Flintshire clubs to represent Wales on Coronation Street set
The clubs will showcase the grassroots transformation that has helped build the foundation for Wales's first-ever appearance at a major women's tournament when they face defending champions England in Switzerland.
The celebration comes as the finale of the FAW's "Chwarae FOR HER" week-long national celebration (July 5-13), which has seen over 50 clubs and local authorities deliver football activities across Wales to inspire women and girls to get involved in the game.
"Chwarae FOR HER" showcases the power of the game for women and girls across Wales.
Emma Iball, of Buckley Town FC, embodies Wales's footballing transformation. Told she couldn't train with boys in 1983, she has created the North East Wales Girls' Football League, serving 250 primary school girls across the region through monthly sessions at National Lottery-funded facilities.
"Now there's not going to be another girl disappointed like I was," said Emma, whose dedication earned her FAW Volunteer of the Year in 2020.
Emma Iball (Image: Newsquest) Northop Hall Girls FC, founded in 2008, has become Wales's third-largest female football club with over 200 players. The club has received over £20,000 in National Lottery grants and produced notable alumni including Liverpool's Mia Parry and Wales international Elise Hughes.
The transformation reflects significant National Lottery investment in Welsh women's football. In 2024/25 alone, women's and girls' football in Wales received £332,972 in National Lottery funding, helping the FAW double its investment in female participation.
This support has enabled the FAW to launch programmes including Huddle - fun, friendly sessions where girls aged 4-11 fall in love with football - and BE.FC, a community built by teenage girls for teenage girls, providing relaxed football sessions for 12-16-year-olds.
Additional National Lottery funding includes £250,000 for the Elite Centre in Wrexham (Colliers Park).
The event features six interactive zones with former Wales international Katie Sherwood and former England star Jill Scott, alongside Coronation Street actors Jenny McAlpine (Fizz) and Alan Halsall (Tyrone).
The 48 young footballers aged 12-16 from National Lottery-supported clubs across England and Wales will experience freestyle skills sessions, team challenges, and meet-and-greet opportunities on the iconic set.
MORE NEWS:
As Wales prepares for its groundbreaking tournament debut on Sunday, the two Flintshire clubs represent the community foundation that made this achievement possible.
Their presence on the Coronation Street cobbles celebrates how far Welsh women's football has come through initiatives like "Chwarae FOR HER" and the opportunities now available for the next generation.
From Emma Iball's determination to transform disappointment into opportunity, to young players now dreaming of following and Flintshire's Elise Hughes to the professional game, the grassroots revolution in Wales continues to build momentum.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Stephen Welsh shoulder issue may require surgery
Midfielder Luke McCowan opened the scoring for the Scottish champions in the inaugural Cork Super Cup game in Ireland in the 28th minute with a sweet strike from just inside the box but a mix-up in the Hoops defence in the 67th minute, with interval substitute Welsh culpable, led to an equaliser from Matthew Murray. There was more misery for the 25-year-old centre-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Belgian side Mechelen, when he had to go off with his arm strapped up to protect yet another shoulder problem. Eighteen-year-old Colby Donovan, who was substituted before coming back on to replace Welsh, scored the late winner with a header. Hoops boss Rodgers confirmed Welsh's situation to Celtic TV, saying: 'He's done his shoulder again. 'It's the fourth time that it's popped out so I think you know when it keeps coming out like that, there's the possibility of an operation. So, he has to have a wee think about that. 'I think by the time the physios got on, it popped back in, but the pain was too sore so we took him off.' Rodgers described the match against the League of Ireland outfit at Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a 'really good exercise' for his side, which was far from full strength and which was much changed by the final whistle. The Northern Irishman said: 'First half, really good. We obviously changed the team and a lot of the young players in the second half will have learned from that. 'We didn't quite keep the ball so well and gave up the ball too cheaply. 'But overall, still find that Celtic mentality to keep going right to the very end and I've always said there's never a friendly when you play for Celtic. It's always a test because every team will want to always beat you. 'So we kept going right to the very end and Colby, who's been excellent, got the winning goal.' Celtic made it two wins out of two in pre-season after a win against Queen's Park last Friday and will head off to Portugal to continue their preparation for the upcoming campaign. Rodgers said: 'Obviously come the weekend, the international players will be back involved in the game (against Estrela da Amadora). 'But the start to the pre-season has been really good and we've got to continue working very, very hard. I think that's the nature of pre-season. 'There's no let-up, there's nothing easy, got to work to build that foundation of fitness and then we'll be, as I said, fully prepared, but we're looking forward to Portugal.' Meanwhile, Celtic announced Gustaf Lagerbielke has joined Braga on a permanent transfer. The 25-year-old Sweden defender joined the Parkhead club from Elfsborg in 2023 but spent last season on loan at Twente in the Netherlands.
