Latest news with #JessFishlock
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Euro 2025: Wales legend Jess Fishlock mural unveiled in Cardiff
A huge artwork of Wales midfielder Jess Fishlock has been tribute, which covers the size of a five-a-side football pitch is located in Cardiff, where she was is her country's record-breaking goal scorer and most capped player, and the mural celebrates her impact on football, equality and thought to be the first time that a female footballer in Europe has been recognised in this way. What has been unveiled? Fishlock's mural was designed by artist Regan Gilflin and brought to life by the Welsh creative studio from local schools in Cardiff were invited to attend the was born in Cardiff and has previously said she developed her love for football as a child playing at a soccer camp in the city she took part in over her summer Seattle Reign FC player - who has 162 caps and 47 international goals to her name - has been called a footballing "icon" by Wales boss Rhian 2025, which kicks off next month, marks the first time the Wales women's team has qualified for a major tournament. Who is Jess Fishlock? Jess' career has seen her play all over the world, and she's also used her experience to coach football teams made her Wales debut at 16 years old and has played more than 160 times for her 2018, she was given a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award for services to women's football and the LGBT Fishlock scores during Euro 2025 she will set a new record as the oldest goal scorer in the history of the women's competition, at 38 years old.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News
Jess Fishlock: Mural of Wales star unveiled in 'European first'
A mural of Wales star Jess Fishlock has been unveiled in what organisers say is a European first. The artwork in Splott, Cardiff, is believed to be the first five-a-side football pitch-sized mural of a female footballer in Europe, according to organisers. With 47 goals to her name, Fishlock is Wales 's all-time record goalscorer. The 38-year-old will be part of the team making history for the nation at the UEFA European Women's Championship in Switzerland. The upcoming competition marks the first time the women's team has qualified for a major tournament. The team will face off against reigning champions England, as well as 2017 winners The Netherlands and 2022 semi-finalists France. The squad of 23 chosen to represent their country was revealed at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) last week. 2:01 On Thursday, Fishlock's mural, which was designed by Regan Gilflin and created by Shawqi Hasson and Yusuf Ismail from the Unify project, was unveiled in front of community representatives and children from local schools. The footballer's sister, Francesca Fishlock, told Sky News that she was "super proud" of her older sibling and that it was "lovely" to have a mural dedicated to her on her first home ground. "She's tried her hardest to get to a major tournament with Wales, the whole group has, so to be able to go over there and just experience it with them is amazing," she said. "They've got nothing to lose and nothing to prove, so they're just going to go out there and give their all really and do the best that they can. Hopefully get out of the group, but if they don't, they're there, and that's what matters." Members of the local football team, Splott Albion FC, attended the launch event of the mural, which has been supported by funding from the Welsh Government and Wales Arts International. Lola, 15, said the women's team was "inspiring many younger girls to start playing" in Wales. Gracie, 14, added that the mural was "a good representation of women's football" and was confident of the team's chances, adding: "We're going to win". Lilly, 14, said the team were "someone to look up to" and are giving potential future Wales stars "an opportunity to see how far they can come". Aliyah, 14, whose cousin is also part of the Wales squad, said it was "really cool" to have a relative representing her country, and the advice she had given her was to "just smash it". One person who knows more than most what it's like to represent Wales is Professor Laura McAllister, who made 24 appearances for her country between 1994 and 1998. Professor McAllister told Sky News that it was a "fabulous opportunity" to see Wales represented on the world stage. "I was at the Men's Euros last year, and of course, Wales weren't there, and that was quite painful. So this time I'm really excited about being there when my own nation is represented on the global stage," she said. The women's game in Wales has "come a long way" since she was representing her country, Professor McAllister's added. "We didn't have everything we needed to perform at the highest level, and there's still a journey to go" "Let's not get carried away, we don't have full equality between men's and women's football or the same opportunities for girls as we have for boys. "So we're very mindful that there's more work ahead, but for now, let's celebrate the important steps we've made on the journey."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pitch-sized mural of Wales star Fishlock unveiled
