and kind human being.’

MATTHEW DALEYEQUUS INTERNATIONAL

‘Seeing the millions of people affected by your death and honouring your life – that’s the true mark of how immense you were.’

‘Mae gweld y miliynau o bobl y mae dy farwolaeth wedi effeithio arnynt, ac sy’n anrhydeddu dy fywyd, yn dangos pa mor anferth oeddet ti mewn gwirionedd.’

JARREAU R. HARRIS, MIAMI, USA.

‘YOU MADE US ALL PROUD TO BE WELSH, GARY. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. FE ROIS DI RESWM I NI GYD FOD YN FALCH O FOD YN GYMREIG, GARY, A BYDDWN NI BYTH YN DY ANGHOFIO.’

ALLAN BUSH

‘A truly tremendous footballer for my team, Newcastle and a wonderful person off the pitch.’

The Voice caught up with one of Gary Speed’s closest friends, England legend Alan Shearer, who, after nearly four months, is still trying to come to terms with what happened last November.

ALAN SHEARER REMEMBERS

20 ONE ON ONE

BY MARK BLOOM


One of the biggest names in British football, Alan Shearer, is sitting in a Newcastle hotel shaking his head, saying “I still can’t believe it.”

The news of Speed’s death stunned football, particularly those closest to him in the game. One of those was Shearer, who became friends of Speed, and his wife Louise, when Kenny Dalglish signed the utility player from Everton in 1998 for £5.5m to begin a six-year stint on Tyneside.

Shearer recalled: “We struck up a friendship straight away to be honest, we went on family holidays to Portugal, golfing trips, we were good pals, we simply just got on. Both families were in Portugal last summer, we rented villas out there and friends joined us. We’d meet up for a round of golf and have dinner with everybody else in the evenings.”

“He enjoyed a beer and he was funny. He loved a laugh and joke, he was a lads’ lad. I never saw Speedo down or angry with anyone, it was just not in his nature. I played against him when he was at Leeds, Everton and at Bolton and we knew each other from Newcastle, but for all that when I crossed Gary on the field we never had words or anything like that. That was not normal for me because I’m normally having a go at someone; but there were never any clashes between us whatsoever.”

The day before Gary died at his home in the early hours of that November Sunday morning, Shearer was working with him for BBC’s Football Focus. It would be the last time he saw him.

“Gary had done Football Focus in the next studio at lunch time and I was inthe next room doing Match of the Day and watching the Blackburn-Stoke game with Mark Lawrenson. Gary and Gary McAllister sat down and joined us as it was the early kick-off fixture that day.”

The following week both Speed and Shearer were due to attend a charitydinner in Newcastle on the Friday evening and then travel down together for another charity function in London the next day. As they left the Manchester studios, Shearer recalled: “I shouted to him, ‘I’ll see you next weekend’ as the wives were going to get together as well. He waved and shouted ‘I’ll ring you Monday to arrange next weekend’. That’s the last time I saw him or spoke to him.”

‘He enjoyed a beer and he was funny. He loved a laugh and joke, he was a lads’ lad. I never saw Speedo down or angry with anyone, it was just not in his nature.’

V

ALAN SHEARER AND JAMIE CARRAGHER AT ANFIELD 2004.

ALAN SHEARER A JAMIE CARRAGHER YN ANFIELD 2004.

21HOLI AC ATEB


Mae un o’r enwau mwyaf adnabyddus ym mhêl-droed Prydeinig, Alan Shearer, yn eistedd mewn gwesty yn Newcastle ac yn ysgwyd ei ben “Dwi dal methu credu’r peth” meddai.

Cafodd y byd pêl-droed ei synnu gan y newyddion am farwolaeth Speed, yn arbennig y rheiny a oedd agosaf ato yn y gêm. Roedd Shearer yn un o’r rheiny, a ddaeth yn un o ffrindiau Speed, yn ogystal â’i wraig Louise, ar ôl i Kenny Dalglish ddenu’r chwaraewr amryddawn o Everton ym 1998 am £5.5 miliwn i gychwyn cyfnod o chwe blynedd ar Tyneside.

Meddai Shearer: “Daethon ni’n ffrindiau yn syth i fod yn onest, fe aethon ni ar wyliau teuluol i Bortiwgal, tripiau golff, roedden ni’n ffrindiau da, ac yn tynnu ymlaen yn dda. Roedd y ddau deulu ym Mhortiwgal y llynedd, fe wnaethon ni rentu villas a gwahodd ffrindiau i ymuno â ni. Roedden ni’n cwrdd am rownd o golff a chael swper gyda phawb arall gyda’r nos”.

“Roedd e’n ddyn doniol ac wrth ei fodd yn chwerthin a chael jôc fach. Roedd yn rhywun y byddech chi’n ei alw’n ‘lads lad’. Welais i erioed Speedo yn flin gydag unrhyw un, doedd e’ ddim yn ei natur e’.

Shearer was a pall-bearer at Speed’s funeral along with Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, Steve Harper, and Kevin Nolan, and admitted it was one of the hardest things he has had to do. “I have only been pall-bearer once before for my granddad.” he said. “The atmosphere was incredible, his lad got up and spoke just as if it was Gary – he would have been very proud, he spoke so well.”

Shearer has obviously lost a good friend, but even today Shearer says he can’t get over the fact the way Speed decided to call time on life at such a young age of 42. “They say one in four suffer from depression and I think there must be a time when you must stop asking questions because you might never know why. But if I had a million friends Speedo would have been the millionth person I would have thought of doing what he did.”

“I’ve tried to put any reason to it, but I can’t, I always come back askingmyself why Speedo, why Speedo? If I had the chance I would have liked to ask Gary why, because I don’t understand it. One call is all it would have taken. But now I feel so sorry for Louise, the boys, his mum and dad and sister; now we need to support and be there for them, it’s just so sad.”

‘I’ve tried to put any reason to it, but I can’t, I always come back askingmyself why Speedo, why Speedo?’

Yn ddiweddar, cafodd y Llais sgwrs gydag un o ffrindiau agosaf Gary Speed, arwr tîm Lloegr, Alan Shearer. Mae Shearer, ar ôl bron i bedwar mis, yn dal i geisio dod i delerau â’r hyn ddigwyddodd fis Tachwedd diwethaf.

ALAN SHEARER YN COFIO

22 ONE ON ONE

GAN MARK BLOOM


Fe chwaraeais i yn ei erbyn pan oedd e’ yn Leeds, Everton a Bolton, ac wrth gwrs rydyn ni’n adnabod ein gilydd ers dyddiau Newcastle, ond chawson ni erioed yr un ddadl ar y cae. A doedd hynny ddim yn normal i mi gan fy mod i fel arfer yn dadlau gyda rhywun.”

Y diwrnod cyn y cafwyd hyd i Gary’n farw yn ei gartref yn ystod oriau mân un bore dydd Sul ym mis Tachwedd, roedd Shearer yn gweithio gydag ef ar raglen Football Focus y BBC. Dyma’r tro olaf iddo ei weld.

“Roedd Gary wedi bod yn ffilmio Football Focus yn y stiwdio nesaf amser cinio a ro’n i yn yr ystafell nesaf yn gweithio ar Match of the Day ac yn gwylio gêm Blackburn-Stoke gyda Mark Lawrenson. Eisteddodd Gary a Gary McAllister ac ymuno â ni gan mai honno oedd y gêm gynnar y diwrnod hwnnw”.

Yr wythnos ddilynol, roedd Speed a Shearer wedi trefnu i fynychu digwyddiad elusennol yn Newcastle ar y nos Wener, cyn teithio gyda’i gilydd i ddigwyddiad elusennol arall yn Llundain y diwrnod wedyn. Yn ôl Shearer, wrth iddynt adael y stiwdio ym Manceinion: “Fe waeddais i arno ‘Welai di penwythnos nesaf’ gan fod ein gwragedd yn mynd i ddod at ei gilydd hefyd. Fe gododd ei law a gweiddi ‘Ffonia’i di ddydd Llun i drefnu penwythnos nesaf’. Dyna’r tro olaf i mi ei weld neu siarad ag ef.”

Roedd Shearer yn elorgludwr (pallbearer) yn angladd Speed, ynghyd â Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, Steve Harper a Kevin Nolan, a chyfaddefodd ei fod yn un o’r pethau anoddaf iddo ei wneud erioed. “Dim ond unwaith yr ydw i erioed wedi’i wneud o’r blaen, yn angladd fy nhad-cu.” Meddai. “Roedd yr awyrgylch yn anhygoel, cododd ei fab ar ei draed a siarad yn union fel petai mai Gary oedd e’ – byddai ei dad wedi

bod mor falch ohono, fe siaradodd mor dda.”

Mae Shearer yn amlwg wedi colli ffrind da, ond hyd yn oed heddiw, ni all ddod dros y ffaith bod Speed wedi dewis rhoi terfyn ar ei fywyd ac yntau’n ddyn ifanc 42 oed. “Maen nhw’n dweud bod un ym mhob pedwar yn dioddef o iselder, a dwi’n meddwl bod adeg yn cyrraedd lle mae’n rhaid i chi roi’r gorau i ofyn cwestiynau achos efallai na ddaw’r atebion byth. Ond pe bai gen i filiwn o ffrindiau, Speedo fyddai’r olaf ohonyn nhw i mi ddychmygu yn gwneud beth wnaeth e’.

“Rydw i wedi ceisio gwneud synnwyr o’r peth, ond yn methu, dwi’n dod yn ôl i’r un cwestiwn bob tro, pam Speedo? Pe byddwn i’n cael y cyfle mi fyddwn i’n gofyn i Gary pam, achos dwi ddim yn deall y peth. Dim ond un alwad y byddai wedi’i chymryd. Ond nawr rwy’n teimlo cymaint dros Louise, y bechgyn, ei rieni a’i chwaer. Nawr mae gofyn i ni fod yna iddyn nhw, mae’r peth mor drist.”

MARK HALSEY STAR STRUCK MAY 2009.

MARK HALSEY YN SGWRSIO Â SHEARER, MAI 2009

23HOLI AC ATEB

24 INTERNATIONAL

WELCOMEWELCOMESwansea-born former central defender Chris Coleman becomes the 12th national team manager of Wales.As a youngster he won schoolboy caps for Wales and was signed by Manchester City, though his stay was short due to homesickness. Swansea City then signed him as a 17 year old and he was to make almost 200 appearances for the club, helping them to win the Welsh Cup on two occasions.

He moved to Crystal Palace in 1991 for a fee of £250,000 and was to become a firm favourite. He was often used as a makeshift striker and he had a good scoring rate when he did. During his time at Palace, he won the first of his 32 senior caps for Wales after six under-18 and three under-21 caps.



25RHYNGWLADOL

WELCOME

After more than 150 first team appearances, Chris moved to Blackburn Rovers, the then Premier League Champions, for £2.8m in 1995. His appearances were limited due to a persistent achilles injury and he decided to move on in search of regular first team football.

It was Fulham who took him in 1997 for a fee of £2m and he was soon made club captain. His career was rejuvenated at Craven Cottage, but sadly a car crash in 2001 put paid to his career as he was unable to fully recover from the leg injuries received.

He was given the chance to join the coaching staff at Fulham and acted as caretaker manager in 2003 before being given the job permanently – making him the youngest ever Premier League manager. After a promising first season when the team finished ninth, the second was harder and Chris left in 2007. He then had a short spell in Spain at Real Sociedad before resigning in 2008.

His next club was Coventry City in 2008 where he stayed for two years before finally, in 2011, he had a short spell with Larissa in Greece.

The FAW is delighted to welcome Chris to the position and we will have more about him in our next issue.

