The Voice Summer 2012

THE VOICE Y LLAIS EICH LLAIS EICH GÊM EICH GWLAD

YOUR VOICE YOUR GAME YOUR COUNTRY

#5 SUMMER 2012 HAF

FAW OFFICIAL MAGAZINE CYLCHGRAWN SWYDDOGOL CBDC

OUR WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER ‘We have a lot of very talented players in our squad and they are hungry for success.’

MAE EIN HYMGYRCH CWPAN Y BYD YN CYCHWYN FIS MEDI ‘Mae gennym ni lawer o chwaraewyr talentog yn ein carfan, a phob un yn dyheu am lwyddiant.’

Welcome to another edition of The Voice.

Here we are at the end of another eventful season in terms of the domestic campaign and that will be reflected in the magazine.

And within a few days the senior men’s team will be travelling to New York for a friendly game against Mexico. This will officially be Chris Coleman’s first game in charge and we wish him well. Chris reflects on his career to date and his hopes for the future in the current edition.

I would like to give a special mention to John Deakin, the Secretary of the Welsh Premier League who retires at the end of the current season. John has been a magnificent servant to Welsh football in his current role for over 20 years and, of course, before that was a top class referee. He is also a true gentleman and we all wish him well in the future. John looks back at his career at the FAW in this issue.

Last year as an association we were out and about during the summer months with our mobile unit visiting schools, festivals and events throughout Wales. We will be doing the same this year and, hopefully, you will have the opportunity to meet members of the FAW. We look forward to seeing you and, again, can I thank for your support on and off the pitch. It is always very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Jonathan Ford, Chief Executive Prif Weithredwr FA Wales CBD Cymru

Croeso i rifyn arall o’r Llais.

Dyma ni ar ddiwedd tymor arall cyffrous o ran yr ymgyrch ddomestig, cyffro a fydd yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn y cylchgrawn hwn.

Ymhen ychydig ddyddiau bydd tîm Chris Coleman yn teithio i Efrog Newydd i herio Mecsico mewn gêm gyfeillgar. Hon fydd gêm swyddogol gyntaf Chris wrth y llyw ac rydym yn dymuno pob lwc iddo. Yn y rhifyn hwn, bydd Chris yn adlewyrchu ar ei yrfa hyd yn hyn a’i obeithion ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Hoffwn hefyd ddweud gair neu ddau am John Deakin, Ysgrifennydd Uwch-gynghrair Cymru sy’n ymddeol ar ddiwedd y tymor. Mae John wedi cyfrannu’n helaeth at bêl-droed Cymreig yn ei rôl bresennol am dros 20 mlynedd, a chyn hynny roedd yn ddyfarnwr o’r radd flaenaf. Mae hefyd yn ŵr bonheddig ac rydym ni’n dymuno pob lwc iddo yn y dyfodol.

Yn y rhifyn hwn, bydd John yn hel atgofion am ei yrfa disglair gyda CBDC. Drwy gydol yr haf y llynedd roedd uned symudol y Gymdeithas ar grwydr yn ymweld ag ysgolion, gwyliau a digwyddiadau ar hyd a lled Cymru. Byddwn yn gwneud yr un peth eto eleni, a gobeithio y byddwch chi’n gallu dod i gwrdd ag aelodau o’r Gymdeithas.

Edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld ac unwaith eto, hoffwn ddiolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth, ar y cae ac oddi arno.

Rydym ni’n ei werthfawrogi’n fawr.

Diolch yn fawr.