South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Stephen Welsh shoulder issue may require surgery
Midfielder Luke McCowan opened the scoring for the Scottish champions in the inaugural Cork Super Cup game in Ireland in the 28th minute with a sweet strike from just inside the box but a mix-up in the Hoops defence in the 67th minute, with interval substitute Welsh culpable, led to an equaliser from Matthew Murray. There was more misery for the 25-year-old centre-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Belgian side Mechelen, when he had to go off with his arm strapped up to protect yet another shoulder problem. Eighteen-year-old Colby Donovan, who was substituted before coming back on to replace Welsh, scored the late winner with a header. Hoops boss Rodgers confirmed Welsh's situation to Celtic TV, saying: 'He's done his shoulder again. 'It's the fourth time that it's popped out so I think you know when it keeps coming out like that, there's the possibility of an operation. So, he has to have a wee think about that. 'I think by the time the physios got on, it popped back in, but the pain was too sore so we took him off.' Rodgers described the match against the League of Ireland outfit at Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a 'really good exercise' for his side, which was far from full strength and which was much changed by the final whistle. The Northern Irishman said: 'First half, really good. We obviously changed the team and a lot of the young players in the second half will have learned from that. 'We didn't quite keep the ball so well and gave up the ball too cheaply. 'But overall, still find that Celtic mentality to keep going right to the very end and I've always said there's never a friendly when you play for Celtic. It's always a test because every team will want to always beat you. 'So we kept going right to the very end and Colby, who's been excellent, got the winning goal.' Celtic made it two wins out of two in pre-season after a win against Queen's Park last Friday and will head off to Portugal to continue their preparation for the upcoming campaign. Rodgers said: 'Obviously come the weekend, the international players will be back involved in the game (against Estrela da Amadora). 'But the start to the pre-season has been really good and we've got to continue working very, very hard. I think that's the nature of pre-season. 'There's no let-up, there's nothing easy, got to work to build that foundation of fitness and then we'll be, as I said, fully prepared, but we're looking forward to Portugal.' Meanwhile, Celtic announced Gustaf Lagerbielke has joined Braga on a permanent transfer. The 25-year-old Sweden defender joined the Parkhead club from Elfsborg in 2023 but spent last season on loan at Twente in the Netherlands.
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Stephen Welsh shoulder issue may require surgery
Midfielder Luke McCowan opened the scoring for the Scottish champions in the inaugural Cork Super Cup game in Ireland in the 28th minute with a sweet strike from just inside the box but a mix-up in the Hoops defence in the 67th minute, with interval substitute Welsh culpable, led to an equaliser from Matthew Murray. There was more misery for the 25-year-old centre-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Belgian side Mechelen, when he had to go off with his arm strapped up to protect yet another shoulder problem. Eighteen-year-old Colby Donovan, who was substituted before coming back on to replace Welsh, scored the late winner with a header. Hoops boss Rodgers confirmed Welsh's situation to Celtic TV, saying: 'He's done his shoulder again. 'It's the fourth time that it's popped out so I think you know when it keeps coming out like that, there's the possibility of an operation. So, he has to have a wee think about that. 'I think by the time the physios got on, it popped back in, but the pain was too sore so we took him off.' Rodgers described the match against the League of Ireland outfit at Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a 'really good exercise' for his side, which was far from full strength and which was much changed by the final whistle. The Northern Irishman said: 'First half, really good. We obviously changed the team and a lot of the young players in the second half will have learned from that. 'We didn't quite keep the ball so well and gave up the ball too cheaply. 'But overall, still find that Celtic mentality to keep going right to the very end and I've always said there's never a friendly when you play for Celtic. It's always a test because every team will want to always beat you. 'So we kept going right to the very end and Colby, who's been excellent, got the winning goal.' Celtic made it two wins out of two in pre-season after a win against Queen's Park last Friday and will head off to Portugal to continue their preparation for the upcoming campaign. Rodgers said: 'Obviously come the weekend, the international players will be back involved in the game (against Estrela da Amadora). 'But the start to the pre-season has been really good and we've got to continue working very, very hard. I think that's the nature of pre-season. 'There's no let-up, there's nothing easy, got to work to build that foundation of fitness and then we'll be, as I said, fully prepared, but we're looking forward to Portugal.' Meanwhile, Celtic announced Gustaf Lagerbielke has joined Braga on a permanent transfer. The 25-year-old Sweden defender joined the Parkhead club from Elfsborg in 2023 but spent last season on loan at Twente in the Netherlands.