Chris Coleman, yr amddiffynnwr canol cae a aned yn Abertawe, yw deuddegfed Rheolwr Tîm Cymru.

Pan oedd yn fachgen ifanc, enillodd gapiau dros ei wlad ar lefel bechgyn ysgol ac ymunodd â Manchester City, er na arhosodd yno’n hir gan ei fod yn hiraethu am adref. Pan oedd yn 17 oed, ymunodd â Dinas Abertawe gan chwarae bron i 200 o gemau i’r clwb, a’u helpu i ennill Cwpan Cymru ddwywaith.

Symudodd i Crystal Palace ym 1991 am ffi o £250,000, a daeth yn un o ffefrynnau cadarn y clwb o fewn dim o dro. Yn aml, roedd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel ergydiwr dros dro, ac roedd ganddo gyfradd sgorio eithaf parchus pan oedd yn gwneud hynny. Yn ystod ei gyfnod yn Palace, enillodd y cyntaf o’i 32 o gapiau llawn i Gymru ar ôl ennill chwech ar y lefel dan 18 a thri ar y lefel dan 21. Ar ôl ymddangos mwy na 150 o weithiau i’r tîm cyntaf, symudodd i Blackburn Rovers, sef pencampwyr Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr ar y pryd, am £2.8m ym 1995. Ni chwaraeodd cymaint â hynny o gemau o ganlyniad i anaf parhaus ar ei achiles, a phenderfynodd symud ymlaen i chwilio am bêl-droed tîm cyntaf rheolaidd.

Manteisiodd Fulham ar y cyfle ym 1997 a’i brynu am £2 filiwn, a chafodd ei wneud yn gapten yn fuan wedi hynny. Roedd y cyfnod hwn yn Craven Cottage yn ddigon i adfywio’i yrfa. Yn anffodus, daeth ei yrfa i ben yn dilyn damwain car yn 2001 ar ôl iddo fethu â gwella’n iawn o’r anafiadau i’w goes.

Daeth cyfle i ymuno â staff hyfforddi Fulham, ac fe gamodd i’r adwy fel rheolwr dros dro yn 2003, cyn cael cynnig y swydd yn barhaol, y rheolwr ieuengaf erioed yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr. Ar ôl tymor cyntaf addawol, lle daeth y tîm yn nawfed, roedd yr ail yn anoddach a gadawodd Chris yn 2007. Treuliodd gyfnod byr yn Sbaen yn Real Sociedad cyn ymddiswyddo yn 2008.

Coventry City oedd ei glwb nesaf yn 2008 lle arhosodd am ddwy flynedd, ac yn olaf, yn 2011, treuliodd gyfnod byr gyda Larissa yng Ngwlad Groeg.

Mae’n bleser gan CBDC groesawu Chris i’r swydd, a byddwn yn sôn mwy amdano yn y rhifyn nesaf.

Croeso

26 INTERNATIONAL


On Wednesday 29th February 2012, Wales will play host to central American nation, Costa Rica, at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The match will be a further preparation game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but also an opportunity to mark Gary Speed’s contribution to Welsh football as a player and manager.

It seems almost as though it was fate that dictated that the FAW was offered the friendly fixture with Costa Rica, as it was back in May of 1990 that a young Gary Speed made his international debut against the same opponents at Ninian Park. Only the day before that, Gary had won his first under-21 cap against Poland at Merthyr Tydfil and was called into the senior squad by manager Terry Yorath. Gary replaced Glyn Hodges

with around 15 minutes to go, to become the first Welsh player to win first caps at two levels in two days!

The game was won 1-0 by Wales thanks to a goal from ever-dependable Dean Saunders. The Costa Ricans were on a preparation tour of Europe in advance of playing in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. They had been drawn in pot C alongside Brazil, Sweden and Scotland and so the match with Wales was an ideal workout. They went on to finish second in the group behind Brazil, having beaten both of the European sides before losing 4-1 to Czechoslovakia in the first knockout round. West Germany eventually won the tournament, 1-0, against Argentina. You can still hearPavarotti singing to this day!

Wales v Costa Rica The Gary Speed Memorial International

27RHYNGWLADOL


The modern-day Costa Rica side continues to be a force in the Americas. They are ranked third, behind the USA and Mexico, and recent results have seen a 2-2 draw at home with Spain, a 1-1 draw in Cuba, plus a 2-0 win in Venezuela. That being said, they did under perform at the last Copa America tournament in 2011, only finishing in ninth place.

After the game in Wales, further friendly games are planned with Columbia (two matches) and Guatemala. Then in June, they begin their World Cup qualifiers. The team manager is Jorge Luis Pinto, who is a Venezuelan in his second spell as coach.

The squad has players spread all-over the world – Rod Wallace, Alvaro Saborio, Roy Miller and Gonzalo Segares in the USA, Dave Myrie and Heiner Mora in Norway, Jonathan McDonald in Sweden, Kenny Cunningham and Roy Smith in Japan as well as Junior Diaz in Poland.

The match should see a fascinating mix of styles between Europe and Latin America and promises to be a

fitting tribute to Gary Speed. There will be many of Gary’s former teammates at the match as the FAW has invited more than eighty former Welsh internationals to the game. In addition, there will be representatives from all of Gary’s former clubs – Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United.

The game promises to be a sell-out, so don’t leave it too late before getting your tickets from Cardiff City!

THE WALES TEAM AGAINST COSTA RICA 1990.

TÎM CYMRU YN ERBYN COSTA RICA 1990.

ERIC YOUNG (No.5) GOES UP FOR A HEADER WATCHED BY MARK HUGHES.

MARK HUGHES YN GWYLIO ERIC YOUNG (RHIF 5) YN MYND AM Y BÊL.

28 HOME AND AWAY


To achieve our long term goals the whole of Welsh football, on and off the pitch, needs to work together as a team.Football is the number one sport in Wales! More people play and regularly spectate than any other sport in this country. It’s a remarkable sport that not only has a special place in the hearts of fans but the ability to break down barriers and cross divides, promote community cohesion and a positive wellbeing.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has the privilege and responsibility to oversee football in Wales, in all its aspects. We take this role seriously but are only able to do so in partnership with our clubs and leagues, and a game run and administered locally by dedicated volunteers.

The FAW was founded in 1876. We respect our history and traditions, but we are also looking towards the

future, the next hundred years, the challenges that must be faced and overcome, so that we can take forward our game and our country.

We are nearing the completion of an 18-month project – the launch of a new strategy for Welsh football. In preparation for this the FAW has spoken to people across the entire range of Welsh football, covering those who play to those who make it possible. The messages have been loud and clear. There are some significant challenges but we are confident we can overcome them. We want to give our national teams the best possible chance of winning and qualifying. We need to strengthen the game domestically and continue to raise standards and encourage more people into the game.

29CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF


On every badge on every Wales shirt is written the same sentiment:

– “best play is team play”

Gorau ChwaraeCyd Chwarae

Our strategic vision covers all levels from grass-roots to the elite of Welsh Football. A snapshot of our vision for success includes –

• A Welsh way of playing - embracing respect and fair play, yet competitive• Qualification for our National Team and Intermediate squads• Hosting of a major international/ team tournament/finals• Academy development and pathway to the professional game/squads• A Premier League & domestic competitions that have a strong identity within the Welsh sporting psyche• Growing the game – more people playing to better standards and more people involved• Development and continued success of women’s and BME football• Progressive/forward thinking administrative functions that educate rather than penalise clubs and individuals

• Governed in an open and transparent fashion representing every aspect of the sport, on and off the field• Financially successful, with sound long-term investment strategies, guaranteeing the future development of football• Commercially sound, with excess demand for all our initiatives• A positive perception of a forward thinking, modern and high profile FAW, by fans and supporters, media and key stakeholders.

Only with the cooperation of the football family can we achieve our goals.

Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae – “best play is team play”The Football Association of Wales launched its new strategy on 26th January 2012 at St.David’s Hotel in Cardiff. Full details will be available on the FAW website www.faw.org.uk

Jonathan FordFA Wales Chief Executive V

30 HOME AND AWAY


Er mwyn cyflawni ein hamcanion hirdymor, mae’n rhaid i bawb o fewn y teulu pêl-droed yng Nghymru gydweithio fel tîm, ar y cae ac oddi arno.Pêl-droed yw’r brif gamp yng Nghymru! Mae mwy o bobl yn chwarae ac yn gwylio’r gêm yn rheolaidd na’r un gamp arall yn y wlad hon. Mae’n gêm arbennig sydd nid yn unig yn agos iawn at galonnau’r cefnogwyr, ond hefyd yn llwyddo i chwalu rhwystrau, uno cymunedau a hyrwyddo lles.

Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) sydd â’r fraint a’r cyfrifoldeb o oruchwylio pob agwedd ar y gêm yng Nghymru. Rydym yn frwd dros y rôl hon, ond ni fyddai ein gwaith yn bosibl heb gydweithrediad ein clybiau a’n cynghreiriau a gwirfoddolwyr lleol sy’n ymroi i’r gêm.

Sefydlwyd CBDC ym 1876. Rydym yn parchu ein hanes a’n traddodiadau, ond rydym hefyd yn edrych tuag at y

dyfodol, y can mlynedd nesaf, a’r heriau y bydd gofyn i ni eu hwynebu a’u goresgyn er mwyn gallu datblygu’r gêm a’n gwlad.

Rydym ar fin cwblhau prosiect 18 mis – sef lansio strategaeth newydd ar gyfer pêl-droed yng Nghymru. Wrth baratoi ar gyfer y Strategaeth hon, mae CBDC wedi siarad â phobl o bob rhan o’r byd pêl-droed yng Nghymru, o’r rheiny sy’n chwarae i’r rheiny sy’n gwneud y cwbl yn bosibl.

Mae’r negeseuon wedi bod yn gwbl amlwg. Mae ambell i her sylweddol, ond rydym yn hyderus y gallwn ni eu goresgyn. Rydym am roi i’n timau cenedlaethol y cyfle gorau posibl o ennill a llwyddo. Mae gofyn i ni gryfhau’r gêm ar lefel ddomestig a pharhau i wella safonau ac annog mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan yn y gêm.


Mae ein gweledigaeth strategol yn cynnwys y gêm ar bob lefel, o lawr gwlad i’r elît ym myd pêl-droed Cymru. Dyma syniad bras o’n gweledigaeth –

• Ffordd Gymreig o chwarae – annog parch a chwarae teg, ond parhau i fod yn gystadleuol • Tîm Cenedlaethol a charfannau canolradd i ennill eu lle mewn cystadlaethau• Cynnal rowndiau terfynol a chystadlaethau rhyngwladol pwysig• Datblygu drwy gyfrwng yr academi a llwybr at y gêm/carfannau proffesiynol • Uwch-gynghrair a chystadlaethau domestig sy’n chwarae rhan amlwg yn y byd chwaraeon yng Nghymru

• Tyfu’r gêm – mwy o bobl yn chwarae at well safonau a mwy o bobl yn cymryd rhan• Datblygu a sicrhau llwyddiant parhaus pêl-droed merched a phobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig (BME)• Gweithdrefnau gweinyddol blaengar sy’n addysgu yn hytrach na chosbi clybiau ac unigolion

• Prosesau llywodraethu agored a thryloyw sy’n cynrychioli pob agwedd ar y gêm – ar y cae ac oddi arno • Llwyddiant ariannol, gyda strategaethau buddsoddi hirdymor cadarn, sy’n gwarantu datblygiad pêl-droed yn y dyfodol • Cadarn yn fasnachol, gyda mwy o alw am bob un o’n mentrau • Cefnogwyr, y cyfryngau a rhanddeiliaid allweddol yn ystyried CBDC i fod yn sefydliad blaengar, modern ac uchel ei broffil.