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CONTENTS

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Acknowledgements/ Diolchiadau Editor/Golygydd Ian Gwyn Hughes Sub-Editor/Is-olygydd Ceri Stennett Contributors/Cyfranwyr Peter Barnes Paul Corkrey Rebecca Crockett Thomas Crockett John Deakin Robert Dowling Jonathan Ford Ian Gwyn Hughes Dave Jones Jarmo Matikainen James Rowberry Ceri Stennett Ben Thompson Photographers/Ffotograffwyr FAW Andrew Orchard Aneurin Venables Chris Howells David Lloyd Media Wales Propaganda Trinity Mirror North Wales Welsh Football Trust Contact us/Cysylltwch â ni FAW/CBDC On our new website/ ar ein gwefan newydd www.faw.org.uk 029 2043 5830 Design and production/ Dyluniwyd a chynhyrchwyd gan Peter Gill & Associates www.petergill.com First published Spring 2011.

All content copyright the Football Association of Wales.

Cyhoeddwyd am y tro cyntaf – gwanwyn 2011. Mae hawlfraint yr holl gynnwys yn perthyn i Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru.

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54

CYNNWYS

contents

cynnwys

05

05

Welcome

INTERNATIONAL (MEN)

RHYNGWLADOL (DYNION)

Wales v Costa Rica

12

Cymru v Costa Rica

40

Wales goes Stateside

43

Cymru yn croesi’r Iwerydd

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Football supporters federation FSF CYMRU

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Ffederasiwn Cefnogwyr Pêl-droed Cymru FSF CYMRU

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UEFA U19 Tournament 2013

ONE ON ONE 14

Chris Coleman in conversation

34

John Deakin looks back

HOME AND AWAY

46

Croeso

10

INTERNATIONAL (WOMEN)

40

03

06

National Football Centre

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Aberystwyth Town

30

Welsh International Football Photographer of the year 2011

44

Welsh Football Trust ‘Grassroots’ coaching conferences

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Taking Welsh women’s top football forward

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New multi-sport venue comes online

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Wales teams of the past

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Club season review 2011/12

FAW NEWS 60

St David’s Day parade

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‘Playing for Wales’ Welsh football exhibition

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FAW staff football team

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Schools visits

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‘Meet the Manager’ roadshows

RHYNGWLADOL (MERCHED) 28

Cystadleuaeth Dan 19 UEFA 2013

HOLI AC ATEB 18

Sgwrs gyda Chris Coleman

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John Deakin yn hel atgofion

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF 08

Canolfan Bêl-droed Genedlaethol

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Tref Aberystwyth

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Ffotograffydd Pêl-droed Rhyngwladol y Flwyddyn Cymru 2011

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Cynadleddau hyfforddi ‘Llawr Gwlad’ Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru

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Hybu pêl-droed Merched

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Canolfan chwaraeon aml-bwrpas yn y Gogledd

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Timau Cymru’r gorffennol

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Adolygu tymor y clybiau 2011/12

NEWYDDION CBDC 60

Gorymdaith Dydd Gŵyl Dewi

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‘Chwarae dros Gymru’ – Arddangosfa o Bêl-droed yng Nghymru

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Tîm Pêl-droed staff CBDC

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Ymweld ag Ysgolion

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Sioeau Teithio ‘Cwrdd â’r Rheolwr’

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

CROESO

welcome croeso

It is difficult to believe that another domestic season is coming to a close.

And it has been an eventful one to say the least.

Mae’n anodd credu bod tymor domestig arall ar fin dod i ben, ac mae wedi bod yn dymor cofiadwy i ddweud y lleiaf.

In a few days the men’s senior squad will be flying to the United States to play Mexico as part of their preparation for the World Cup qualifiers which start in September.

Mewn ychydig ddyddiau bydd tîm Chris Coleman yn hedfan i’r Unol Daleithiau i chwarae Mecsico, a hynny fel rhan o’u paratoadau ar gyfer gemau rhagbrofol Cwpan y Byd sy’n dechrau ym mis Medi.

The next few months will see members of the FAW out and about throughout Wales with the mobile unit. We will be visiting several schools, hosting roadshows with the national team managers Chris Coleman and Jarmo Matikainen, as well as visiting the major festivals.

