UEFA Grassroots Week
About FAW
2 October 2018

UEFA Grassroots Week

Wales joined-in UEFA Grassroots Week, with schools, clubs and volunteers, across the country, embracing Europe’s annual football celebration.

Schools who had played an active role on our Play More Football programme were given kit and balls by UEFA, to help inspire new youngsters to fall in love with football.

One such school was Cardiff’s Ysgol Plasmawr, who have a thriving Play More Football programme, in which older pupils lead sessions with those from younger classes.

Year 8 pupil Nia Faje said: “I think it’s so cool that you can have fun playing a game and have fun socially. It’s amazing having fun with your friends and doing something that’s good for you.”

The great work of our football volunteers was also recognised during the week, at our McDonald’s FAW Grassroots Awards regional ceremonies, held in Aberystwyth, Newtown, Carmarthen, Newport and Cardiff.

Regional winners of awards like Volunteer of the Year, Community Coach of the Year and Community Club of the Year were handed out to deserving winners from around the Welsh Football Family. The national awards ceremony will be held on November 16, before Wales host Denmark in the Nations League. 

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We also used UEFA Grassroots Week as the launchpad of our Football in Education Survey, which will help us in a wider review of schools' football, across Wales.

Wales U16 Boys travelled to Moldova for a double-header against their hosts in Chisinau, losing their first game 3-1 before bouncing back to win the second 2-1.

Before flying off, the boys took time to share their grassroots football stories.

Cardiff City’s Taylor Jones said: “I started off playing football for my local team, Aberaman Band Club, with my best mates.

“You can’t beat that feeling of playing football with your mates.”

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Senior internationals also shared their stories during UEFA Grassroots Week.

Joe Allen said: “A lot of my friends played rugby because it was very popular in Pembrokeshire when I was growing up.

“It was strange going off to play football while they were all playing rugby but I was inspired by Mark Delaney and Simon Davies coming from Pembrokeshire and playing for Wales. I wanted to be the third.”