Yr unig ffordd o gyflawni hyn yw gyda chydweithrediad y teulu pêl-droed.

Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae Bydd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru yn lansio ei Strategaeth newydd ar 26 Ionawr 2012 yng Ngwesty Dewi Sant, Caerdydd. Mae’r manylion llawn ar gael drwy www.faw.org.uk

Jonathan FordPrif Weithredwr CBDC Cymru


Mae’r un arwyddair i’w weld ar bob bathodyn ar bob un o grysau Cymru:

Gorau ChwaraeCyd Chwarae

A MEETING OF MINDSLEFT TO RIGHT:CARWYN JONES, FIRST MINISTER FOR WALES; CHRIS COLEMAN AND JONATHAN FORD.

TRAFODAETH DDIFYRO’R CHWITH I’R DDE: CARWYN JONES, PRIF WEINIDOG CYMRU; CHRIS COLEMAN A JONATHAN FORD.

32 INTERNATIONAL


Welcome to Europe

UEFA Women’s Under 19 Finals 2013

Next year will see Wales host our first ever UEFA finals tournament – the UEFA Women’s under-19 Championship 2013. Let’s take a look at how we got here – how we came to be hosting a UEFA tournament, and why the women’s under-19 finals.

It began in 2009 when Mark Evans, Head of International Affairs at the FAW, and Ceri Stennett, FAW Press Officer paid a visit to Liechtenstein, where at the time preparations for the UEFA under-17 finals 2010 were taking place. Despite being the smallest country to be a UEFA member, bar San Marino, with a population of just 35,000, Liechtenstein had already hosted the UEFA Under 19 finals in 2003, and sported exemplary playing facilities. Having seen the way a small nation like Liechtenstein could stage a finals tournament, the seed was sown and plans began to be made for Wales to take on the challenge.

In early 2010 the bidding process for the 2012 and 2013 UEFA Youth Championships opened. The FAW expressed interest to UEFA in finding out more and received the hefty bid document, which listed the facilities,

infrastructure and organisation needed in order to host. It would evidently be a challenge, but one that the FAW was keen to take on to bring a finals tournament to Wales. With the support of the FAW Council, work began on putting together a bid for the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship 2013.

There were several reasons for choosing the Women’s under-19 competition. Women’s football has been growing in Wales for some time, but remains relatively low profile in relation to the men’s game or the women’s game in countries such as Germany and England. 2009 saw the formation of a women’s national league in Wales for the first time, with the inaugural season of the Welsh Women’s Premier League kicking off in September that year. Added to this, in 2010 the FAW decided to appoint a full time national Women’s Teams Manager to oversee the senior, under- 19 and under-17 women’s teams. Hosting a UEFA women’s finals tournament means that Wales will automatically qualify, an ideal way to further boost women’s football in Wales.

33RHYNGWLADOL


UEFA Women’s Under 19 Finals 2013

As part of the bid preparations, chair of the International Committee at the time Terry Harris and vice chair Steve Williams travelled to Skopje in 2010 finals’ host nation Macedonia, along with FAW staff Mark Evans, Ceri Stennett and Rebecca Crockett (Women’s International Officer). The group attended a semi-final between England and the Netherlands, visited the team hotel and training venues, and looked at the profile of the tournament in Skopje. The visit was a valuable insight into how the tournament worked in practice.

Armed with the knowledge gained, and the support of local clubs and councils, the bid to host the UEFA Women’s under-19 Championship finals tournament in south west Wales in 2013 was submitted at the end of July 2010, and the FAW waited for UEFA’s decision.

Meanwhile, Jarmo Matikainen, formerly of the Finnish Football Association, was appointed national women’s teams’ manager. Jarmo took up the position on 1st October 2010, then on 4th October UEFA announced that Wales had been

successful in the finals bid and would host the tournament in 2013. Jarmo’s experience of finals tournaments, both at youth level with the Finland women’s under-19 team, and at senior level (Finland hosted the 2009 women’s EUROs) made him the ideal candidate to guide the 1994 players through their preparations for the high-level tournament.

Work on and off the pitch is on-going. The tournament presents a perfect opportunity to develop not only the Welsh women’s national teams, but also the club game and the links between grassroots, domestic and international football. The tournament will give Welsh fans a chance to see a UEFA final tournament on home soil for the first time, and will put Wales on the world stage.

To find out more about the countdown to 2013 and how you can get involved look out for updates in The Voice, see www.faw.org.uk or contact Rebecca Crockett on [email protected].

V

34 INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL

Y flwyddyn nesaf, bydd Cymru yn cynnal rowndiau terfynol UEFA am y tro cyntaf erioed – sef Pencampwriaeth Merched Dan 19 UEFA 2013. Dewch i ni gymryd cip ar sut yr ydym ni wedi cyrraedd y man hwn, a’r rhesymau dros ddewis rowndiau terfynol merched dan 19.

Dechreuodd y cyfan yn 2009 pan aeth Mark Evans, Pennaeth Materion Rhyngwladol CBDC, a Ceri Stennett, Swyddog y Wasg CBDC, i ymweld â Liechtenstein, lle’r oeddent wrthi’n paratoi ar gyfer rowndiau terfynol Dan 17 UEFA 2010. Er gwaetha’r ffaith mai hon yw’r wlad leiaf i fod yn aelod o UEFA, ar wahân i San Marino, gyda phoblogaeth o 35,000 yn unig, roedd Liechtenstein eisoes wedi cynnal rowndiau terfynol Dan 19 UEFA yn 2003, gan gynnig cyfleusterau o’r radd flaenaf. Ar ôl gweld cenedl fach fel Liechtenstein yn llwyddo i gynnal cystadleuaeth o’r fath bwys, cafodd y syniad ei blannu o fewn y Gymdeithas, a dyna ddechrau’r stori!

Ddechrau 2010, agorodd y broses fidio ar gyfer Pencampwriaethau Ieuenctid UEFA 2012 a 2013. Aeth CBDC ati i fynegi ei diddordeb i UEFA, a daeth dogfen swmpus i law’r Gymdeithas a oedd yn rhestru’r

cyfleusterau, y seilwaith a’r strwythur a oedd eu hangen er mwyn cynnal y gystadleuaeth. Roedd hi’n glir y byddai’n her, ond yn un yr oedd CBDC yn awyddus i’w wynebu er mwyn dod â’r rowndiau terfynol i Gymru. Gyda chefnogaeth Cyngor CBDC, dechreuodd y gwaith o roi cynnig at ei gilydd ar gyfer Pencampwriaeth Merched Dan 19 UEFA yn 2013.

Roedd sawl rheswm dros ddewis y gystadleuaeth arbennig hon. Mae pêl-droed merched wedi bod yn tyfu yng Nghymru ers peth amser, ond mae’r gêm yn parhau i fod â phroffil isel o’i chymharu â gêm y dynion neu gêm y merched mewn gwledydd megis yr Almaen a Lloegr. Yn 2009, sefydlwyd cynghrair cenedlaethol y Merched yng Nghymru, gyda thymor cyntaf Uwch-gynghrair Merched Cymru yn dechrau ym mis Medi y flwyddyn honno. At hynny, yn 2010, penderfynodd CBDC benodi rheolwr llawn amser ar gyfer Timau Cenedlaethol y Merched i reoli’r tîm A, y tîm dan 19 a’r tîm dan 17. Mae cynnal rowndiau terfynol merched UEFA yn golygu bod Cymru yn mynd yn syth i’r rowndiau terfynol, ffordd ddelfrydol o roi hwb ychwanegol i bêl-droed merched yng Nghymru.


ROW

ND

IAU

TERFYNO

L MERC

HED

D

AN

19 UEFA

– CRO

ESO I EW

ROP!

35RHYNGWLADOL

IMAGES CLOCKWISE:

OUR GROUP VISITINGHOST CLUB FACILITIES.

ENGLAND V NETHERLANDS SEMI-FINAL 2010.

PLENTY OF SIGNS AT THE TEAM HOTEL.

LLUNIAU:

EIN GRWP YN YMWELD Â’R CYFLEUSTERAU.

ROWND DERFYNOL – LLOEGR V YR ISELDIROEDD, 2010.

DIGON O ARWYDDION YNG NGWESTY’R TÎM.

ˆ

Fel rhan o’r gwaith o baratoi’r cynnig, teithiodd Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Rhyngwladol ar y pryd, Terry Harris, a’r Is-gadeirydd, Steve Williams, i Skopje ym Macedonia lle’r oedd rowndiau terfynol 2010 yn cael eu cynnal ar y pryd, ynghyd â staff CBDC Mark Evans, Ceri Stennett a Rebecca Crockett (Swyddog Rhyngwladol y Merched). Fel rhan o’u taith, aeth y grŵp i weld rownd gynderfynol rhwng Lloegr a’r Iseldiroedd yn ogystal â gwestai a lleoliadau hyfforddi’r timau. Roedd yr ymweliad yn gyfle gwerthfawr i gael blas ar broffil y gystadleuaeth yn Skopje ac i gael cipolwg ohoni ar waith.

Gan ddefnyddio’r wybodaeth hon, ynghyd â chefnogaeth clybiau a chynghorau lleol, cyflwynwyd y cynnig i gynnal Pencampwriaeth Merched Dan 19 UEFA yn Ne-orllewin Cymru yn 2013 ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf 2010.

Yn y cyfamser, cafodd Jarmo Matikainen, a arferai fod yn rhan o Gymdeithas Bêl-droed y Ffindir, ei benodi fel Rheolwr Timau Merched Cymru. Dechreuodd Jarmo yn y swydd ar 1 Hydref 2010 ac yna, ar 4 Hydref, cyhoeddodd UEFA fod cynnig Cymru wedi bod yn llwyddiannus ac y byddai’n cynnal y gystadleuaeth yn

2013. Roedd profiad Jarmo o rowndiau terfynol, ar lefel ieuenctid gyda thîm merched dan 19 y Ffindir ac ar lefel uwch (cynhaliwyd cystadleuaeth Ewro 2009 y Merched yn y Ffindir) yn golygu fod gan Gymru’r unigolyn perffaith i baratoi’r chwaraewyr ar gyfer y gystadleuaeth bwysig hon.

Mae’r gwaith yn parhau ar y cae ac oddi arno. Mae’r gystadleuaeth yn gyfle gwych i ddatblygu nid yn unig timau merched Cymru, ond y gêm gyfan ar lefel y clwb a’r cysylltiadau rhwng pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad, pêl-droed domestig a phêl-droed rhyngwladol. Bydd y gystadleuaeth yn gyfle i gefnogwyr Cymru weld cystadleuaeth UEFA ar eu tir eu hunain am y tro cyntaf, a bydd yn rhoi Cymru ar y llwyfan byd-eang.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y paratoadau ar gyfer 2013 a sut y gallwch chi gymryd rhan, cofiwch gadw llygad am y newyddion diweddaraf yn y Llais, ewch i www.faw.org.uk neu cysylltwch â Rebecca Crockett drwy anfon e-bost at [email protected].


36 ONE ON ONE


CHARGEin

Jarmo Matikainen in conversation with Ceri Stennett

37HOLI AC ATEB


The FAW made a bold decision some sixteen months ago to appoint a Finnish coach to the position of Wales national women’s teams manager. Here, Ceri Stennett catches up with Jarmo Matikainen and tries to find out what makes him tick.

CS Thanks for taking the time to chat Jarmo. Perhaps first we can run through your background in Finland and your playing and coaching career?