Once again we will have a presence at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Penygroes, the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd and the National Eisteddfod in Cowbridge.

This is a magazine for the fans to keep you in touch with what is happening at all levels of Welsh football. If you would like to contribute or offer any ideas then don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

Enjoy the read and if you are travelling to New York have a great trip.

All the best, Ian.

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Dros y misoedd nesaf, bydd aelodau o CBDC yn teithio ar hyd a lled Cymru gydag uned symudol y Gymdeithas.

Byddwn yn ymweld â nifer o ysgolion, yn cynnal sioeau teithio gyda rheolwyr y timau cenedlaethol, Chris Coleman a Jarmo Matikainen, yn ogystal ag ymweld â’r prif wyliau.

Unwaith eto byddwn ni’n bresennol yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd ym Mhenygroes, Sioe Frenhinol Cymru yn Llanelwedd a’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn y Bont-faen.

Rydym ni’n cynhyrchu’r cylchgrawn hwn yn arbennig ar eich cyfer chi, y cefnogwyr, er mwyn rhoi gwybod i chi beth sy’n digwydd ar bob lefel yn y byd pêl-droed yng Nghymru. Os hoffech chi gyfrannu neu gynnig unrhyw syniadau, mae croeso i chi gysylltu. Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed gennych chi.

Gobeithio y byddwch chi’n mwynhau’r cynnwys ac os ydych chi’n teithio i Efrog Newydd, gobeithio y bydd hi’n daith i’w chofio!

Cofion gorau, Ian.

Ian Gwyn Hughes Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY

NATIONAL

FOOTBALL CENTRE

BY PETER BARNES

ARTIST’S IMPRESSION NATIONAL FOOTBALL CENTRE NEWPORT. ARGRAFF ARLUNYDD O’R GANOLFAN BÊL-DROED GENEDLAETHOL.

On 12th March 2012 the first turf was cut on the new National Football Centre at the Newport International Sports Village.

coaches.” Osian went on to say that “it is important for us, when talking about elite coaches and players, to have an elite facility.”

The National Football Centre, a £4.1 million venture funded jointly by the FAW, UEFA, FIFA, Sports Wales and Newport City Council, will provide Wales with a state of the art, purposebuilt facility offering first class training, playing, sports science and education facilities as well as a headquarters for the Welsh Football Trust and thus a home for the development of the beautiful game in Wales.

Wales manager Chris Coleman agrees, confirming that that he himself, as a player coming up through the ranks, would have benefited from such a facility. “The National Football Centre in Newport is a huge boost in developing the Giggs, Speeds, Bales, Bellamys, and Ramseys of the future. This is a top facility where a steady stream of top players will be developed. This centre further enhances the strength of current and future Wales squads.”

In outlining the importance of this venture, FAW technical director and Wales national first team coach Osian Roberts explains that “having a home where players can say ‘I’m part of Welsh football, part of the future of Welsh football’ can only help the younger Welsh players coming through, and likewise with the

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

Development is rapid. By April 2013 the first phase of the project will be completed, including the development of a premium grade Millennium Stadium-sized grass pitch, a new floodlit third generation pitch, and a second full size, top quality grass pitch for exclusive FAW

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

But development of the site won’t stop next April. This is an everevolving project that will continue to provide Welsh football with cuttingedge facilities. The potential to further develop the site has been central to the project from the start.

Future phases could include an indoor training barn, new fitness testing and performance facilities and creation of a mini stadium for 500 – 1,500 spectators overlooking the main pitch.

While this is an elite facility where the top names in Welsh football will ply their trade, the benefits are relevant to a far wider demographic. Chief Executive of the Welsh Football Trust, Neil Ward, explained that the National Football Centre will be available for community use, saying

that “both the top and bottom of the game will benefit from the new facilities installed”.

