The words of Craig Bellamy the day before the international challenge match, friendly, against Ghana when I asked if he felt Aaron Ramsey would go into coaching.

The two men are good friends. Both at the heart of the Gary Speed revolution and of course the heartbreak that came far too soon afterwards.

While Bellamy’s words felt like nice platitudes and an interesting take at the time, those words are currently echoing loud and clear less than a month later.

“A week is a long time in politics” said Harry Wilson, or Prime Minister Harold Wilson as he was more widely known.

In football “a week”, it seems, is an eternity.

I understand that Burnley are still pursuing Craig Bellamy relentlessly, maybe we will see movement in the coming hours, and I’ll point out this is being written on Tuesday 23rd of June.

At the time of Bellamy’s quote he had just spent 37-minutes telling a vastly reduced press pack due to the lack of a World Cup, including myself, that this was his dream job, that he wanted to be the man to lead Wales out in Euro 2028 and that, despite the pay he’d joked, 4 years is about the right life cycle of an international coach.

Ramsey is now heavily linked to Oxford. Indeed my talkSPORT colleague Alex Crook is reporting that a deal has been agreed between the former Cymru captain and the now League One club.

Ramsey to Oxford

It’s a good job for Ramsey. A club which is well backed financially and in terms of supporter base too, for the third tier of English football. Their main issue is that they’re stuck at the Kassam Stadium, which means that they were unable to build on the somewhat surprising promotion under Des Buckingham in 2024. Crikey, remember when he was the next bright young thing. Then sacked after about 3 months in the Championship. Brutal.

So Oxford might be back where they started but they’re also much further forward.

Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir has increased his shares, he’s just given the leadership team a shake up and brought in people that were working for him at Inter Milan and, most importantly, they have gained during their time in the Championship planning permission for a brand new stadium. Anyone who has visited the ever dilapidating, three stand Kassam Stadium will testify that this is a huge step.

All of which makes an attractive proposition for Aaron. But, and it is a but because we know what playing for Wales means to him, if his country was to come calling would or could he be swayed.

Bellamy, to his credit, had done his hard yards before management. Yes, it was his first managerial role but he’d worked his way up from youth development, coached abroad, been a number two at the sharp end of the Championship and Premier League. He was ready to step into the hot seat.

Ramsey is at the very beginning. No doubt he’s spent time with Craig, learned off managers at his different clubs. The taste he had at Cardiff, scoffed at by Bellamy in the same press conference that I reference above as “that wasn’t a taste. That was helping out”, either way it doesn’t seem to have put him off.

An engaging and thoughtful man who clearly adores his football and sees his future in coaching.

Would a Ramsey and Gunter double act be the antidote to the annoyance of Wales IF Bellamy was to decide Burnley is more appealing than a Nations League and Euro 2028 campaign?

Are the 2016 heroes just a little too inexperienced to be taking those roles right now? Gunter is testing himself with the U19s and we’ll see this month how he gets on in the north Wales based Euros tournament.

Maybe the Oxford job feels the right fit for Aaron to start his journey. Not the heady spotlight that comes with other roles, a realistic “challenger” rather than pressurised favourite for League One.

For what it’s worth, my feeling is that the Wales role will come a little too soon for Aaron if Bellamy decides this week that he’s off.

But, it is a dilemma for Ramsey and sometimes timing is everything in football.

So, let’s see what the next 48 hours or so bring.

Following relegation from the Southern League Premier South in the 2021/22 campaign, Merthyr retained their place in the division due to Walton Casuals folding. That summer saw the arrival of Paul Michael from Yate Town as the First Team Manager alongside Andrew Smith as his Assistant as well as former player Craig Reddy being appointed as First Team Coach. Michael’s first season led to Merthyr reaching the First Round of the FA Cup alongside a credible 9th place finish in the league.

Further strides were made in the following campaign as the Martyrs missed out on a Play-Off space by a single point on the final day of the season, with an attacking style of play described best as “death by a thousand cuts.” Intricate pass and move, pass and move, sophistication rarely witnessed as this level of the footballing pyramid.