JM Sure. I’m 51 years old, married and have played, coached and worked in football for over thirty years. I graduated from Helsinki University as a history, social sciences and politics teacher. I gained my Pro License in 1997 and UEFA Pro License in 2002.

The CV looks like this: youth and domestic football from the late 1970s until the early 90s with: Ponnistus, Trikiinit, KonnU, MPS and Viikingit as player-manager. I coached with Viikingit and Ponnistus through the 1990s.

Then, from 1999 I worked for the FA of Finland in various capacities with the women’s under-19 and -17 sides as technical director. We were twice in the WU-19 final tournament and semi-finalists 2005, which meant qualifying for the WU-20 World championship finals 2006. I was also Assistant manager to the Women’s senior team for two spells. Finally, I was Team director with the men’s senior team 2000-2003 and men’s under-20 national team in the Argentina World Cup 2001.

CS So, what brought you to Wales?

JM As you can see, I had worked in Finnish FA for ten years and covered many roles. I enjoyed the environment and working with fantastic football people in Finland and abroad. However, I had always

dreamed of coaching abroad. The opportunity to do that in Britain was very interesting. In addition, the role was something where I felt I could use my experience to benefit fully women’s football in Wales. I have really enjoyed my first 16 months here working with very professional and passionate Welsh football people.

CS What is your coaching philosophy? How do you see yourself as a manager and coach?

JM To me the coaching philosophy consists of many things.

I believe in preparation and professionalism in everything that we do. I believe in doing things better than opponents. High standards and quality are everything in international football.

I demand professionalism of myself and I accept no excuses. I expect that from the team members – staff and players – that I am working with. It makes no difference whether the players are men or women. I consider myself a student of the game and that means when we work we use every opportunity to study and learn the game together.

Individuals learn and develop in different ways and pace. Coaching process in football to me is always a challenge and possibility of taking/finding time to teach and also giving the individual opportunity and time to learn. There are opportunities to get the message across – the challenge and beauty of coaching is to

CHARGEV

‘I consider myself a student of the game and that means when we work we use every opportunity to study and learn the game together.’

38 ONE ON ONE


spot them and use them the right way. Working together to improve the individual attributes and helping players to make the most of their capacity when it is time to perform.

Commitment is important to me. I am looking for committed people for our team. Commitment to the high standards, competiveness and to the common cause and goals. That is the collective side of the game. I believe that people who care and respect what they do will be successful. In the team they respect and support other committed individuals – players or staff.

In the process of coaching everything that we try to do aims to improve our football performance. Communication is vital and I appreciate individuals who ask questions and propose other ways to do things and to improve. There is not only one way to do things, not only one truth. We, as a team, need to

find our way together. My role is to point to the right direction and keep the process going forward and team members focused.

Football or coaching philosophy to me is not just the way we play, but a wider approach to the football coaching work. The way we play should mirror and reflect our professional approach.

CS Can you name some of the people who have affected your coaching career?

JM As a player I was lucky to be coached by some very good managers. I have also learned from players both when I was a player and later when I was working as a coach. Club coaches Antti Muurinen (KontU), Jari-Pekka Keurulainen and Jari Niini (Ponnistus) were all excellent managers.

In the Finland FA, Jyrki Heliskoski the director of coaching was an inspiration in many ways to me. The years we worked together taught me a lot. He was also the one who introduced me to women’s football. He was excellent in man management and always ready to try and support new ideas.

‘I believe that people who care and respect what they do will be successful.’

LEFT TO RIGHT:

BEFORE FACING DENMARK AT U17 LEVEL.

WITH MEGAN WYNNE AFTER U19 GAME WITH TURKEY.

THE GOING GETS TOUGH AGAINST FRANCE.

O’R CHWITH I’R DDE:

CYN I’R TÎM DAN 17 WYNEBU DENMARC.

GYDA MEGAN WYNNE AR ÔL GÊM Y TÎM DAN 19 YN ERBYN TWRCI.

FFRAINC YN GWNEUD PETHAU’N ANODD.

39HOLI AC ATEB


No two managers are the same and everyone has different strengths. Some of my managers were good tacticians, some excellent in man management, some like Jari Keurulainen brilliant in fitness.

I played in Ponnistus together with a Russian player and later coach, Anatoli Davidov who came to us from Zenit St. Petersburg in 1990. He was a Soviet Union champion with Zenit in 1984 and a special player from that special Zenit team. He was a master of details and preparing himself to perform. Training and playing with him taught me so much though I was already 30 and club captain. He never got tired of talking about football.

In the Finland national team two great players remind me of Anatoli. Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia. They were different personalities, but their professionalism stood out every time. They prepared differently, but never put a foot wrong.

One major influence to my thinking has been the UEFA technical study group work in finals tournaments. I have had the opportunity to do that in six youth finals tournaments for

women and men 2006-2011. To see the teams and coaches during an intense tournament environment and interview the coaches is an inspiration every time.

CS How do you see the various Wales women’s teams at present?

JM We have highlighted the importance of the professionalism from day one. Structure and professional approach on and off the field is improving. We have made quite a lot of changes and put together a structure with women’s senior team, WU-19 and WU-17 teams. It is beginning to take shape and players are seeing the benefits, but it is a slow process. We have laid the foundations and started to work with an organized set-up and defined goals – both individually and collectively. We have potential players, but to reach the international top we need more good players coming through the youth set-up to increase competition. It is a big step to make the transition from a youth potential player to regular starting senior player.

V

AT AN FAW ROADSHOW PROMOTING THE 2013 UEFA WOMEN’S U-19 TOURNAMENT.

YN UN O SIOEAU TEITHIO CBDC YN HYRWYDDO CYSTADLEUAETH MERCHED DAN 19 UEFA.

40 ONE ON ONE


‘I think our Wales Women’s Premier League is a great opportunity for us.’

WARMING UP BEFORE THE QUALIFYING MATCH AGAINST ICELAND 2011.

CYNHESU I FYNY CYN Y GÊM RAGBROFOL YN ERBYN GWLAD YR IÂ 2011.

41HOLI AC ATEB

The senior team is clearly in transition with new players coming in, but too many senior players have difficulties in committing themselves. Some of them have finished their international careers too early for me. Players finish for various reasons, but I regret when players quit because they have to due to work or financial pressure.

Overall there is a very promising and positive buzz in the national teams – in general girls are ready to work hard and honestly want to improve.

CS What changes would you like to see in Welsh women’s football?

JM I think we have plenty of good examples in Europe and all over the world how big the women’s game has become. You only need to look at the figures from last year’s World Cup in Germany. On an international level it is widely regarded and treated as top football. UEFA and FIFA organise the international tournaments with the same set up and standards as the men’s equivalent. I think that is a good benchmark to follow. Can we in Wales have that approach and look at our national team activities from that perspective?

Our competition structure for women’s clubs is very important. Do we position the Wales Women’s Premier League as one of our top competitions? Do we support our clubs with coaching, facilities and overall development? I think our Wales Women’s Premier League is a great opportunity for us.

In many cases the improvement of standards is a question of improving the facilities. UEFA and FIFA have

good support programmes like the Hat Trick programme. I think the facilities and having access to facilities is a major issue.

Other UEFA support programmes are very important. UEFA study group programme for women’s football is a very important tool to learn from good examples and best practices.

I think it is worth looking how we are organised in women’s football. Is our structure supporting continuity and cooperation in the women’s game? Can we get all the stakeholders to build the women’s game instead of just strengthening their own organisation?

One important goal to me is the women’s involvement in football in general. Women have such an important role in football in general, but women’s football and top football particularly is a great opportunity for women to be involved. I would like to see more women as coaches, but there are other opportunities as well.

We need to work hard to earn appreciation of the women’s game. The FAW and Sport Wales have a great opportunity to support something special and valuable. Players and coaches do that every day and deserve all the support that we can give.


Wales plays in the Algarve Cup Tournament in Portugal next in early March, followed by the next Women’s European Championship game with France in Caen in April.

42 HOME AND AWAY


The rise to prominence of Bala Town over the past eight seasons has been one of North Wales football’s most admirable success stories.

The Gwynedd club had experienced a fairly modest history before the arrival of Colin Caton as manager at the start of the 2003/04 campaign sparked a major turnaround in fortunes. Caton is still in charge at Maes Tegid today and leading the club in their most productive season to date, the Lakesiders having clinched fifth place in the Welsh Premier League ahead of the mid-term split.

Now in his ninth season as manager, former Colwyn Bay boss Caton could not be prouder of what Bala have achieved, their trophy cabinet including an impressive collection of cups gathered alongside two promotions up to Welsh football’s top tier.

As well as the on-the-field exploits, the club as a whole has grown vastly in stature with Maes Tegid transformed from a unenclosed park ground into a fine modern stadium in less than 10 years. Caton has always stressed it is a team effort which has made Bala Town what it is today. “Everyone, from the chairman to the tea-ladies, have all worked hard together to make the club what it’s become,” said the Lakesiders’ chief.

Caton’s arrival at the club in 2003/04 sparked instant success as Town were crowned Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division champions and lifted the NEWFA Challenge Cup to boot. Bala were

promoted to the second-tier Cymru Alliance and scooped the League Cup in their first season as well as finishing a more than respectable fourth in the table.

Floodlights and new-seated spectator stands were installed at Maes Tegid in the 2006/07 season and with that came more success on the park as Bala lifted the NEWFA Challenge and League Cups, came second in the Cymru Alliance, and the reserves were crowned WNL Division One champions. More silverware followed in 2007/08 as Town retained the NEWFA and League Cups and were runners-up again in the Cymru Alliance behind Prestatyn Town.

The next season saw Bala finally clinch promotion to the Welsh Premier League after they pocketed the Cymru Alliance title and added a fourth League Cup in five seasons for good measure. With numerous upgrades having been carried out around Maes Tegid the club was proud to receive the coveted domestic licence, allowing them to compete in Wales’ top league.

Bala’s first two seasons in the WPL proved tough and they twice avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth, but the present campaign has delivered a whole new impressive chapter in the history of the club.With added resources available, Caton has been able to bring in some highly accomplished talent such as striker Lee Hunt, midfielder Mark Connolly and ex-Wrexham and Northern Ireland schemer Conall Murtagh.

BALA TOWNA club on the riseBY DAVID JONES



MARK CONNOLLY SHOWS SOME CLOSE CONTROL.

MARK CONNOLLY YN RHEOLI’R BÊL YN AGOS.

V

44 HOME AND AWAY


Hanes digon cyffredin oedd gan y clwb o Wynedd cyn i ddyfodiad Colin Caton fel rheolwr ar ddechrau ymgyrch 2003/04 sbarduno newid enfawr yn ei ffawd. Mae Caton yn dal i fod wrth y llyw ym Maes Tegid heddiw, ac yn arwain y clwb yn eu tymor mwyaf cynhyrchiol hyd yn hyn, wedi iddynt gipio’r bumed safle yn Uwch-gynghrair Cymru cyn yr egwyl hanner tymor.

Bellach yn ei nawfed tymor fel rheolwr, ni allai Caton, cyn rheolwr

Bae Colwyn, fod yn fwy balch o’r hyn y mae’r Bala wedi’i gyflawni. Yn ogystal â dau ddyrchafiad i brif gynghrair pêl-droed Cymru, mae’r cwpwrdd tlysau yn cynnwys casgliad nodedig o gwpanau.

Ar wahân i’r helyntion ar y cae, mae’r clwb ei hun wedi tyfu cryn dipyn o ran statws, ac mae Maes Tegid wedi’i drawsnewid o fod yn faes agored i fod yn stadiwm modern a thrawiadol mewn llai na 10 mlynedd. Mae Caton yn barod iawn i bwysleisio mai gwaith

Y BALA’N MYND O NERTH I NERTHGAN DAVID JONES

After six matches of the 2011/12 season Bala sat proudly on top of the WPL, unbeaten and having conceded just one goal. While things have got tougher since, the Lakesiders have still secured a place in the top six Championship Conference for the first time and the future looks bright.