The 3G pitch will be managed by the local council, allowing use by local league teams. The centre will be the primary training and match facility for under-16s, under-17s, under-19s, women’s squads and disability squads. Similarly, all levels of coaching qualifications will be catered for from youth and grassroots coaching right up to UEFA Pro Licence.

There is no doubt that this type of facility is long overdue in Wales.

Countries like France, Holland, Germany and Spain have led the way with this type of initiative. Surely it’s no coincidence that these nations dominate European international football, and continue to develop some of the most exciting and technically gifted players and coaches in the world.

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use – fenced and irrigated. Alongside these an HQ building for the Welsh Football Trust with offices, changing rooms, multi-function lecture rooms and meeting and conference rooms.

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Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY

CANOLFAN BÊL-DROED GENEDLAETHOL GAN PETER BARNES

IAN RUSH PUTTING THE UNDER-16S THROUGH THEIR PACES. IAN RUSH YN HYFFORDDI’R CHWARAEWYR DAN 16.

Ar 12 Mawrth 2012, dechreuwyd ar y gwaith o ddatblygu’r Ganolfan Bêl-droed Genedlaethol newydd ym Mhentref Chwaraeon Rhyngwladol Casnewydd.

Bydd y Ganolfan, menter gwerth £4.1 miliwn sy’n cael ei hariannu ar y cyd gan CBDC, UEFA, FIFA, Chwaraeon Cymru a Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd, yn golygu bod gan Gymru gyfleuster pwrpasol o’r safon uchaf sy’n cynnwys cyfleusterau hyfforddi, chwarae, gwyddor chwaraeon ac addysg o’r radd flaenaf yn ogystal â phencadlys ar gyfer Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru. Bydd y ganolfan yn ganolbwynt ar gyfer datblygu’r gêm arbennig hon yng Nghymru.

Wrth amlinellu pwysigrwydd y fenter hon, meddai Cyfarwyddwr Technegol CBDC a hyfforddwr tîm cyntaf Cymru, Osian Roberts, “Bydd cael

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

cartref lle gall chwaraewyr ddweud ‘Rydw i’n rhan o bêl-droed Cymreig ac yn rhan o ddyfodol pêl-droed Cymreig’ yn siŵr o helpu’r chwaraewyr ifanc sy’n datblygu drwy’r rhengoedd, yn ogystal â’r hyfforddwyr.” Ychwanegodd Osian “Mae’n bwysig i ni, wrth drafod hyfforddwyr a chwaraewyr elît, fod gennym ni gyfleuster elît.”

Mae Rheolwr Cymru, Chris Coleman, yn cytuno gan gadarnhau y byddai ef ei hun, fel chwaraewr yn datblygu drwy’r rhengoedd, wedi elwa ar gyfleuster o’r fath. “Mae’r Ganolfan Genedlaethol yng Nghasnewydd yn hwb enfawr o ran datblygu chwaraewyr o safon Giggs, Speed, Bale, Bellamy a Ramsey ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae’n gyfleuster anhygoel a fydd yn sicrhau datblygiad ffrwd gyson o chwaraewyr talentog. Bydd y ganolfan hon yn hybu cryfder

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF carfannau presennol Cymru a charfannau’r dyfodol ymhellach.”

Mae’r fenter yn dod yn ei blaen yn gyflym. Erbyn mis Ebrill 2013, bydd cam cyntaf y prosiect wedi’i gwblhau, gan gynnwys y gwaith o ddatblygu cae chwarae glaswellt maint Stadiwm y Mileniwm, cae chwarae 3G newydd gyda llifoleuadau ac ail gae chwarae maint llawn o’r radd flaenaf i’w ddefnyddio gan CBDC yn unig - wedi’i ffensio a’i ddyfrhau. At hynny, bydd pencadlys Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru yn cael ei ddatblygu ar y safle a fydd yn cynnwys swyddfeydd, ystafelloedd newid, ystafelloedd darlithio amlbwrpas ac ystafelloedd cyfarfod a chynadledda.