Michael’s mantra came to fruition for the 2024/25 campaign as Merthyr suffered only five defeats on their way to lifting the Southern League Premier South title, scoring 105 goals on their way to a table topping 91 points. Many sides simply could not cope with the Martyrs’ style of play with the standout performer of the season, Ricardo Rees, grabbing a staggering 33 goals on the way. Alongside Rees, the likes of Kane Simpson, Cawley Cox, Lewys Twamley (who departed halfway through the season to Yeovil Town), Tom Handley, Lee Lucas, Frazer Thomas and Cole Jarvis, Merthyr fired their way to the National League setup.

The off-season has been rather busy at Penydarren Park as Paul Michael aims to go one better for the upcoming campaign with several players committing to Merthyr as well as some fresh acquisitions. Many players involved in the title winning side such as Jaimie Cogman, Callum Ryan-Phillips, Aneurin Livermore, Matthew Harris and Noah Smerdon are all set to return alongside Jack Evans, Jay Williams, Lee Lucas and Keiran Evans. The new arrivals are Iwan John, Sam Pearson and Ben Margetson, arriving from Caerphilly Athletic, Dorking Wanderers and Barry Town United respectively as well as Will Spiers making a permanent move to Merthyr following on from two successful loan spells whilst at Cardiff City.

As a result, Merthyr now possess several former Cymru Youth Internationals amongst their ranks. Pearson, Margeston, the Evans’, Lucas, Williams and Spiers have all worn the dragon on their chests.

Lee Lucas

Between 2008 and 2014, Lee Lucas made 42 appearances across an international career from U17 to U21 level. Lucas lined up alongside Jonny Williams, Paul Dummett and Billy Bodin during the early 2010s. Lucas wore the captains armband for the U21 squad managed at the time by Geraint Williams in a fixture against Iceland in 2013 as well as twice against England in 2014. A vital cog during Merthyr’s title win in 2025, Lucas’ experiences on the international stage as well as a club career representing Swansea City, Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town and Motherwell (aye, she’s alright) gives him a tactical edge over his defensive opponents in the National League North.

Jay Williams

The Williams family is synonymous with Merthyr Town. Gavin Williams ended his playing career with his hometown after years on the pitch best remembered by his icon status with Yeovil Town whilst also lining out for Hereford United, West Ham United, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and Woking. Twice capped for Cymru under John Toshack in 2005, Gavin managed the Martyrs between 2016 to 2021 after hanging up his boots. His son, Jay, has now taken up the mantle as a mainstay in Merthyr’s backline. Williams has followed in his father’s footsteps by both representing their hometown and running out for Cymru on the international stage, with Jay making a total of 13 times from U16 to U21 level, with his most recent caps coming in the UEFA U21 European Championship qualifiers in 2023. A product of Newport County’s academy, Williams made his mark at Fulham where he played an integral role within their U18 and U21 setups to lift the Premier League Cup, then gracing the Football League with Sutton United. Often lining up alongside fellow Merthyr native and club captain Matthew Harris, Williams at just 23 years old has the benefit of his time with Cymru recently to continue to make strides within a highly competitive division.

Jack Evans

Jack Evans’ footballing story is nothing short of remarkable. A product of Swansea City’s youth setup, a bout of sickness in 2018 led to the devastating diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. With the support of the Swans and the wider Welsh footballing community, a year of treatment led to Evans’ miraculous return to the pitch over a year later. Between 2016 to 2021, Evans represented Cymru from U16 to U21 level as well as playing in the Victory Shield. Like Lucas, Evans captained the U21 side seven times during his time playing internationally. A highly skillful midfielder, Evans has donned the colours of Swansea City, Mansfield Town, Pafos, Newport County, Farsley Celtic and Penybont. Evans’ first stint with the Martyrs coincided with Paul Michael’s first season as manager and following a move to Farsley Celtic, Evans returned to Penydarren Park in 2024 and is now the current vice-captain of the side.

Will Spiers

Spiers' Recent Interview With Merthyr

A recent prospect of Cardiff City’s development setup, Will Spiers is one of the most exciting talents in the Non-League pyramid. Capped for Cymru’s U18 and U19 sides, Merthyr’s latest acquisition has had an eye-catching breakthrough campaign during 2025/26. Spiers’ made his debut for the Bluebirds during their Vertu Trophy campaign with a goal against Arsenal’s U21s putting a spotlight on the versatile full-back. Completing three loan spells, twice with Merthyr sandwiched between Eastleigh in the National League, with plenty of clubs circling this summer, Spiers has signed with the Martyrs on a permanent deal for the upcoming season. Having impressed across his two spells with Merthyr, his commitment to the Martyrs has gone down a treat with one supporter describing the news being “bigger than Barry Manilow’s snout.”

