Latest news with #Cowbridge
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wilkinson - the world class coach who was destined to manage Wales
For Rhian Wilkinson, managing Wales felt like destiny. After years of sliding doors moments for Wales' women, the arrival of a world class coach has led to a first major tournament qualification. On the eve of their first competitive match at Euro 2025 against formidable foes in the Netherlands, Wilkinson says leading out Wales in Lucerne will be "right up there" as one of the proudest moments of her life, despite a glittering playing and coaching career. Advertisement "This is a wonderful team, great people, fantastic footballers, and we're going to be tested against some of the best in the world," she told BBC Sport Wales. "And that's exactly what we've been wanting, to showcase Wales as a country and this team and their talent. "It will be right up there in the greatest moments of my career to stand there and watch these women take the field." Despite only being appointed weeks before the start of Wales' qualifying campaign, Wilkinson's connection to Cymru runs far deeper. In her own words, despite being a former Canadian international with 183 caps to her name, Wilkinson "feels Welsh". Advertisement Wales in her heart Born in Canada, Wilkinson has a deep-rooted links to Wales having lived in Cowbridge for 18-months as a child. With a Welsh mother (Shan) and an English father (Keith), Wilkinson says she has a big connection to the country. Born in Quebec, Wilkinson lived in Cowbridge in south Wales and attended Bont Faen Primary School between 1989-1991. Finally returning to Wales as the women's head coach in February 2024, Wilkinson admits it is a job that was on her mind for years. "When the job came up after Jayne Ludlow stepped down, I was sorely tempted to apply," she said. "I thought what an amazing opportunity it would be, but I had already verbally agreed to another job, it wasn't great timing for me. Advertisement "I was on holiday in Rome when I saw the news that (Ludlow's successor) Gemma Grainger had left. She and her staff had done such a wonderful job with the team, and I had followed the team closely. When it came up that she departed, I couldn't sleep that night. "It was something that definitely interested me straight away and I thought this could be a very exciting move for me." Wilkinson still has plenty of family members in Wales – her grandmother lives in Cowbridge and her aunt and uncle and cousins live in Cardiff - and she speaks glowingly of family holidays spent scaling Wales' highest peak, Yr Wyddfa. Indeed, Wilkinson was instrumental in the decision to announce Wales' Euro 2025 squad at Yr Wyddfa - also known as Snowdon - a destination with huge meaning for her, having been the place where her parents enjoyed their honeymoon. Advertisement Six months before she became Wales manager, it was also the place where the Wilkinson family held a ceremony for her father after his death. It was no surprise when Wilkinson opted to walk up the mountain – all 1,085 metres of it - rather than take the train on the day of the Wales squad announcement. Wilkinson has always been someone who has scaled great heights in women's football, first as a player and then as a world class coach. An elite player and coach Wilkinson was a tough and formidable defender for Canada, though equally capable in midfield and she represented her country on the international stage from 2003 until 2017. Advertisement Her 183 caps make her one of the 50 most capped female footballers in history and she played in four Olympic Games, winning bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. Wilkinson's club career saw her star in the National Women's Soccer League and also play for a spell in Norway, A college graduate with a major in communication and English from the university of Tennessee, Wilkinson's playing career and her natural leadership always made a coaching career a likely calling. Wilkinson worked her way up, starting as an assistant and age-grade coach with Canada before working as an assistant for both the England national team and Team GB at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Advertisement It was only a matter of time before a head coach role arrived and Wilkinson was appointed as Portland Thorns coach in 2021, winning the NWSL Championship in her first season. However, Wilkinson was asked to stand-down after an investigation into a relationship with a player – there was no suggestion Wilkinson did anything wrong and the couple have subsequently married – with Wilkinson admitting that it was "a painful time" for her. Wilkinson was out of football at the highest level for a year after her departure from Portland, before Grainger's shock resignation and move to Norway opened up a vacancy she had always thought about. She was appointed Wales boss in February 2024. Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief football officer David Adams told BBC Sport Wales that the governing body chiefs were happy to appoint Wilkinson because "we followed all the right steps and she was exonerated by the NWSL". Advertisement The right job at the right time Unquestionably, it was not easy to hit the ground running as Wales boss, with the players angry and frustrated by Grainger's departure and wary of Wilkinson's appointment. Initially there were certainly some issues in winning over the players who had hoped Grainger's assistant, Jon Grey, would be given the role. Had it not of been for the circumstances of Wilkinson's departure from Portland, it might have been the case that Wales would have always remained a place where Wilkinson felt affinity, but not somewhere she was particularly minded to work. However, it quickly became apparent that this was an ideal match, with Wilkinson succeeding in winning over the Wales squad over a 15-month period where results spoke for themselves. Advertisement Wilkinson steered Wales to Nations League B promotion, before helping to mastermind their Euro 2025 play-off success, firstly with a hard-fought play-off semi-final win over Slovakia. Wales were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the play-off final by the Republic of Ireland but then recorded a stunning 2-1 win in Dublin to reach a major finals for the first time. The 43-year-old especially showed her credentials in the Republic of Ireland matches, steering Wales past formidable foes despite being without Sophie Ingle and with star performer Jess Fishlock far from full fitness after returning from a calf tear. Wilkinson seemed to successfully utilise mind games against then Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson, who got increasingly annoyed with comments made about her side. Advertisement "The only time I think about Rhian Wilkinson is when I get asked about her by you," she told journalists before the showdown in Dublin. Ireland seemed agitated and on the edge in the final, Wales kept their cool and finally, are to play in a major tournament. Destiny? Perhaps. But Wilkinson has changed women's football in Wales forever. Her legacy is already secure. What the players say "When she speaks, it makes me want to run through a brick wall for her," said Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts. "Our manager Rhian Wilkinson is one of the key reasons why we are where we are," defender Josie Green wrote in her BBC column. Advertisement "I have found Rhian absolutely fantastic to work with. I sit in some of her meetings and she delivers the messages and I think 'wow, that is such an impassioned and empowered speech'. "That is what you want as a player, a coach that inspires you, who motivates you and who pushes you on and also makes you feel valued as a member of the group. Rhian has had a massive impact in the 15 months she has been our manager, we have a lot of belief in her." Wales' most capped player, Fishlock believes Wilkinson has given Wales better squad depth than they have ever had. "What I love about her is she loves to rotate and give opportunities," said Fishlock. Advertisement "The depth of our squad is going to be our secret weapon. But also, I don't think we get the depth without her. She's the first manager who has given those opportunities. "She came in and she said, this is what I'm doing. I don't care if I upset you off. I don't care if I cause trouble. This is what I'm doing because I believe. She had the long vision. The long, long, long vision. And I don't think we get here without that vision."
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Meet Rhian Wilkinson - the world class coach destined to manage Wales
For Rhian Wilkinson, managing Wales felt like years of sliding doors moments for Wales' women, the arrival of a world class coach has led to a first major tournament the eve of their first competitive match at Euro 2025 against formidable foes in the Netherlands, Wilkinson says leading out Wales in Lucerne will be one of the proudest moments of her life, despite a glittering playing and coaching career."Leading this group out at their first major tournament will be right up there," she tells BBC Sport Wales."They've earned the right to be here. This is a wonderful team, great people, fantastic footballers, and we're going to be tested against some of the best in the world."And that's exactly what we've been wanting, to showcase Wales as a country and this team and their talent. "And I think from my end, it will be right up there in the greatest moments of my career to stand there and watch these women take the field."Despite only being appointed weeks before the start of Wales' qualifying campaign, Wilkinson's connection to Cymru runs far her own words, despite being a former Canadian international with 183 caps to her name, Wilkinson "feels Welsh." Wales in her heart Born in Canada, Wilkinson has a deep-rooted links to Wales having lived in Cowbridge for 18-months as a a Welsh mother (Shan) and an English father (Keith), Wilkinson says she has a big connection to the country she has steered to an historic first major in Quebec, Wilkinson lived in Cowbridge in south Wales and attended Bont Faen Primary School between returning to Wales as the women's head coach in February 2024, Wilkinson admits it is a job that was on her mind for years."When the job came up after Jayne Ludlow stepped down, I was sorely tempted to apply," she said."I thought what an amazing opportunity it would be, but I had already verbally agreed to another job, it wasn't great timing for me."I was on holiday in Rome when I saw the news that (Wilkinson's successor) Gemma Grainger had left. She and her staff had done such a wonderful job with the team, and I had followed the team closely. When it came up that she departed, I couldn't sleep that night."It was something that definitely interested me straight away and I thought this could be a very exciting move for me."Wilkinson still has plenty of family members in Wales – her grandmother lives in Cowbridge and her aunt and uncle and cousins live in Cardiff - and she speaks glowingly of family