Ond ni fydd y gwaith datblygu yn dod i ben fis Ebrill nesaf. Mae hwn yn brosiect a fydd yn parhau i esblygu a darparu cyfleusterau pêl-droed arloesol yng Nghymru.

Mae’r potensial i ddatblygu’r safle ymhellach wedi bod yn ganolog i’r prosiect o’r cychwyn cyntaf. Gall datblygiadau pellach yn y dyfodol gynnwys cyfleuster hyfforddi dan do, cyfleusterau newydd i brofi ffitrwydd a pherfformiad a stadiwm bach ar gyfer 500 - 1,500 o bobl yn edrych dros y prif faes chwarae.

Er mai cyfleuster elît yw hwn lle bydd sêr y byd pêl-droed yng Nghymru yn

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arddangos ac yn datblygu eu doniau, mae’r manteision yn berthnasol i ddemograffig llawer ehangach.

Eglurodd Prif Weithredwr Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru, Neil Ward, y bydd y Ganolfan Bêl-droed Genedlaethol ar gael i’w defnyddio gan y gymuned gan ychwanegu “bydd y gêm yn elwa ar y cyfleuster newydd ar bob lefel”.

Bydd y maes chwarae 3G yn cael ei reoli gan y cyngor lleol, ac yn golygu y bydd timau lleol yn gallu ei ddefnyddio. Y ganolfan fydd y prif gyfleuster hyfforddi a chwarae ar gyfer y timau dan 16, dan 17, dan 19, carfannau’r merched a charfannau anabl. Yn yr un modd, bydd modd ennill cymwysterau hyfforddi ar bob lefel, o hyfforddi ieuenctid ac ar lawr gwlad hyd at drwydded Pro Licence UEFA. Does dim dwywaith ei bod hi’n hen bryd i Gymru gael cyfleuster o’r fath.

Mae gwledydd megis Ffrainc, yr Iseldiroedd, yr Almaen a Sbaen wedi arwain y ffordd yn y maes hwn. Nid cyd-ddigwyddiad felly bod y gwledydd hyn yn dominyddu’r byd pêl-droed Ewropeaidd, ac yn parhau i ddatblygu rhai o’r chwaraewyr a’r hyfforddwyr mwyaf cyffrous a thalentog yn y byd.

FAW PRESIDENT PHIL PRITCHARD CUTS THE FIRST PIECE OF TURF. LLYWYDD CBDC, PHIL PRITCHARD, YN TORRI’R DYWARCHEN GYNTAF.

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INTERNATIONAL

A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE NIGHT– WALES V COSTA RICA

Wednesday 29th February was a night of firsts in Welsh football.

It was the first time that Wales had ever played a match on ‘leap-year’s day’, but also it was the first time an international side had been asked to go out and play in memory of their manager. The Gary Speed Memorial Match with Costa Rica was a special night for all concerned.

The Football Association of Wales, in conjunction with Gary’s family, had looked to make the game a celebration of the man’s life – as a player, manager and family man. The near-capacity crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium played their part fully, too, in an evening of entertainment, respect and football.

It had been agreed to have a bumper package of pre-match events to keep the fans entertained and to make the evening a real ‘gala’ occasion, and

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

those who performed did not disappoint. Super Furry Animals, Mike Peters, Bryn Terfel, the Risca Male Voice Choir, Only Men Aloud, 4th Street Traffic, the Barry Horns all did their bit before the game started, during the match and at half-time to make the evening a very special one.

At half-time, almost eighty former Wales international colleagues of Gary Speed took to the field to honour their former teammate and captain.

What a thrill to see players of the calibre of Mark Hughes, Neville Southall and Ryan Giggs at a Wales match once again. One of the former players, Matty Jones, had just completed a marathon in aid of some of Gary’s favourite charities, finishing at the Cardiff City Stadium. For those who like their boxing, Nathan Cleverly was also on hand after the latest successful defence of his WBO title.