Keiran Evans

One of Merthyr’s standout performers in recent years, Keiran Evans was a part of Osian Roberts’ Victory Shield winning side in 2014 alongside the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Tyler Roberts, Liam Cullen and Ben Woodburn. Alongside lifting Cymru’s first Victory Shield title since 1949, Evans represented Cymru from U18 to U21 level whilst lining out for Swansea City at club level. A stint at Gloucester City followed before making his move to Merthyr in 2021 in which he has remained since. One of the most skilful individuals in the National League North, Evans is fond of dazzling solo runs which leaves spectators at Penydarren Park speechless. This strike against Kings Lynn Town last season shows it far better than words could describe.

Ben Margetson

Margetson In Action For Barry Town United Last Season

A new arrival for Merthyr, Ben Margetson has arrived with playing experience in both the Welsh and English pyramid as well as caps at U18, U19 and U21 for Cymru. Formerly of Cardiff City, Swansea City, Bromley, Sutton United, Kidderminster Harriers, Pontypridd United and most recently for Barry Town United, it was at the latter that Margeston made a huge impression in a strong Cymru Premier campaign for the Linnets. Starting all 32 league fixtures as well as lifting the Nathaniel MG Cup against The New Saints, it was an impressive campaign despite Barry’s loss to Haverfordwest County in their European Play-Off clash. Arriving at Merthyr with previous experience of playing against the Martyrs during his time with Cardiff City at youth level, it is a real statement of intent from Merthyr as the side strengthens their numbers ahead of the season.

Sam Pearson

With the departure of Cawley Cox to Hereford, Merthyr have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of Sam Pearson from Dorking Wanderers. Having represented Cymru from U17 to U21, Welsh Football Fans were there for his strike against Bulgaria in 2022 at Rodney Parade during a UEFA U21 European Championships Qualifier. Starting his career with Bristol City, spells with AFC Wimbledon, Yeovil Town, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Weston-Super-Mare and Eastleigh followed before his move to the Martyrs this summer. Another young addition to a youthful Merthyr side, between the retentions and acquisitions, there is tangible excitement brewing in the South Wales valleys as time ticks closer to the start of pre-season in July.

Merthyr’s international ties aren’t exclusive to Cymru either. Signing on loan from Yeovil Town before a permanent deal was completed this summer, Jacob Maddox represented England from U16 to U20 level and was amongst the squad that won the UEFA European U19 Championship in 2017 featuring alongside Aaron Ramsdale, Reece James and Mason Mount. A product of Chelsea and Bristol City’s academies, Maddox arrived at Penydarren Park in January after playing for clubs including Walsall, Tranmere Rovers and Forest Green Rovers. Another skillful attacking acquisition, Maddox grew in confidence towards the end of Merthyr’s previous season with a standout performance against Marine towards the end of that campaign wowing the traveling Martyrs on Merseyside.

Speaking to Welsh Football Fans this week, Paul Michael spoke highly of his appointments and how a squad featuring heaps of former internationals gives his side a cutting edge against their opposition in the National League North:

“I hope that these boys treasure those memories and are very proud of their achievements because they should be. Sometimes things don’t work out, due to injury, an illness at the wrong time, an opportunity missed, we all know that’s the way it goes in football but you have to come to peace with that as an individual.”

“I absolutely love looking back at the fixtures the boys played in, I love looking at the team sheets, the results, seeing how the boys got on and who they played with and against. The number of caps and honours these players have just shows the sheer amount of talent they have, they’re all great players to work with and I learn from them everyday I’m around them. If these boys can bring the best out of one another this season we will have a special season.”

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Anyway, let’s get into it and first up it’s Louis Koumas. The Liverpool youngster on loan at Hull in the second half of last season survived “Spygate” and helped the Tigers to promotion to the Premier League.

With a new manager on the way at Anfield Koumas told us that he feels he’s impressed on his two seasons on loan. Developed as a player and “scored some goals, so we’ll just have to see when I get back there”.

Koumas was on the bench for Liverpool in the League Cup final in 2024 as they beat Chelsea 1-0. Then burst on to the scene properly by scoring on his debut against Southampton.

But, that’s his only first team action there so far.