Jess Fishlock has 154 caps and 45 international goals to her name [Football Association Wales] A mural of Wales' record-breaking goal scorer Jess Fishlock has been unveiled. The tribute, which covers the playing area of a five-a-side football pitch in Splott, Cardiff, celebrates her impact on football, equality and representation. Advertisement It is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was showcased ahead of Wales' debut in Switzerland for Euro 2025 after the team qualified for a first major tournament in their history. The mural is designed by artist Regan Gilflin, and brought to life by UNIFY, the Welsh creative studio behind My City, My Shirt and the Gary Speed mural. Fishlock - who has 162 caps and 47 international goals to her name - has been called a footballing "icon" by Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson. She made history by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record during her team's 2-0 win over Kosovo during the Euro 2025 qualifier. Advertisement Last year the midfielder also accepted an Honorary Fellowship from Aberystwyth University. Fishlock made history last year by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record [Orchard Media] Fishlock, who was born in Cardiff, said she enjoyed sports as a child but her love for football developed at a Mia Hamm soccer camp in the city during the summer holidays. She previously said: "My older sister wanted to go to the camp and my mum said for me to go along with her. "I just loved it and my mum says from that moment I was like, 'I'm not doing anything else, this is what I want to do." She played for Cardiff City Ladies FC from the age of 15 then, at 19 while playing for Wales, Fishlock was approached to move to Holland to play professionally for AZ Alkmaar. Advertisement When the Women's Super League launched in 2011, she returned to the UK and joined Bristol and that year she was named the FAW's Women's Player of the Year. In 2012 she moved to Australia and joined Melbourne Victory before making her move to the US with Seattle Reign FC. She described the levels of the National Women's Soccer League as higher due to the "sheer intensity, physicality and mentality". In 2018 she received an MBE for services to women's football and the LGBT community. Fishlock has spoken openly about her sexuality, saying her experiences growing up made her determined to be a role model in the LGBT community, especially children, after high school was "hell on earth" for her. Advertisement In 2019, she celebrated helping Lyon win the French women's league then, in April 2024, became the first Welsh player to reach 150 caps.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Jess Fishlock mural unveiled in Cardiff for Wales star
A mural of Wales' record-breaking goal scorer Jess Fishlock has been tribute, which covers the playing area of a five-a-side football pitch in Splott, Cardiff, celebrates her impact on football, equality and is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was showcased ahead of Wales' debut in Switzerland for Euro 2025 after the team qualified for a first major tournament in their mural is designed by artist Regan Gilflin, and brought to life by UNIFY, the Welsh creative studio behind My City, My Shirt and the Gary Speed mural. Fishlock - who has 162 caps and 47 international goals to her name - has been called a footballing "icon" by Wales boss Rhian made history by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record during her team's 2-0 win over Kosovo during the Euro 2025 year the midfielder also accepted an Honorary Fellowship from Aberystwyth University. Fishlock, who was born in Cardiff, said she enjoyed sports as a child but her love for football developed at a Mia Hamm soccer camp in the city during the summer previously said: "My older sister wanted to go to the camp and my mum said for me to go along with her."I just loved it and my mum says from that moment I was like, 'I'm not doing anything else, this is what I want to do."She played for Cardiff City Ladies FC from the age of 15 then, at 19 while playing for Wales, Fishlock was approached to move to Holland to play professionally for AZ Alkmaar. When the Women's Super League launched in 2011, she returned to the UK and joined Bristol and that year she was named the FAW's Women's Player of the 2012 she moved to Australia and joined Melbourne Victory before making her move to the US with Seattle Reign described the levels of the National Women's Soccer League as higher due to the "sheer intensity, physicality and mentality".In 2018 she received an MBE for services to women's football and the LGBT has spoken openly about her sexuality, saying her experiences growing up made her determined to be a role model in the LGBT community, especially children, after high school was "hell on earth" for 2019, she celebrated helping Lyon win the French women's league then, in April 2024, became the first Welsh player to reach 150 caps.
ITV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Huge mural unveiled of Wales star Jess Fishlock in Cardiff ahead of Women's Euros
A huge pitch-sized mural of Wales legend Jess Fishlock has been unveiled to celebrate her impact on football, ahead of this summer's Euros tournament in Switzerland. The tribute to Wales' most-capped footballer and top goal-scorer is painted across a pitch in Splott Football Park, in the footballer's home city of Cardiff. It is the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was designed by Cardiff illustrator Regan Gilflin and brought to life by UNIFY, the studio behind the 'My City, My Shirt' and the Gary Speed murals in the capital. Fishlock, who is preparing for this summer's tournament, said: "It's just class. It's almost kind of emotional when you look at something like this being made in your country and in a place where, when I was a kid, playing football, this area in Splott is where we used to play our home games. "I spent years in that area playing football when I was a young girl. For this to have so much meaning, it is a little bit emotional." The Wales squad is training in Portugal ahead of their first game on July 5 against the Netherlands. Rhian Wilkinson's Wales side will then face France and defending champions England in the group stages of what is Wales' first ever major tournament appearance. A Football Association of Wales spokesperson said: "This incredible artwork by Regan Gilflin and UNIFY's Yusuf Ismail and Shawqi Hasson is a powerful tribute to one of Cymru's greatest ever players. As the first pitch mural of a female footballer in Europe, it stands as a landmark for visibility, belonging and pride, showing every child that they have a place in the game. 'The Cymru national team's higher purpose is, 'to play for change. To play to inspire. For Us. For Them. For Her.' Jess Fishlock lives that purpose, honouring the trailblazers who came before her, inspiring today's heroes and empowering future generations."