Top performers in the current squad include midfield maestro and talisman Mark Jones, who joined in 2010 having made close on 200 appearances for Wrexham and won two full Wales caps in 2006. In defence is the experienced Danny Williams, formerly of Liverpool, Wrexham and Kidderminster Harriers who won the WPL title with Rhyl in 2008/09, commanding centre-half Stuart Jones, a one-time Tranmere and Everton youth player, and John Irving, a highly-impressive right-back once on Everton’s books.

Midfield star and leading scorer is Connolly, a dead-ball specialist who

returned to Bala this season after a loan spell at Maes Tegid last term. Connolly has also worn the colours of Bangor City and Rhyl, with whom he lifted the championship in 2008/09. Up front is the much-travelled Hunt, one of the league’s most prolific marksmen with the likes of Rhyl and Bangor City and boasting well over 100 WPL goals, and Chris Mason, an impressive young striker who has previously played in Malta and Sweden.

Manager Caton is looking towards a bright future, but appreciates tough challenges lie ahead. “It’s been like a breath of fresh air to finish in the top six,” he said. “We’ve done well to be where we are, but now we’ve got to work on competing with the big boys on a regular basis. The spirit and the belief is definitely there within the club.”

Mae datblygiad Clwb Pêl-droed y Bala dros yr wyth tymor diwethaf wedi bod yn un o hanesion llwyddiannus mwyaf arbennig pêl-droed Gogledd Cymru.



tîm sydd wedi arwain at greu’r clwb sy’n cystadlu yn Uwch-gynghrair Cymru heddiw. “Mae pawb, o’r Cadeirydd i’r merched sy’n gweini’r te, wedi cydweithio’n galed i ddatblygu’r clwb sy’n bodoli heddiw,” meddai’r pennaeth.

Dechreuodd y clwb lwyddo yn syth wedi dyfodiad Caton yn 2003/04 drwy ddod i’r brig yn Uwch-adran Cynghrair Cenedlaethol Cymru (Ardal Wrecsam) a chodi Cwpan NEWFA i goroni’r cyfan. Cawsant eu dyrchafu i’r Gynghrair Undebol (Cymru Alliance) ac ennill Cwpan y Gynghrair yn eu tymor cyntaf, yn ogystal â gorffen yn bedwerydd yn y tabl, safle parchus iawn i glwb yn eu tymor cyntaf.

Daeth newid mawr yn nhymor 2006/07 pan gyflwynwyd llifoleuadau a standiau ar gyfer y cefnogwyr ym Maes Tegid a chyda hynny, fe aeth y Bala o nerth i nerth. Enillodd y tîm Gwpan NEWFA a Chwpan y Gynghrair a sicrhau’r ail safle yng Nghynghrair Cymru Alliance. At hynny, cafodd yr ail-dîm eu coroni’n bencampwyr Adran Un Cynghrair Cenedlaethol Cymru. Daeth mwy o achos dathlu yn 2007/08 wrth i’r tîm ddal eu gafael ar Gwpan NEWFA a Chwpan y Gynghrair a dod yn ail unwaith eto yng Nghynghrair Cymru Alliance, y tu ôl i Dref Prestatyn.

O’r diwedd, yn 2008/09, cawsant eu dyrchafu i Uwch-gynghrair Cymru ar ôl cael eu coroni’n bencampwyr Cynghrair Cymru Alliance yn ogystal ag ennill Cwpan y Gynghrair am y pedwerydd tro mewn pum mlynedd. Aeth y clwb ati i ailwampio’r cyfleusterau ym Maes Tegid, a chafodd pawb eu gwobrwyo am eu gwaith caled wrth i’r clwb ennill y drwydded ddomestig, a oedd yn galluogi’r Bala i gystadlu ym mhrif gynghrair Cymru.

Profodd dau dymor cyntaf y Bala yn yr Uwch-gynghrair i fod yn dipyn o

her, a dwywaith daethant o fewn trwch blewyn i gael eu hanfon i’r gynghrair oddi tanynt. Fodd bynnag, mae’r ymgyrch bresennol yn argoeli i fod yn bennod newydd a llwyddiannus yn hanes y clwb. Gydag ychydig o adnoddau ychwanegol, mae Caton wedi gallu denu talent arbennig megis Lee Hunt, Mark Connolly a Conall Murtagh i’r clwb.

Ar ôl chwe gêm gyntaf tymor 2011/12, roedd y Bala yn eistedd yn dwt ar frig yr Uwch-gynghrair, heb golli’r un gêm ac wedi ildio un gôl yn unig. Er bod y dasg wedi mynd ychydig yn anoddach ers hynny, mae bechgyn y Bala yn canfod eu hunain yn un o’r chwe thîm ar frig y gynghrair am y tro cyntaf, ac mae’r dyfodol yn edrych yn ddisglair.

Mae Caton yn edrych ymlaen at ddyfodol llwyddiannus, ond yn cydnabod na fydd hi’n dasg hawdd. “Mae hi wedi bod fel chwa o awyr iach gorffen yn un o’r chwech uchaf,” meddai. “Rydym ni wedi gwneud yn dda i gyrraedd lle’r ydym ni nawr, ond mae gofyn i ni weithio’n galed er mwyn cystadlu ar y lefel hon yn rheolaidd. Ond does dim dwywaith bod yr ysbryd a’r ffydd yn bodoli o fewn y clwb.”

BALA TOWN BOSSCOLIN CATON.

RHEOLWR TREF Y BALA, COLIN CATON.

Y BALA’N MYND O NERTH I NERTH

46 HOME AND AWAY


The announcement of the FAW Strategic Plan and Vision for Football in Wales coupled with the Welsh Football Trust’s strategic aims for grass roots ensures the game will continue to thrive in Wales. Futsal whilst still relatively new is embedded in both strategic visions and fundamentally at a grass roots level. Futsal is being utilised to further support the development of our young players.

Recently all Welsh Premier League Academies in Wales have taken part in a mid-season break to play Futsal during the winter months of December and January. Traditionally a number of games are postponed during the winter meaning players miss out on the opportunity to play and this is where Futsal can be of a huge benefit to players in Wales.

Junior clubs and junior leagues have followed suit with the Newport Junior League and the Mid and North Powys junior league for example playing Futsal indoors during the winter months. The game is fast paced and exciting but due to the physical and technical demands of the game, it also means the players are being challenged.

To help raise the awareness of Futsal the FAW recently selected its inaugural national Futsal squad and the players face a steep learning curve prior to competing in the UEFA Futsal Championship qualifiers in

January 2013. The inaugural FAW Futsal Cup in 2011 was a great success and the competition will again kick off in April 2012 with defending champions The New Saints, who progressed to play in the UEFA Futsal Cup in Geneva defending their title.

John Hartson attended the launch of ‘Project Futsal’ in North Wales, which is a social inclusion initiative linked with the Republic of Ireland supporting young people with training and developing key work- based skills to go onto further education or gain employment.

Futsal development officer Richard Gunney commented “It has been very pleasing to see Futsal develop in a number of areas over recent months. The priority is for Futsal to be another tool for coaches at a grassroots level to ensure our young players continue to play regularly, develop technically and, most importantly, have fun”.

With a national competition and a national team the knowledge and awareness of Futsal will continue to grow so it can play its part in the vision for Welsh football.Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae, Best Play is Team Play.

progressing well in WalesFutsal

CURRENT CHAMPIONSTHE NEW SAINTS.

PENCAMPWYR PRESENNOL, Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD.

1. ACTION FROM THE NEWPORT JUNIOR LEAGUE.

CYNGHRAIR IAU CASNEWYDD.

2. TNS ON THE ATTACK.

Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD YN YMOSOD.

3. TNS BEFORE PLAYING GENEVA.

Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD CYN WYNEBU GENEFA.

4.PROJECT FUTSAL LAUNCH WITH JOHN HARTSON.

LANSIO PROSIECT FUTSAL GYDA JOHN HARTSON.


1

2 3

4

48 HOME AND AWAY


Graham Williams is approaching 60 years involvement with professional football, and, at 73, is still going strong with no intention of taking life easier.

One-time top fullback Williams qualifies for Welsh legendary status these days. His career started as an amateur with West Brom at 14, and has seen him captain the Midlanders to two cup final successes, play for and coach his country and put together a CV of football involvement that would impress the very best.

Along the way he has collected a host of tales, including his friendships with George Best, Bobby Robson and sadly culminating recently with the tragic death of another pal, Gary Speed.

Williams is still scouting for Spurs. He laughed: “Try not to mention my age too much; Harry (Redknapp) might sack me!”

But Denbigh-born Williams possesses a wealth of football knowledge and experience that saw him as Bobby Gould’s coach for three years with the national side.

And he can remember playing for the Wales team when it was still selected by committee. That was back in 1960 when he made his full Wales debut in the 3-2 win over Northern Ireland at Wrexham. Five years later he netted his only goal for his country in another victory over Northern Ireland, this time 5-0 in Belfast.

Graham Williams?Didn’t you used to be

GRAHAM WILLIAMS(BACK RIGHT) ON HIS WALES DEBUT AGAINST NORTHERN IRELAND 1960.

GRAHAM WILLIAMS (CEFN AR Y DDE) YN EI GÊM GYNTAF I GYMRU YN ERBYN GOGLEDD IWERDDON, 1960.



He joked: “I recall all the north Wales committee men congratulating me, and the ones from south Wales saying I was offside!”

Williams picked up 26 caps for Wales during a nine year spell in the 60s, an era of playing success that saw him captain the Albion to League Cup final glory against West Ham, in which he scored in the two-legged victory over Bobby Moore’s side.He was then skipper at Wembley when Jeff Astle scored the Albion winner against Everton in the 1968 FA Cup Final triumph. In all he made over 400 appearances for WBA, his only senior club, before taking over as player-coach of Weymouth.

It was while on the south coast that he became reacquainted with Best, who was at the time living in the Bournemouth area.

Graham had already had a famously well documented exchange with Best, one that he doubts actually took place despite the story being included in many a list of famed Best anecdotes.

Williams is supposed to have stopped Best on his debut to ask if he could look him in the face, because ‘I’ve only seen your backside disappearing down the line so far.’

Best told the story once on TV in a Michael Parkinson interview, and it was again used in Parky’s autobiography. Sadly, says Williams: “I don’t actually recall it happening, although it’s still a good story.”

When Gould took over as Wales manager in 1995, it was Williams who

was alongside the Englishman as his number two. Many fans have mixed feelings about the Gould era, but Williams remembers that spell as one of the most enjoyable of his coaching career.

He said: “Bobby was a great organiser and we had a very good staff around us, we just didn’t get enough good results. We had more than a few big personalities during that time, and it was a great experience. Speedo was our captain and he did a tremendous job. I maintained a friendship with him right up until the terrible news last year that he had passed away.

Frankly I have still not come to terms with what happened. He was such a smashing lad, and there were plenty of times we’d have a coffee and go over old times.”

Since leaving the Wales set-up with Gould back in ‘95, Williams has coached in Finland, Greece, Kuwait and Lebanon. As well, he has scouted for Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle, working there for his old West Brom teammate Bobby Robson.

Williams, who lives near Oswestry, says: “I still really enjoy the scouting. I‘m always on the lookout for youngsters who could make the grade, and also keeping an eye out for anyone who maybe has Welsh heritage.”