“I sort of spent two years in and around the first team in Liverpool under Klopp. Then I remember coming in pre-season. Just literally turned up in the morning, signed a new contract and got told I was going to Stoke on loan. So yeah it was a bit scary to be honest. I didn’t know what to expect and then I went there and ended up playing 49 games, I think it was, that year so that’s pretty crazy to be fair”.

The season just gone Koumas spent time at Birmingham and Hull City.

Koumas says he sees himself as a number 9 and is hopeful that he’s done enough to persuade Craig Bellamy to give him another run in that role in these next two games.

Also speaking over the weekend was Josh Sheehan, who is celebrating reaching the Championship with Bolton through the Play-Offs.

What an incredible journey he’s been on. Leaving Swansea after making just one first team appearance, joining Newport, having two serious knee injuries and now a regular in the Wales squad and playing in the same division as his boyhood club next season.

While at Newport in 2018 Sheehan got an early glimpse of Antoine Semenyo, who he’s likely to face on Tuesday. Then, a teenage Semenyo arrived at Newport on loan from Bristol City.

“He was a quiet boy but when he stepped on a pitch straight away he was so strong, so fast, so direct. You knew, probably from that minute he's going to kick on and have a good career.”

Semenyo played full 90s against Leicester and Middlesbrough in Newport’s incredible FA Cup run that season. Sheehan felt that even then, observing him in training and in matches, that he’d go on to much bigger things.

And finally, on Sunday, there came the news of Leeds United youngster Jayden Lienou being called up to the senior squad.

So, who is Jayden?

Well, he is an U19s international who joined Leeds from Man City’s academy July 2025.

The Wigan-born teenager is a left back or left wing back. He won the U18 Premier League North with City and has also represented Wales at every youth level from U15s-U19s. Lienou started out at Everton’s academy.

Technically talented for his age and he has pace to burn, but is also strong defensively at youth level.

Last season he has made 19 appearances for Leeds’ U21s, recording 1 assist.

So, along with Cam Congreve and Ollie Bostock there could be a debut or two in the next week.

Certainly seems that Bellamy is very impressed with the U19s squad and this should be useful in terms of U19s Euros that take place at the end of June in Wrexham and across North Wales.

The last decade of the 20th century was bleak from a Welsh perspective to a certain extent. Industrial decline, skyrocketing unemployment and limited opportunities was the norm for working class areas up and down the nation. In a sporting sense, Welsh clubs were a world away from the modernization and professionalism of the present.

Swansea now are an established EFL side. After spending seven consecutive years in the Premier League, winning the League Cup and a stint in Europe via the Europa League, the highs over the last decade would have been unforeseeable back when they were a Division 3 (League 2) outfit in the late 90s.

The club was sold to a windshield replacement company for £100, albeit with £2million worth of debt attached to it. Relegation to the conference and semi-professional status would have certainly put an end to the side that played the beautiful game in SA1 since 1912. Under new ownership, a meeting was called to brainstorm methods to save Swansea from going out of existence. At the end of this, the idea to have a mascot (which was seen as a luxury reserved for big sides) was hatched.

The North Bank faithful were expecting a summer signing to bolster performances at the Vetch Field. Instead, they got a nine-foot swan at the cost of approximately £3,000. With a long neck, eyes like a raver who double dropped some doves during the summer of love as well as a player issued shirt and shorts, Cyril The Swan was here. His debut came against Exeter City for the first home tie of the 1998/99 season, sliding down a rope from one of The Vetch’s floodlights.

Swansea wanted a character of sorts to wear the suit to encourage the home fans and rattle the away fans. This task was given to the groundsman at the time, Eddie Donne. Swapping the lawnmower for the costume, Donne’s debut was a League Cup tie at The Vetch versus Norwich City. It couldn’t have got off to a worse start, with Cyril knocking over Norwich’s assistant manager during the tie and The Canaries going one up shortly after.

Here’s where the legend begins. Swansea equalize and Cyril’s first move is to jump into the North Bank, crowd surfing across the terrace as fans serenade him with shouts of “HOO-LI-GAN! HOO-LI-GAN!” This wound up the opposition so much that he wasn’t allowed to Carrow Road for the replay, but a legend was now certainly in the making.

Donne played up to the shithousery to the biggest extent, becoming a pantomime villain of sorts in the world of football mascots. During half time, he’d save penalties shot by children and even foul them on the pitch. When the crowd would sarcastically boo, Cyril would happily turn around and show the swan’s rear end to the crowd. A wind up merchant of the highest order.

