In a proud moment for Caerphilly Castle FC, two of our Walking Football players were awarded their long-awaited Welsh caps at a prestigious FAW ceremony held last night.
The event, which took place at the historic St Fagan’s Museum, celebrated 47 former Cymru Women’s players who represented their country between 1973 and 1992 but had never received their official Welsh caps until now.
During that period, a total of 94 women had the honour of playing for Wales, but because the teams were not officially affiliated with the Football Association of Wales (FAW), these players missed out on receiving the iconic Welsh caps traditionally awarded to national team representatives. Last night’s event was a long-overdue recognition of their contributions to women’s football in Wales.
The ceremony was a part of a larger celebration of women’s football in Wales and was jointly hosted by S4C and the Football Association of Wales. It coincided with the release of the documentary Yr Hawl i Chwarae (The Right to Play), which tells the untold story of the history of women’s football in Wales. The documentary will be broadcast on S4C on 22 October, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs faced by the women who paved the way for future generations of female footballers in Wales.
The evening, expertly hosted by Catrin Heledd, included two engaging panel discussions in between the cap presentations. The caps were presented by the FAW’s Acting President, Mike Jones, and Vicki Linton, the newly appointed Head of Women’s Player Development at FAW. Following the presentation, the former players were treated to a special message of thanks from current Cymru Women’s Head Coach, Rhian Wilkinson, in recognition of their trailblazing efforts.
The first panel discussion took a reflective look at the history of women’s football in Wales, with insights from key figures in the game. Former Cymru player Michele Adams, Lowri Roberts (Former Head of Women and Girls’ Football at the FAW), and documentary presenter Ffion Eluned Owen shared their experiences and highlighted the journey of Welsh women’s football over the years.
The second panel, which focused on the future of women’s football in Wales, featured Cymru U19 Head Coach Nia Davies, FAW Senior Women & Girls’ Grassroots Manager Beth Woolley, and UEFA Vice President and former Cymru player Laura McAllister. The discussion centred around the FAW’s updated strategy for the women’s and girls’ game, Our Wales: For Her, which aims to further grow and develop female football talent across the country.
For our two Caerphilly Castle FC Walking Football players, this was an evening of deep pride and recognition for their achievements as former Cymru internationals. The awarding of their Welsh caps is a reminder of the invaluable contributions made by those who played in a time when the game was still finding its footing in Wales, and it serves as an inspiration for the next generation of female footballers.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the women honoured at the event and especially to our two players who have finally received the recognition they deserve. Their dedication and passion for football continue to inspire us all at Caerphilly Castle FC, and we are incredibly proud to call them part of our club.