On Wales’ future, Williams has great belief that there are successful times ahead, despite the sadness of Speed‘s passing, He says: “Whoever takes over now, they know there are plenty of top young players in the squad. For the first time in a long time there is a majority of Premier League players in the squad.”

“As for me, I will keep scouting and searching for new players. It is in my blood and I still enjoy every minute of my involvement with football.”

PROGRAMME COVER, GEORGE BEST’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL 1964.

CLAWR RHAGLEN GÊM RYNGWLADOL GYNTAF GEORGE BEST, 1964.

‘ I recall all the north Wales committee men congratulating me, and the ones from south Wales saying I was offside.’

V

50 HOME AND AWAY


Mae Graham Williams wedi treulio bron i 60 mlynedd yn y byd pêl-droed proffesiynol. Ac yntau’n 73 mlwydd oed, mae’n dal wrthi a does dim golwg ei fod am arafu!

Mae Williams yn llawn haeddu cael ei adnabod fel un o gewri Cymru. Dechreuodd ei yrfa fel chwaraewr amatur gyda West Brom yn 14 oed, cyn mynd ymlaen i gipio dwy gwpan fel eu capten, chwarae a hyfforddi dros ei wlad a datblygu CV a fyddai’n destun cenfigen goreuon y byd pêl-droed.

Ar hyd y daith, mae wedi casglu llond gwlad o straeon, gan gynnwys ei gyfeillgarwch â George Best a Bobby Robson ac yn fwyaf diweddar, gyda marwolaeth drist un arall o’i ffrindiau, Gary Speed.

Mae’n dal i weithio fel sgowt i Spurs: “Peidiwch â sôn gormod am fy oed, neu mi fydd Harry (Redknapp) yn rhoi’r sac i mi!” meddai, dan chwerthin.

Ond mae Williams, a aned yn Ninbych, yn meddu ar gyfoeth o wybodaeth a phrofiad ym maes

pêl-droed, a oedd yn ddigon i ennill lle iddo fel hyfforddwr Bobby Gould am dair blynedd gyda’r tîm Cenedlaethol.

Ac mae’n gallu cofio chwarae i Gymru pan oedd y tîm yn dal i gael ei ddewis gan bwyllgor. Roedd hynny’n ôl ym 1960 pan chwaraeodd ei gêm gyntaf i Gymru wrth iddynt drechu Gogledd Iwerddon o 3-2 yn Wrecsam. Pum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, fe sgoriodd ei unig gôl dros ei wlad mewn buddugoliaeth arall yn erbyn Gogledd Iwerddon, wrth i Gymru ennill o 5-0 y tro hwn ym Melfast.

“Dwi’n cofio pawb ar bwyllgor Gogledd Cymru yn fy llongyfarch, a phawb ar bwyllgor y De yn honni mod i’n camsefyll!”

Enillodd Williams 26 o gapiau dros Gymru yn ystod cyfnod o naw mlynedd yn y 60au. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, arweiniodd West Brom i fuddugoliaeth yn rownd derfynol Cwpan y Gynghrair yn erbyn West Ham, gan sgorio yn y fuddugoliaeth yn erbyn tîm Bobby Moore.

Gyrfa gyffrous Graham Williams

GRAHAM (MIDDLE ROW LEFT) ASSISTANT WALES MANAGER WITH THE SQUAD IN 1998.

GRAHAM (RHES GANOL AR Y CHWITH) RHEOLWR CYNORTHWYOL CYMRU GYDA’R GARFAN YM 1998.



Graham oedd y capten yn Wembley pan sgoriodd Jeff Astle y gôl a enillodd y gêm i West Brom yn erbyn Everton yn Rownd Derfynol Cwpan yr FA ym 1968. Chwaraeodd dros 400 o gemau i West Brom, ei unig dîm ar y lefel hon, cyn cymryd yr awenau fel chwaraewr-hyfforddwr Weymouth.

Tra’r oedd yn Weymouth y daeth ar draws Best unwaith eto, a oedd yn byw yn ardal Bournemouth ar y pryd.

Roedd Graham eisoes wedi cael sgwrs eithaf enwog gyda Best, un y mae’n amau a ddigwyddodd mewn gwirionedd, er bod y stori wedi ymddangos mewn sawl rhestr o straeon mwyaf poblogaidd George Best.

Yn ôl bob sôn, fe ofynnodd Williams i Best yn ei gêm gyntaf a gâi edrych arno yn ei wyneb oherwydd “Hyd yn hyn, dwi ond wedi gweld dy ben ôl di’n diflannu lawr y llinell.”

Fe ddywedodd Best yr hanes unwaith ar y teledu mewn cyfweliad gyda Michael Parkinson, ac fe ymddangosodd eto yn hunangofiant Parky. Yn anffodus, meddai Williams: “Dwi ddim yn cofio’r peth yn digwydd, er ei bod hi’n stori dda!”

Pan gymerodd Gould yr awenau fel rheolwr Cymru ym 1995, cafodd Williams ei benodi fel ei ‘rif dau’. Mae gan lawer o gefnogwyr Cymru deimladau cymysg am gyfnod Gould wrth y llyw, ond mae Williams yn cofio’r cyfnod fel un o rai gorau ei yrfa hyfforddi.

“Roedd Bobby yn un gwych am drefnu ac roedd gennym ni staff da o’n cwmpas ni, ond chawsom ni ddim digon o ganlyniadau da. Roedd cryn dipyn o bersonoliaethau mawr yn rhan o’r tîm bryd hynny, ac roedd yn brofiad gwych. Speedo oedd ein capten ni, ac roedd yn gapten penigamp. Roedden ni’n dal i fod yn ffrindiau tan i mi glywed y newyddion erchyll am ei farwolaeth y llynedd.

“I fod yn onest, dydw i dal heb ddod i delerau â beth ddigwyddodd. Roedd Gary’n ddyn arbennig, ac yn aml roedden ni’n mynd am goffi a siarad am yr hen ddyddiau.”

Ers rhoi’r gorau i hyfforddi’r tîm Cenedlaethol yn ôl ym 1995, mae Williams wedi hyfforddi yn y Ffindir, Gwlad Groeg, Kuwait a Libanus. Mae hefyd wedi sgowtio i Spurs, Chelsea a Newcastle, gan weithio i’w gyfaill yn nhîm West Brom gynt, Bobby Robson.

Meddai Williams, sy’n byw ger Croesoswallt: “Dwi’n dal i fwynhau’r gwaith sgowtio. Rydw i o hyd yn chwilio am chwaraewyr ifanc a allai lwyddo, yn ogystal â chadw llygad barcud am unrhyw un sydd ag etifeddiaeth Gymreig.

O ran dyfodol Cymru, mae Williams yn credu’n gryf bod cyfnod llewyrchus ar y gorwel, er gwaethaf tristwch marwolaeth Speed: “Pwy bynnag fydd yn cymryd yr awenau, maent yn gwybod bod digon o chwaraewyr ifanc a thalentog yn y garfan. Am y tro cyntaf ers amser maith, mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r tîm yn chwarae yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr.

A beth am ddyfodol Graham Williams? “Dwi am barhau i sgowtio a chwilio am chwaraewyr newydd. Mae’r gwaith yn fy ngwaed i a dwi’n mwynhau pob eiliad o fod yn rhan o’r byd pêl-droed.”

‘Dwi’n dal i fwynhau’r gwaith sgowtio. Rydw i o hyd yn chwilio am chwaraewyr ifanc a allai lwyddo, yn ogystal â chadw llygad barcud am unrhyw un sydd ag etifeddiaeth Gymreig.’

GRAHAM COMPETES WITH ENGLAND’S ALAN BALL, WEMBLEY 1966.

GRAHAM YN CYSTADLU YN ERBYN ALAN BALL YN WEMBLEY, 1966.

52 HOME AND AWAY


January has always been a busy time for the FAW Registrations Team with the opening of the mid-season transfer window.

Within the FAW, Tim Lane (Assistant Head of Compliance) and Steven Jones (Player Registrations Officer and FIFA TMS Manager) cover all aspects of player registrations in Wales including registering all professional players (including those registered to clubs participating in English competition), all Welsh Premier League (WPL) players, processing international transfers via the FIFA TMS database, calculating FIFA Training Compensation for clubs, applying for work permits for professional players, dealing with FIFA player agents as well as any contract/transfer disputes that arise.

A number of domestic transfers took place between WPL clubs this month. At the time of writing, major moves included former Wales U-21 international Chad Bond and Wales youth international Anthony Finselbach signing for Afan Lido from Llanelli and Aberystwyth respectively. Carmarthen Town were also busy adding Wales semi-pro international Paul Fowler from Neath, Afan Lido top scorer Jonathan Hood and Welsh League leading scorer Daniel McDonald from Monmouth Town in a loan deal.

There were also a number of international transfers during the month including title-challenging TNS signing Luke Holden from Chester and ex-Aberystwyth midfielder Ryan Fraughan from Stockport County on loan. Neath signed Maltese international

Udochukwu Nwoko from Iranian club PAS Hamedan.

As well as the WPL, our clubs participating in English competition have also been busy. FA Premier League Swansea City completed the signing of five players, including Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim in Germany and Josh McEachran from Chelsea both on loan.

It was a relatively quiet window for Cardiff City who secured the services of talented Kadeem Mathurin-Harris from Wycombe Wanderers. Wrexham sold Wales under-19 goalkeeper Danny Ward to Premiership Liverpool and brought in current under-21 international Daniel Alfei on loan from Swansea City.

Now that the window is closed, the Registrations team looks forward to educating clubs with regards the potential financial benefits of FIFA Training Compensation, implementing a new domestic Training Compensation procedure and educating players and clubs regarding updated player agent regulations before the summer window opens in June 2012.

Behind the scenesTHE FAW REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT

GYLFI SIGURDSSON (RIGHT) PLAYING FOR READING AGAINST LIVERPOOL.

GYLFI SIGURDSSON (AR Y DDE) YN CHWARAE I READING YN ERBYN LERPWL.

JOSH McEACHRAN PLAYING FOR CHELSEA AGAINST BOLTON WANDERERS.

JOSH McEACHRAN YN CHWARAE I CHELSEA YN ERBYN BOLTON WANDERERS.

BY STEVEN JONES



Tu ôl i’r Llenni – Adran Gofrestru’r Gymdeithas

Mae mis Ionawr o hyd yn gyfnod prysur i Dîm Cofrestru Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) gydag agoriad y ffenest drosglwyddo neu’r ‘transfer window’ canol tymor.

O fewn CBDC, mae Tim Lane (Pennaeth Cydymffurfiaeth Cynorthwyol) a Steven Jones (Swyddog Cofrestru Chwaraewyr a Rheolwr TMS FIFA) yn gweithio ar bob agwedd ar gofrestru chwaraewyr yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cofrestru pob chwaraewr proffesiynol (gan gynnwys y rheiny sydd wedi’u cofrestru â chlybiau yng nghynghreiriau Lloegr), a phawb sy’n chwarae yn Uwch-gynghrair Cymru. At hynny, maent yn prosesu trosglwyddiadau rhyngwladol drwy gyfrwng cronfa ddata TMS FIFA, yn cyfrifo Iawndal Hyfforddi FIFA ar gyfer clybiau, yn gwneud cais am Drwyddedau Gwaith ar gyfer chwaraewyr proffesiynol, yn delio ag Asiantwyr Chwaraewyr FIFA yn ogystal ag unrhyw anghydfod sy’n codi o ran contractau/trosglwyddo.