Quickly becoming a local legend, Cyril received roars like a gladiator entering The Colosseum when he’d go pitchside. The Vetch’s phone was active seven days a week with fans wanting him at parties, dinners, events… You could argue that he was more popular than any player on the pitch at the time!

Cyril The Swan Celebrates - Swansea City 3-0 Millwall | 13th November 1998 - FA Cup 1st Round

Friday 13th November 1998, a date that will go down in the history of Welsh football as a whole. A FA Cup first round tie saw 10,000 fans descend on SA1, Swansea City versus Millwall. Do I need to say anything else? Cyril goads the away support as per usual when the ref says to the mascot “Have I got to put up with this all game?” The Swan nodded and ‘accidentally’ headbutted the official. Swansea won 3-0 against the Londoners, Cyril rocketed the ball at a Millwall player making him fall to the ground. Now that’s what I call pêl-droed heritage.

Swansea went on a cup run, beating West Ham United in the third round (Donne and three Swansea players had children arrive nine months after that game!) and were knocked out by Premiership Derby County in the fourth round.

Soon these antics caught up to Cyril. The FAW handed a £1,000 fine and banned from games for a season. The club paid the fine and in Cyril’s absence, Swansea won Division 3 and moved up the EFL pyramid. In his season away from The Vetch, Cyril became a full-blown celebrity. A role in the theatre production of Aladdin, appearances on a late-night karaoke show on TV, his own shop and merchandise line, mental stuff.

On his return to The Vetch, The FAW called the NFL for help in creating a mascot code of conduct and forced Swansea to erect cages at the Vetch to prevent fan invasions. It was a Division 2 fixture in 2001 against familiar opposition that Cyril had his most infamous moment. Millwall’s Zampa The Lion went to The Vetch with violence on his mind. For the halftime penalty shootout between the mascot’s, Zampa was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the lion appeared from the away end, storming to the pitch past a heavy police presence and making his way to Cyril to land blows. Donne knew he had to be on best behavior and didn’t rise, until Zampa tried to behead Cyril, a cardinal sin in the world of mascots. Cyril landed a sweet uppercut on Zampa, taking his head off and a fracas ensued. Cyril legged it down the players tunnel, stripped from the costume with two officers outside and slipped away through a slide door. A moment that has gone down in history.

Cyril's Interview on Dutch TV

Donne continued as groundsman and mascot until quitting in 2007. A mixture of missing time with his wife and children, the stress of the role and the move from his beloved Vetch Field to the Liberty (Swansea.com) Stadium saw him give up the role that played a role in Swansea’s fortunes changing for better eventually. Even with the financial turmoil of the late 90s and early 2000s, Cyril’s popularity did bring unforeseen coverage for the club.

As for Cyril, he’s now on the straight and narrow. He has a wife, Cybil, and doesn’t tend to wind up traveling fans and rip heads off their mascots anymore. A story like this could only happen in our weird, wacky and wonderful little country.

Vetch Field (1912-2011)

Named after a type of legume, the Swan’s former home is remembered fondly by those who graced its stands every other Saturday and those who travelled in numbers as away fans, especially in an era where attending matches was more dangerous than it is today.

Surrounded by rows of houses in SA1 and in the shadow of HMP Swansea, The Vetch’s charm is undeniable. A proper old-school ground complete with what can be described as some of the most non-uniform stands of any stadium on this island. The South Stand with a clock that didn’t work, The East Stand with arguably the most bizarre-looking floodlight of all time and The North Bank, where the most passionate jacks stood and made as much noise throughout the years with fans forging bonds with likeminded individuals who’ve seen the highs and lows of watching their team.

The Vetch also hosted the national team on numerous occasions, including the World Cup qualifier against Iceland that saw electrical issues play a part in Wales missing out on reaching Espana ’82. Six rugby league internationals were played there as well, The Who played in front of a massive crowd there in 1976 and Stevie Wonder graced its turf in 1984.

Swansea’s last season at The Vetch saw crowds rise as they gained promotion out of League 2 with players like Lee Trundle and James Thomas banging in goals week after week. The final game played was a 2–1 win for The Swans against Wrexham to win the FAW Premier Cup. As the fans ripped out as many pieces of memorabilia after the full-time whistle, pouring out onto the streets one last time, The Vetch would lay dormant from 2005 as the move was made a few miles up the road to the 20,000 all-seater Liberty Stadium (now known as the Swansea.com Stadium).