holidays spent scaling Wales' highest peak, Yr Wilkinson was instrumental in the decision to announce Wales' Euro 2025 squad at Yr Wyddfa - also known as Snowdon - a destination with huge meaning for her, having been the place where her parents enjoyed their honeymoon. Six months before she became Wales manager, it was also the place where the Wilkinson family held a ceremony for her father after his was no surprise when Wilkinson opted to walk up the mountain – all 1,085 metres of it - rather than take the train on the day of the Wales squad has always been someone who has scaled great heights in women's football, first as a player and then as a world class coach. An elite player and coach Wilkinson was a tough and formidable defender for Canada, though equally capable in midfield and she represented her country on the international stage from 2003 until 2017. Her 183 caps make her one of the 50 most capped female footballers in history and she played in four Olympic Games, winning bronze medals in 2012 and club career saw her star in the National Women's Soccer League and also play for a spell in Norway,A college graduate with a major in communication and English from the university of Tennessee, Wilkinson's playing career and her natural leadership always made a coaching career a likely worked her way up, starting as an assistant and age-grade coach with Canada before working as an assistant for both the England national team and Team GB at 2021 Olympic was only a matter of time before a head coach role arrived and Wilkinson was appointed as Portland Thorns coach in 2021, winning the NWSL Championship in her first Wilkinson was asked to stand-down after an investigation into a relationship with a player – there was no suggestion Wilkinson did anything wrong and the couple have subsequently married – with Wilkinson admitting that it was "a painful time," for was out of football at the highest level for a year after her departure from Portland, before Grainger's shock resignation and move to Norway opened up a vacancy she had always thought about. She was appointed Wales boss in February Association of Wales (FAW) chief football officer David Adams told BBC Sport Wales that the governing body chiefs were happy to appoint Wilkinson as she had been exonerated of wrongdoing by an investigation."We followed all the right steps and she was exonerated by the NWSL, so from our side of things we followed all the right steps." The right job at the right time Unquestionably, it was not easy for Wilkinson to hit the ground running as Wales boss, with the players angry and frustrated by Grainger's departure and wary of Wilkinson's there were certainly some issues in winning over the players who had hoped Grainger's assistant, Jon Grey, would be given the had it not of been for the circumstances of Wilkinson's departure from Portland, it might have been the case that Wales would have always remained a place where Wilkinson felt affinity, but not somewhere she was particularly minded to it quickly became apparent that this was an ideal match, with Wilkinson succeeding in winning over the Wales squad over a 15-month period where Wales' results spoke for steered Wales to Nations League B promotion, before helping to mastermind their Euro 2025 play-off success, firstly with a hard-fought semi-final win over Slovakia, before Wales stunned Republic of Ireland in Dublin to finally reach a major finals for the first 43-year old especially showed her credentials in the Republic of Ireland matches, steering Wales past formidable foes despite being without Sophie Ingle and with star performer Jess Fishlock far from full fitness after returning from a calf seemed to successfully utilise mind games against then Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson, who got increasingly annoyed with comments made about her side."The only time I think about Rhian Wilkinson is when I get asked about her by you," she told journalists before the showdown in seemed agitated and on the edge in the final, Wales kept their cool and finally, are to play in a major Perhaps. But Wilkinson has changed women's football in Wales forever. Her legacy is already secure. What the players say "When she speaks, it makes me want to run through a brick wall for her," says Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts."Our manager Rhian Wilkinson is one of the key reasons why we are where we are," defender Josie Green wrote in her BBC column."I have found Rhian absolutely fantastic to work with, I sit in some of her meetings and she delivers the messages and I think 'wow, that is such an impassioned and empowered speech'."That is what you want as a player, a coach that inspires you, who motivates you and who pushes you on and also makes you feel valued as a member of the group. Rhian has had a massive impact in the 15 months she has been our manager, we have a lot of belief in her."Wales' most capped player, Jess Fishlock, says Wilkinson has given Wales better squad depth than they have ever had."What I love about her is she loves to rotate and give opportunities. I think that the depth of our squad is going to be our secret weapon. But also, I don't think we get the depth without her. She's the first manager who has given those opportunities."She came in and she said, this is what I'm doing. I don't care if I upset you off. I don't care if I cause trouble. This is what I'm doing because I believe... She had the long vision. The long, long, long vision. She did. And I don't think we get here without that vision."