Gwelwyd nifer o drosglwyddiadau domestig rhwng clybiau Uwch-gynghrair Cymru’r mis hwn. Wrth i mi ysgrifennu’r erthygl hon, roedd y trosglwyddiadau a oedd yn cipio’r penawdau yng Nghymru yn cynnwys cyn chwaraewr Dan 21 Cymru, Chad Bond, a chyn Chwaraewr Tîm Ieuenctid Cymru, Anthony Finselbach, yn ymuno ag Afan Lido o Lanelli ac Aberystwyth yn y drefn honno. Roedd Tref Caerfyrddin yn brysur hefyd gan ddenu’r chwaraewr Lled-broffesiynol, Paul Fowler, o Gastell-nedd yn ogystal â phrif sgoriwr Afan Lido,

Jonathan Hood, a phrif sgoriwr Cynghrair Cymru, Daniel McDonald, o Drefynwy ar fenthyciad.

Roedd nifer o drosglwyddiadau rhyngwladol yn ystod mis Ionawr hefyd, gan gynnwys Luke Holden o CPD Caer yn ymuno â’r Seintiau Newydd yn ogystal â chyn faeswr Aberystwyth, Ryan Fraughan, ar fenthyciad o Stockport County. Llwyddodd Castell-nedd i ddenu Udochukwu Nwoko, sy’n chwarae i dîm rhyngwladol Malta, o glwb PAS Hamedan yn Iran.

Yn ogystal ag Uwch-gynghrair Cymru, mae ein clybiau yng nghynghreiriau Lloegr wedi bod yn brysur iawn hefyd. Yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr, llwyddodd Dinas Abertawe i ddenu pum chwaraewr i’w plith, gan gynnwys Gylfi Sigurdsson o Hoffenheim yn yr Almaen a Josh McEachran o Chelsea, y ddau ar fenthyciad.

Roedd hi’n gyfnod eithaf tawel i Ddinas Caerdydd a lwyddodd i ddenu’r chwaraewr talentog, Kadeem Mathurin-Harris, o Wycombe Wanderers. Gwerthodd Wrecsam gôl-geidwad Dan 19 Cymru, Danny Ward, i Lerpwl yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr gan arwyddo’r chwaraewr rhyngwladol Dan 21presennol, Daniel Alfei, ar fenthyciad o Ddinas Abertawe.

Nawr fod y ffenest ar gau, mae’r Tîm Cofrestru yn edrych ymlaen at addysgu clybiau am fanteision ariannol posibl Iawndal Hyfforddi FIFA, gweithredu gweithdrefn Iawndal Hyfforddi Domestig newydd ac addysgu chwaraewyr a chlybiau am y rheoliadau newydd ar gyfer Asiantwyr Chwaraewyr, a hyn oll cyn i ffenest yr haf agor ym mis Mehefin 2012!

GOALKEEPER DANNY WARD SIGNS FOR LIVERPOOL.

Y GÔL-GEIDWAD, DANNY WARD, YN YMUNO Â LERPWL.

GAN STEVEN JONES

54 HOME AND AWAY


The passingof two veterans

Goalkeeper Ron Howells, from Pont-Henry in Carmarthenshire will best be remembered as Cardiff City’s goalkeeper over some six years from late 1951 onwards. He signed for the club from Barry Town after some initial appearances for Swansea Town. During his spell at Ninian Park, he won two international caps in the autumn of 1953, against

England at Cardiff (1-4), then Scotland at Hampden Park (3-3). He lost his place to the young Arsenal goalkeeper, Jack Kelsey. In addition, he also played for the Welsh League Representative XI. He later played for Worcester City and Chester before a return to Barry Town. Ron was 84 when he died.

Since the last publication of The Voice in early December, two former Wales internationals of the late 1940s and early 50s have passed away.

Wales v England 1953-54.Back: Ray Daniel, Alf Sherwood, Ron Howells, Ron Burgess, Roy Paul, John Charles.

Front: Bill Foulkes, Reg Davies, Walley Barnes, Ivor Allchurch, Roy Clarke.



The passing

Speedy winger Syd Thomas from Machynlleth passed away in January at the age of 92 and was one of the oldest surviving Welsh internationals. His career began in the late 1930s when he was spotted playing for his hometown club and recommended to Fulham. He joined the London side only for the Second World War to begin and instead he found himself in the RAF for six years.

On his demob he returned to Craven Cottage and became a firm favourite. A small, diminutive player, he was quickly selected by Wales for the

Home Internationals of 1947-48, making his debut against England at Cardiff (0-3) and holding his place for the trip to Hampden (2-1) and then N.Ireland at Wrexham (2-0). His final cap came against Scotland at Cardiff in October 1948 (1-3). A move to Bristol City promised great things but he was struck down with TB that was to force his retirement in 1951. He returned to Machynlleth and worked in the family bakery business.

Our thoughts are with their families and friends as we salute them for their service to Welsh Football.

Wales v Northern Ireland 1947-48.Back: Ivor Powell, Alf Sherwood, Tommy Jones, Cyril Sidlow, Walley Barnes, Billy Baker.

Front: Syd Thomas, Noel Kinsey, Trevor Ford, George Lowrie, George Edwards.

56 HOME AND AWAY


This year marks the centenary of Newport County – a club which has had an eventful history, to say the least.

Going out of business, rising from the ashes, having to play in exile (twice!), High Court action to help ensure they could function – it’s been quite a journey.

It is also fair to say County and the Football Association of Wales have not always seen eye to eye over the years, following a catalogue of events which led to their meeting in the High Court.

David Hando, a former deputy head teacher at Radyr High School, has been associated with County since the early 1950s both as a fan and later as an official who held almost every position at the club.

Hando has experienced a roller coaster of a journey. He’s seen the club go from the heights of the Football League and a memorable night in the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup (suffering an unlucky 3-2 aggregate defeat to East German giants Carl Zeiss Jena), to playing in exile in the Cotswolds (at Moreton-in-Marsh, to be precise, 82 miles from their original base).

“Our aim is as it has always been and that is to return to the Football League,” said Hando. “Our history shows we have had a difficult time, the main point being our willingness to play in the English pyramid system and not in the League of Wales as it was called when it was formed back in 1992. Eight clubs (Welsh clubs) were invited into the League of Wales – they were known as the ‘irate eight’ – and told they would not be forced to join the LoW. But, eventually we were sanctioned and we told the FAW we were going into exile for the second time.”

NEWPORT COUNTYThe Long And Winding RoadBY MARK BLOOM



“After many court appearances we took the FAW to the High Court for restraint of trade and won our case. We always said to the FAW that we would join the LoW the same day as Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham did.”

Newport County was renamed Newport County AFC, and were admitted into the Hellenic League, on the basis of an imaginative ground share arrangement with fellow Hellenic members, Moreton Town.

The cunning plan was necessary after the council would not agree to provide a playing base within the town to a new club. The Football Association of Wales also refused to sanction its participation in the English system at Hellenic League level, and so the club gained its nickname – the Exiles. Their eventual return to Newport was not at the old home of Somerton Park, because the council now had capitalised on their asset and turned it into a housing estate. Instead the club went to the new Newport Stadium within the Spytty Park sports complex.

Present chairman Chris Blight, who has held the post for the last seven years, is adamant that the holy grail remains returning to the Football League. Though this season has not been the success the club would have liked, Blight is optimistic about the future.

“There are difficult times ahead for our dreams to come true like 90 per cent of football clubs in the country.

But when your crowds start dropping you starve the club of operating properly and the hill is harder to climb. That is where we are at the moment. We need to stay in this division and regroup, so Justin Edinburgh (manager) has a fresh run at the following season and builds his team.”

Just two seasons ago under Dean Holdsworth, County AFC won the championship of the Blue Square Conference South with a 2-0 home victory over Havant & Waterlooville in front of 4,221 fans. By the end of the season, County had amassed a phenomenal 103 points from their 42 games, scoring 93 goals and conceding just 26, with second placed Dover Athletic leading the chasing pack 28 points adrift!

The club has run a successful academy in partnership with Hartridge School close to the ground for several years and it continues to work with the Newport City Council to develop the stadium into a venue fit to accommodate the return to the Football League.

Reflecting on almost a hundred years of history, it is often a source of debate as to whether we are discussing two separate clubs. The second rose from the ashes of the first which had played in the Football League for 61 seasons, reached the last 16 of the FA Cup and the last eight of the European Cup Winners Cup.

The ambition to succeed remains strong within the club and its faithful fans. But without a major investor on board, turning the dream of returning to the Football League into a reality, appears to be a distance away.

‘We need to stay in this division and regroup, so Justin Edinburgh has a fresh run at the following season and builds his team.’

PAGE 56:DAVID PIPE HEADS ON FOR NEWPORT AGAINST SHREWSBURY.

TUD 56: DAVID PIPE YN PENIO I GASNEWYDD YN ERBYN YR AMWYTHIG.

DAVID HANDO, NOW AND THEN.

DAVID HANDO – HEB NEWID DIM!

V

58 HOME AND AWAY


Eleni, mae clwb Sir Casnewydd yn dathlu canmlwyddiant o hanes lliwgar. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, mae’r clwb wedi mynd allan o fusnes, wedi atgyfodi, wedi gorfod chwarae mewn alltudiaeth (exile), ddwywaith, ac wedi ymddangos yn yr Uchel Lys er mwyn brwydro am eu dyfodol. Siwrne a hanner i ddweud y lleiaf!

Mae hefyd yn deg dweud nad yw’r clwb a Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wastad wedi gweld llygad yn llygad dros y blynyddoedd, a hynny’n dilyn cyfres o ddigwyddiadau a fu arwain atynt yn cyfarfod yn yr Uchel Lys.

Mae David Hando, cyn dirprwy bennaeth yn Ysgol Uwchradd Radur, wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â’r clwb ers dechrau’r 1950au, a hynny fel cefnogwr ac yna fel swyddog sydd wedi ymgymryd â bron i bob swydd yn y clwb.

Mae hi wedi bod yn dipyn o siwrne i Hando. O weld y clwb yn chwarae yn uchelfannau Cynghrair Lloegr a noson gofiadwy yn rownd yr wyth olaf yng Nghwpan Enillwyr Cwpanau Ewrop – i wynebu cyfnod o chwarae mewn alltudiaeth yn y Cotswolds (ym Moreton-in-Marsh i fod yn fanwl gywir, 82 o filltiroedd i ffwrdd o’u cartref gwreiddiol).

“Mae ein nod yn dal i fod yr un peth ag erioed, sef dychwelyd i Gynghrair Lloegr,” meddai Hando. “Mae ein hanes yn tystio i ni gael amser caled, yn bennaf o ganlyniad i’n dymuniad i chwarae ym mhyramid Lloegr yn hytrach nag yng Nghynghrair Cymru fel y’i gelwid yn ôl ym 1992. Cafodd wyth o glybiau (o Gymru) eu gwahodd i fod yn rhan o Gynghrair Cymru – sef yr ‘irate eight’ fel y’u gelwid bryd hynny. Dywedwyd wrthynt na fyddai gorfodaeth arnynt i ymuno â

Hynt a Helynt Clwb Sir Casnewydd GAN MARK BLOOM



Chynghrair Cymru, ond yn y pen draw, cawsom ein gorchymyn ac felly fe aethom i chwarae mewn alltudiaeth am yr ail dro.”

“Yn dilyn nifer o ymddangosiadau Llys, fe aethom â CBDC i’r Uchel Lys am ‘lesteirio masnach‘ (restraint of trade) ac ennill ein hachos. Roeddem ni wedi dweud wrth CBDC o’r cychwyn cyntaf y byddai’r clwb yn ymuno â Chynghrair Cymru phan fyddai Dinas Caerdydd, Dinas Abertawe a Wrecsam yn gwneud hynny.”