Rotting away for years, the bulldozers came in 2011 and within a few months, years of footballing heritage was reduced to rubble. The Vetch is now a community park with some remains of the old ground remaining like bricked off turnstiles, walls from the old stands and you can still make out the former players entrance wedged between a row of houses.

Farrar Road (1920-2012)

Right in the heart of the university city up north with the cathedral towering over the ground, Bangor’s former home was something to behold.

A ground that hosted fixtures in both the English and Welsh pyramids during its time, Farrar Road was a small ground in which the locals could make a hostile atmosphere for any visiting teams and their fans.

Sides such as Napoli and Atletico Madrid played on this ground up north in the European Cup Winners Cup and even Bob Paisley’s European Cup winning Liverpool side played at Farrar Road in the 70s.

The Citizens are known to have some of the most passionate fans in the Welsh pyramid and their former home reflected that, with walls covered in Eastern European style murals displaying their support for the club.

Last game at Farrar Road - Bangor City FC

Farrar Road was set to be demolished and turned into a leisure complex at the end of the 2008/09 season, but several delays meant that the final game came in December 2011. Bangor’s 5–3 win against Prestatyn Town was the end of an era, with The Citizens making the move to Nantporth Stadium soon after. Where once you would find the sporting heartbeat of a passionate city, you’ll now find an Asda.

Ninian Park (1910-2009)

As you walk through Canton and underneath a dark and moody rail bridge, taking a long exposed walk down Sloper Road, you’ll encounter the former home of one of the most notorious grounds on this island.

Ninian Park is a name synonymous with football hooliganism, the patch where many from Cardiff and many from up in the valleys fought against anyone deemed as an outsider. Anyone who travelled to the ground from the late 1960s to its closure in 2009 will tell you tales of battles on the stands and outside the turnstiles, bricks and bottles flying from all directions and chants of “We Are Evil” reverberating around the terraces.

The aggro is undeniable, but it is also undeniable that said aggro made it a nightmare for away sides to get a result there. Nathan Blake’s strike against Manchester City in 1994 is one of the FA Cup’s most iconic upsets, which Cardiff arguably topped in 2002 with a 2–1 win against Leeds United in a game displaying how hostile Ninian Park could be.

Despite all the negatives that can be said on the violence involved with football during that era, like many of the stadiums that aren’t standing anymore, friendships to last lifetimes were made on the concrete terraces of the Bob Bank and the Grange End. The escapism that 90 minutes of football offered during awfully hard times for those living in the South Wales Valleys during the 80s and 90s was the highlight of the week, memories made on those stands from those coming down from mining areas in the Rhondda and Rhymney Valleys still resonate with those there to witness them.

Ninian Park hosted 88 international fixtures between 1911 and 1998, with moments such as a 2–0 playoff victory over Israel securing Wales’ spot at the 1958 World Cup and many clashes against England and Scotland during the days of Home Internationals. It was against Scotland in which the stadium’s darkest night happened in 1985, following a World Cup qualifier in which the legendary Jock Stein died of a heart attack after a 1–1 draw which sent the tartan army to Mexico ‘86.

In typical Cardiff fashion, Ninian Park’s farewell was a stinker for the fans. A 3–0 loss to Ipswich ended the club’s promotion hopes which would have brought Premier League football to the new Cardiff City Stadium ready for the start of the 2009/10 season. On the site where massive floodlights dominated the skyline in Cymru’s capital now lies a housing estate with not many reminders of what once was on the land. CCS is a Danny Ward goal kick away from Ninian Park and despite hosting a UEFA Super Cup final and being the home of Welsh football, many will say what made Cardiff City great was left in 2009 at NP.

Somerton Park (1912-1993)

Home to the Amber Army from 1912 until 1989, Somerton Park saw many highs and lows in the history of Newport County.

The highs came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with County gaining promotion into the Third Division (League 1) and winning their only Welsh Cup title. Winning the cup meant European football the following season, a run to the quarter-final of the European Cup Winners Cup saw the Amber Army losing out to Eastern German side Carl Zeiss Jenna 3–2 on aggregate despite a famous draw in the away leg. 18,000 were crammed into Somerton Park for that European night in which both clubs have since formed a bond.