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- The Guardian
We wanted to stay at a Bear hotel – just not one 50 miles away
For our 40th wedding anniversary we booked a night at the Bear hotel in Crickhowell, Wales, via [the booking website] The details were duly confirmed in an email, but when I called the hotel to check about dining, it had no trace of the booking. It turned out we had been booked at the Bear hotel in Cowbridge. insists the booking was non-refundable and has refused to return our money. When we sent evidence of its mistake it didn't respond. BF, Presteigne, Powys Cowbridge looks an appealing place but it wasn't where you wanted to be. Bizarrely, your confirmation email specifies the booking for Crickhowell even though a room was booked 50 miles away. didn't have the courtesy to reply to me, either, but my overtures prompted a refund, albeit with no apology or acknowledgment of its bungling. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Coachella costs Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins thousands by insisting he change name of his tiny Welsh pop festival 'Cowchella'
Coachella organisers are thought to have cost Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins thousands of pounds after forcing his tiny Welsh festival into a name change. The 49-year-old had been happily organising his 'Cowchella' festival in Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, when the 250,000-capacity music venue got in touch. The event's social media pages went down last week, and its Eventbrite tickets page had its name disappear amid a complaint which Watkins said was from Coachella Ltd, the US festival in California. On Sunday, new social media accounts were set up for the renamed Moo-La-La Festival, hosted by Watkins, actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans. The post explained the 'fab new name' and that tickets would remain valid for the inaugural event in August. Welsh singer and actor Watkins, 49, said they thought at first the social media sites were 'hacked', before finding an email with an 'official complaint from Coachella'. 'I'm taking it as a massive compliment that they feel like that our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine,' Watkins said. 'It's a little bit mindblowing... what we're doing is very, very different to what they do. 'We don't have Beyonce performing. We have a Steps tribute act... and also, they don't have myself, Claire Sweeney and Owain Wyn Evans, hosting, which in my book, is much better than Beyonce.' He also said he was happy the small Welsh festival is a 'talking point' and people 'love that Coachella has put Cowbridge on the map' as well as admitting that 'luckily, it wasn't like, the week before because that would be the disaster'. Watkins did acknowledge that thousands of pounds spent on 'marketing costs, posters and banners' would be 'a financial impact that we have to absorb'. He said: 'We've spent a lot of money on marketing and flyers and posters and banners that are all visible around the town. 'So yes, those will have to go in the bin... but let's just do that, rather than have any more people knocking on our door.' He also said that 'there's lots of festivals' that use this concept including the Welsh event GlastonBarry, with a name inspired by Glastonbury in Somerset, which has not appeared to come up against the same issue. Top performers from across the music scene have participated in Coachella, including the likes of Lady Gaga, Megan Thee Stallion and Grimes. Watkins said the idea of the festival formerly known as Cowchella was to 'make it accessible for families that can't afford to go to Cardiff or London' for music events that can cost hundreds of pounds. 'We wanted... to provide an amazing place where everybody could come have a great time, make it family friendly, accessible,' he said. He said the festival will remain the same, despite the name change, and promised 'great food, great drink' on Saturday, August 2 at Bear Field. Watkins also said 'the number one tribute acts in the country' such as Harry Styled UK, Got to be Taylor Swift, Got to be Steps, Got to be Mamma Mia and Wickedly Hariana would perform. 'Our town is so beautiful, but there's so much untapped potential there, which is why we keep creating events (such as Pride),' he said. 'We do the panto in town, so many amazing things. I decorate the town hall for armistice. I do a lot in the town just to bring a lot of joy, and it's a town that should be celebrated, and that's what Moo-La-La, as it's now called, will be.' Watkins rose to fame in the the dance-pop group, Steps, and has appeared on ITV show Dancing On Ice as well as mystery Dial M For Middlesbrough. His group celebrated 20 years since their formation with a comeback album and UK tour in 2017 and in 2022 they released a Platinum Collection album.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Steps star Ian ‘H' Watkins forced to change name of latest project after he's SUED by festival giant Coachella
FORMER Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins was forced to change the name of his festival Cowchella — because it was too similar to Coachella. Watkins organised a small event including a Harry Styles tribute act and actress Claire Sweeney. 3 But he was stunned to get a complaint about the name from Coachella, the famous festival in California with 250,000 fans. Watkins' show at his home town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan is now called the Moo-La-La Festival. The Welshman, 49, said: 'I'm taking it as a massive compliment that they feel that our little festival is a little bit of a threat to their ginormous, juggernaut of a machine. 'It's a little bit mindblowing. What we're doing is very, very different to what they do. 'We don't have Beyonce performing. "We have a Steps tribute act and also they don't have myself, Claire Sweeney and Owain Wyn Evans hosting, which in my book is much better than Beyonce.' He added: 'We've spent a lot of money on marketing and flyers and posters and banners that are all visible around the town. 'So yes, those will have to go in the bin but let's just do that, rather than have any more people knocking on our door.' 3