Cafodd y clwb ei ail-enwi yn ‘Newport County AFC’, gan ymuno â’r Gynghrair Helenaidd (Hellenic). Er mwyn gallu gwneud hyn, daeth y clwb i drefniant a oedd yn golygu eu bod yn rhannu maes chwarae â Thref Moreton, tîm arall yn y Gynghrair Helenaidd.

Roedd y cynllun cyfrwys yn angenrheidiol gan nad oedd y cyngor yn barod i ddarparu maes chwarae o fewn y dref i glwb newydd. At hynny, gwrthododd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ganiatáu i’r clwb gymryd rhan ym mhyramid pêl-droed Lloegr ar lefel y Gynghrair Helenaidd, a dyma sut y bathwyd llysenw’r clwb, yr ‘Alltudion’ (the Exiles). Pan ddaeth hi’n amser iddynt ddychwelyd i Gasnewydd, roedd y tîm yn ddigartref gan fod y cyngor wedi troi Parc Somerton yn stad o dai. Yn lle hynny, ymgartrefodd y clwb yn Stadiwm newydd Casnewydd, o fewn datblygiad chwaraeon Parc Spytty.

Mae’r Cadeirydd presennol, Chris Blight, sydd wedi bod yn y swydd am y saith mlynedd ddiwethaf, yn benderfynol mai’r brif nod yw dychwelyd i Gynghrair Lloegr. Er nad yw’r tymor hwn wedi bod yn un llwyddiannus iawn i’r clwb, mae Blight yn optimistaidd am y dyfodol.

“Fel 90 y cant o’r clybiau pêl-droed yn y wlad hon, mae gennym ni fynydd i’w ddringo cyn y gallwn ni wireddu

ein breuddwydion. Ond pan fo’r dorf yn dechrau lleihau o un wythnos i’r llall, nid yw’r clwb yn gallu gweithredu’n iawn, ac mae’r mynydd hwnnw yn mynd yn anoddach i’w ddringo. Dyna lle’r ydym ni ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen i ni aros yn yr adran hon ac ail-grwpio, er mwyn sicrhau bod gan Justin Edinburgh (y rheolwr) well cyfle y tymor nesaf a’i fod yn gallu adeiladu ei dîm o’r newydd.”

Dau dymor yn unig yn ôl dan ofal Dean Holdsworth, llwyddodd Casnewydd i gipio Cynghrair Blue Square y De gyda buddugoliaeth o 2-0 gartref yn erbyn Havant & Waterlooville ger bron 4,221 o gefnogwyr. Erbyn diwedd y tymor, roedd y clwb wedi ennill 103 o bwyntiau o’u 42 gêm, gan sgorio 93 o goliau ac ildio 26 yn unig. Roedd Dover Athletic, y tîm a ddaeth yn ail, 28 o bwyntiau y tu ôl iddynt!

Mae’r clwb wedi cynnal academi lwyddiannus mewn partneriaeth ag Ysgol Uwchradd Hartridge yng Nghasnewydd am nifer o flynyddoedd, ac mae’n parhau i gydweithio â Chyngor Sir Casnewydd i ddatblygu’r stadiwm yn lleoliad sy’n addas ar gyfer dychwelyd i Gynghrair Lloegr.

O edrych yn ôl ar bron i gan mlynedd o hanes, yn aml mae’n bwnc llosg p’un a ydym ni’n sôn am ddau glwb ai peidio. Fe atgyfododd yr ail o weddillion y cyntaf, a oedd wedi chwarae yng Nghynghrair Lloegr am 61 o dymhorau, wedi cyrraedd yr 16 tîm olaf yng Nghwpan yr FA ac wedi cyrraedd rownd yr wyth olaf yng Nghwpan Enillwyr Cwpanau Ewrop.

Mae’r uchelgais i lwyddo yn dal i fod yn gryf o fewn y clwb a chyda’r cefnogwyr ffyddlon. Ond heb gefnogaeth buddsoddwr mawr, mae troi’r freuddwyd o ddychwelyd i Gynghrair Lloegr yn realiti yn ymddangos yn bell i ffwrdd ar hyn o bryd.

PAGE 58:SAM FOLEY WINS THE BALL FOR NEWPORT AGAINST SHREWSBURY.

TUD 58: SAM FOLEY YN ENNILL Y BÊL I GASNEWYDD YN ERBYN YR AMWYTHIG.

NEWPORT BOSSJUSTIN EDINBURGH.

RHEOLWR CASNEWYDD, JUSTIN EDINBURGH

60 HOME AND AWAY


The FA of Wales places an important emphasis on developing grass roots football because it is the platform for international success – a recipe of more players and better players supported by good coaching and access to quality facilities. Also important are the health benefits, educational values and social worth that grass roots football provides all those who participate.

This is why ‘growing the game and raising standards’ is one of the key objectives of the Association’s recently launched strategy, one of the objectives for which the Welsh Football Trust is charged with delivering.

UEFA’s Grass Roots Charter is one of the Strategy’s measures of success. The Charter was introduced in 2005 to support and encourage member associations to nurture the grass roots game. It provides a framework for Associations to develop grassroots activities according to their requirements and is comprised of seven levels, or stars, which are awarded as progress is achieved. Associations must provide UEFA with evidence of participation growth and investment in social and infrastructure programmes to be awarded a star.

Wales became Charter members with one star in 2006, secured a further four stars in 2009 and in the autumn of 2011 made an application for six stars. The submission highlighted:

• special investment – funding of the national network of Football Development Officers, regional and national coaching initiatives, and Welsh Grounds Improvement Grant aid for facility projects;

• innovative schemes – the football inclusion programme for Black and Minority Ethnic communities, Futsal development and the successful Mini Football programme;

• enhanced education programmes – partnerships with Sport Wales on the Active Young People programme and Welsh colleges on coach education and student volunteering;

• promotional initiatives – FAW roadshows and McDonald’s Community Awards, Coaches Workshops and ‘Mums on the Ball’ campaign.

WALES CELEBRATES MORE GRASS ROOTS SUCCESS WITH ‘SIX STAR’ ACHIEVEMENT



The new year started with the excellent news that UEFA’s Executive Committee had approved the application, ensuring Wales was one of only ten Associations to achieve six stars under the Charter. This success should be shared by everyone involved in the grass roots game in Wales, not least the tens of thousands of coaches and volunteers who support the playing of matches week in and week out. Well done and thanks to you all!

Reflection on this success will be short-lived though because the aim now is to work towards achieving the strategy target of seven stars and full accreditation by 2014. And, with your help, we can continue to build a better future for Welsh football.

Neil WardWelsh Football Trust Chief Executive

WORKING WITH BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

GWEITHIO GYDA CHYMUNEDAU DU A LLEIAFRIFOEDD ETHNIG (BME).

V

62 HOME AND AWAY


CHWE SEREN I GYMRU – DATHLU RHAGOR O LWYDDIANT AR LAWR GWLAD

Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) yn rhoi pwyslais enfawr ar ddatblygu pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad (grassroosts). Dyma’r platfform perffaith ar gyfer llwyddo’n rhyngwladol – mwy o chwaraewyr o well safon wedi’u cefnogi gan fentrau hyfforddi effeithiol a mynediad at gyfleusterau o ansawdd. At hynny, mae’r manteision iechyd, y gwerthoedd addysgol a’r gwerth cymdeithasol y mae pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad yn eu cynnig yn elfennau pwysig iawn i bawb sy’n cymryd rhan.

Dyma pam fod ‘Tyfu’r Gêm a Gwella Safonau’ yn un o’r amcanion allweddol yn Strategaeth y Gymdeithas a gafodd ei lansio’n ddiweddar, ac yn amcan y mae

Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru yn gyfrifol am ei weithredu.

Mae Siarter Llawr Gwlad UEFA yn un o linynnau mesur y Strategaeth. Cyflwynwyd y Siarter yn 2005 i gefnogi ac annog cymdeithasau aelod i feithrin y gêm ar lawr gwlad. Mae’n cynnig fframwaith i Gymdeithasau allu datblygu gweithgareddau llawr gwlad yn unol â’u gofynion, ac mae’n cynnwys saith lefel, neu sêr, sy’n cael eu gwobrwyo yn ôl cynnydd pob Cymdeithas. Er mwyn ennill seren, mae gofyn i Gymdeithasau gyflwyno tystiolaeth ger bron UEFA i ddangos twf yn nifer y bobl sy’n cymryd rhan ac o ran buddsoddiad mewn rhaglenni cymdeithasol a seilwaith.

YOUNGSTERS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A GOAL TOO.

MAE GÔL GAN BOBL IFANC SYDD AG ANABLEDDAU HEFYD.



YOUNG ADULTS FROM BME COMMUNITIES.

OEDOLION IFANC O GYMUNEDAU BME.

WAYNE HENNESSEY AND JOE LEDLEY HELP THE CAUSE.

WAYNE HENNESSEY A JOE LEDLEY YN CYNNIG HELP LLAW.

Ymunodd Cymru â’r Siarter gydag un seren yn 2006. Enillodd pedair seren arall yn 2009 ac yn ystod hydref 2011, fe gyflwynodd gais i UEFA am chwe seren. Roedd y cais yn tynnu sylw at:

• fuddsoddiad arbennig – ariannu’r rhwydwaith cenedlaethol o Swyddogion Datblygu Pêl-droed, mentrau hyfforddi rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol a chymorth grant Gwella Meysydd Chwarae Cymru;

• cynlluniau arloesol – rhaglen cynhwysiant pêl-droed ar gyfer Cymunedau Du a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig, datblygu Futsal a’r rhaglen Pêl-droed Mini llwyddiannus;

• gwella rhaglenni addysg – partneriaethau gyda Chwaraeon Cymru ar Raglen Pobl Ifanc Egnïol a Cholegau Cymru ar addysgu hyfforddwyr ac annog myfyrwyr i wirfoddoli;

• mentrau hyrwyddo – Sioeau Teithio CBDC a Gwobrau Cymunedol McDonald’s, Gweithdai ar gyfer Hyfforddwyr ac Ymgyrch ‘Mums on the Ball’.

Dechreuodd y flwyddyn newydd gyda’r newyddion gwych bod

Pwyllgor Gweithredol UEFA wedi cymeradwyo’r cais, gan olygu bod Cymru yn un o’r deg Cymdeithas sydd wedi ennill chwe seren o dan y Siarter. Mae’r llwyddiant hwn yn perthyn i bawb sy’n rhan o bêl-droed llawr gwlad yng Nghymru, heb sôn am y degau ar filoedd o hyfforddwyr a gwirfoddolwyr sy’n helpu i gynnal gemau o un wythnos i’r llall. Llongyfarchiadau a diolch i chi gyd!

Fodd bynnag, ni fyddwn ni’n adlewyrchu ar y llwyddiant hwn yn hir gan mai’r nod bellach yw gweithio tuag at gyflawni ein targed o saith seren, fel yr amlinellir yn y Strategaeth, ac achrediad llawn erbyn 2014. A chyda’ch help chi, gallwn barhau i adeiladu gwell dyfodol i bêl-droed yng Nghymru.

Neil WardPrif Weithredwr Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru (YBDC)


The Football Association of Wales Ltd11 / 12 Neptune CourtVanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ

Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru11/12 Cwrt Neifion Ffordd Blaen y Gad, Caerdydd CF24 5PJ

[email protected] 2043 5830D

esig

n an

d pr

oduc

tion

D

ylun

iwyd

a c

hynh

yrch

wyd

gan

pet

ergi

ll.co

m 2

1234

0212

Date post:	23-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	graffeg
View:	239 times
Download:	9 times

The Voice

Documents