Somerton Park wasn’t just Newport County’s home either, it also was the home of the Newport Wasps speedway team and it was also a popular venue for Greyhound racing!

County’s fortunes dipped throughout the 1980s and in 1989 the club famously was declared bankrupt and was reformed as Newport AFC four months later. After two seasons in which Newport won the Hellenic double at the London Road ground in Moreton-in-Marsh (80 miles away from Newport), The Exiles returned home for the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons in Somerton Park. The FAW condemned Newport to another two seasons playing across the border, ground sharing with Gloucester City at their home of Meadow Park. Left derelict after the County was exiled, Somerton Park was demolished in 1993 with a housing estate taking its place soon after. The Amber Army returned to Newport in 1994 with Spytty Park opening its doors.

Cardiff Arms Park/National Stadium (1984-1997)

The spiritual home of Welsh rugby has a history as complicated as its naming situation, with many calling the National Stadium the Arms Park despite Cardiff Arms Park being a separate stadium to the National Stadium.

Until 1969, Cardiff RFC and the Welsh national team played on the same pitch but this soon changed with Cardiff RFC moving where the original cricket ground at the site of the former Cardiff Arms Park stadium stood. The National Stadium was officially opened in April 1984.

The FAW used to rotate fixtures between Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, Swansea’s Vetch Field and Cardiff’s Ninian Park but due to crowd trouble and UEFA regulations, a permanent home was needed for qualifiers. The first international played at the Arms Park was a goalless draw against West Germany in May 1989, the first international fixture held on this island watched by all-seater spectators after the Hillsborough Disaster of the same year.

Even without being able to stand on the terraces, the atmosphere was electric in the Arms Park which helped Wales to some famous victories. Both Brazil and Germany lost there in 1991, two of the nation’s most iconic results.

Darker days did occur at the stadium afterwards. Failure to qualify for Euro ’92 and the ’94 World Cup led to a downfall in the quality of football played and the infamous qualifier against Romania in 1993 saw a fan killed by a flare gun after a 2–1 loss.

Crowds dwindled throughout the 90s as Bobby Gould took the helm whilst talks began in 1995 for a new stadium to replace the Arms Park ready for Wales to host the Rugby World Cup in 1999. After hosting Welsh internationals and the Welsh Cup final for a brief period, the National Stadium shut in 1997 and was replaced with the Millennium Stadium in 1999.

These stadiums were built in a time where football was the working class’ game, pay on the gate for Saturday 15:00 and Tuesday 19:45 kickoffs, stand with thousands of others making as much noise as possible and as the beautiful game was modernised and clubs turned from the beating hearts of communities to just another money-making corporation, these grounds were going to be lost. It goes without saying that many would rather that old-school matchday over the modern, sanitised experience it is today but the spirit of those times will live on forever.

The 25-year old is absolutely one of the first names on Craig Bellamy’s team-sheet. Which made the penalty miss against Bosnia in March all the more cruel.

But, that didn’t disrupt his season, in fact it seemed he didn’t miss a beat.

He has gone to another level for club and country, all while becoming a new dad, a moment he says has changed his mentality on and off the pitch.

Which is remarkable because the first year of my children being born just disappeared in the perfect storm of nappies and lack of sleep. Neco is clearly made of different stuff!

He made 53 appearances for Forest, scoring twice and providing 4 assists but in a wildly inconsistent season that saw his club dive towards the relegation zone, get through 4 managers and end up in a Europa League semi-final our boy from Cefn Mawr has not just been a model of consistency but consistently excellent.

It is no wonder that there is a queue of admirers wondering if they can prize him from the City Ground this summer.

I was lucky enough to be in the eerily empty Covid locked down Cardiff City stadium on September the 6th 2020.

Neco, always Neco and not Williams, announced himself with an injury time winning goal against Bulgaria having made his debut under Ryan Giggs a few days before.

It was an important goal too which ultimately helped Wales to Nations League promotion but it was his dashes up the wing, and those elastic legs that seemed to inexplicably win the ball back or help him spin out of a tackle that suggested we’d found someone special.

To be honest, it was no surprise to me having watched him excel for the U19s 10 months before in a 2-0 win against Kosovo, again scoring that day at Rodney Parade.

The winger turned full-back looked like a Jurgen Klopp player through and through. High energy, dynamic, fantastic flying forwards but his weakness at that point was defensively and in early Premier League games he was targeted. I particularly remember the 2020 Community Shield being a tough afternoon for the youngster.

Then there was the small matter of Scouser Trent Alexander-Arnold standing in his way.

The gumption and self belief to decide that he wasn’t going to play second fiddle to TAA, that he was going to tread his own path, I think showed the character and self belief that’s pushed him to where he is today.

After the goal against Bulgaria, wearing the widest of pearly white smiles, Neco told of how England had once been in touch. “I was born in Wales, my friends are Welsh, my family are Welsh. I’ve always wanted to play for Wales”.

Fair to say the RedWall fell in love there and then.

That’s even before he released a photo of him wearing one of those glorious Kappa kits that looked amazing on people like Neco, not so much on middle aged blokes who have had a beer or two too many on WalesAway.

At Forest he’s grown, developed, turned from a boy with potential into a man.

All the time he’s excelled for his country.

What I love is he can do the old fashioned defending. Stopping crosses, last ditch challenges, smashing the odd naughty one here and there.

But he can play. Those little flicks and inter-changes with Brooks and James. Those lung busting breaks up the pitch and being just as effective on the left as the right.

The suitors are lining up, Forest are reportedly ready with a new updated contract having agreed one just 12 months ago.

Let’s see what the summer holds and as Neco posted on Instagram himself;

“This chapter ends, but it’s only shaping us for what comes next”.

When Dafydd Iwan recorded and released Yma O Hyd back in 1983, do you think he ever saw it reaching its current heights? The track entails the survival of the Welsh language against all the odds and is now synonymous with the success of Cymru’s national teams.

Thanks to Pêl Droed, a new generation of fans are now finding out about the history of their country thanks to Iwan’s words and this has been reflected in the video that was released this morning.

YMA O HYD - DAFYDD IWAN x AR LOG x THE RED WALL (OFFICIAL CYMRU WORLD CUP 2022 SONG)

Between shots of the Red Wall singing and Iwan in and around the Cardiff City Stadium, a medieval manuscript of Macsen Wledig/Magnus Maximus shows with the opening lines “Dwyt ti’m cofio Macsen, Does neb yn ei nabod o…” Macsen Wledig was the leader of the Roman Empire between 383 and 388 who has many links to the early history of Cymru.

There is black and white shots of the protests against the drowning of Capel Celyn in 1957. The village was levelled and flooded to form a reservoir for Liverpool in 1965 but for years prior, many attempts were made to preserve the village. 35 out of 36 Welsh MP’s voted against it (the other did not vote) and to this day, it remains one of the biggest injustices in Welsh history.

The survival of Yr Iaith Gymraeg is what Yma O Hyd is all about. In the present day, the language is thriving. More and more are speaking Cymraeg, the FAW themselves have a progressive outlook with the staff now learning and we’re seeing the use of Cymraeg normalised and encouraged. It wasn’t so long ago where protest and riots were needed to have it recognized and Cymdeithas Y Iaith were at the forefront of this during the 20th century. The Welsh Language Act of 1967 and 1993 came into effect because of the group’s work and to this day, they are active and promoting the use of our national language.

Of course, our footballing history is full of near misses. Scotland 1977, Romania 1993 and Russia 2003 are shown mixed with the celebrations of Ukraine last June. The contrast will hit home to any Cymru fan who was there for the lows, making the recent highs all so better.

To this day, Cymru’s mining history is everywhere. The strikes of the 70s and 80s and the subsequent closures of our mines are a major part of our past. Many of those miners would be on the terraces on Saturday’s during this time, there’s footage of this shown in the video with lodge banners and mining footage aplenty.

“Good morning, and it is a very good morning in Wales.” This was said by Ron Davies, Secretary of State for Cymru in 1997 after the country voted yes for our devolved powers. It is spliced in with footage of our modern history including the unveiling of the Betty Campbell statue in Cardiff in 2021 and Michael Sheen’s “Yma O Hyd, you sons of Speed” speech.

Cymru has a history that we should be proud of. As a nation, we’ve fought to preserve our identity. On the global stage, we are relatively unknown but the FAW are showing it off ready for a whole new audience. We’re a small nation by population, but we’ve got the heart of a billion people and Robert Page’s squad will demonstrate that in Qatar!