RHYNGWLADOL GARY’S SONS ED AND TOMMY WITH CRAIG BELLAMY AND AARON RAMSEY BEFORE KICK-OFF.

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MEIBION GARY, ED A TOMMY, GYDA CRAIG BELLAMY AC AARON RAMSEY CYN Y GIC GYNTAF.

Before the game, Gary’s father Roger, together with Gary’s sons, Tommy and Ed, spoke to the Wales team in the dressing room. The two boys then acted as team mascots as they walked out with captain for the night, Craig Bellamy.

World Cup Final referee, Howard Webb, was on hand to officiate the game, but even he must have been amazed at how the pre-match minute’s applause for Gary just kept going and going – and no one seemed to mind.

The match was perhaps always likely to take second billing to the event itself, and so it proved. The visitors from Central America were a very well organised unit and treated the game in the correct fashion. It was, after all, an important warm-up game for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers too.

On the night, the Wales team was overseen by coach Osian Roberts, with new manager Chris Coleman taking something of a back seat.

Whilst the Wales team gave all they could on the night, it was clear to see how affected so many of them were by the circumstances of the game and it would have taken a hard man to have been critical of any of them.

A first-half strike from Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell after just seven minutes was the only goal of the night, though Wales came close on more than one occasion.

When the final whistle blew and the last chants of ‘Speedo’ had died away, fans went home, no doubt deep in their own thoughts about how strange, and sometimes cruel, life can be. One thing is for sure however, Gary Speed would want Wales to continue his work, on to greater heights than have ever been achieved before. Let us all hope that with your support Chris Coleman and his squad can make that happen. For one more time, let us say, Rest in Peace Gary Speed – Proud Welshman.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

ADLEWYRCHU AR NOSON FYTHGOFIADWY Roedd nos Fercher 29 Chwefror yn noson arbennig iawn yn hanes pêl-droed Cymru.

Dyma’r tro cyntaf i Gymru erioed chwarae gêm ar ‘ddiwrnod blwyddyn naid’, a dyma’r tro cyntaf hefyd i’r tîm cenedlaethol orfod chwarae er cof am eu rheolwr. Roedd Gêm Goffa Gary Speed yn erbyn Costa Rica yn achlysur arbennig i bawb a oedd yn rhan o’r digwyddiad.

NATHAN CLEVERLY WITH GARY’S SONS AND FATHER ROGER. MATTY JONES AFTER COMPLETING HIS MARATHON. NATHAN CLEVERLY GYDA MEIBION A THAD GARY. MATTY JONES AR ÔL CWBLHAU EI FARATHON.

Ymdrechodd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, law yn llaw â theulu Gary, i wneud yn siŵr bod y gêm yn ddathliad teilwng o fywyd y gŵr arbennig – fel chwaraewr, rheolwr a dyn teuluol. Yn wir, fe gyfrannodd y dorf at yr achlysur hefyd, a hynny mewn noson o adloniant, parch a phêl-droed yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd, a oedd bron dan ei sang.

Y nod oedd trefnu gwledd gyfoethog o ddigwyddiadau er mwyn diddanu’r dorf a chreu awyrgylch llawn hud, ac

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

ni chawsom ein siomi gan y perfformwyr a oedd yn cynnwys y Super Furry Animals, Mike Peters, Bryn Terfel, Côr Meibion Rhisga, Only Men Aloud, 4th Street Traffic, a’r Barry Horns.

Yn ystod hanner amser, daeth bron i wythdeg o gyn-gydweithwyr rhyngwladol Gary Speed ar y cae i dalu teyrnged i’w cyfaill. Roedd hi’n brofiad gwefreiddiol gweld chwaraewyr o safon Mark Hughes, Neville Southall a Ryan Giggs yn un o gemau Cymru unwaith yn rhagor.

Roedd un o’r cyn-chwaraewyr, Matty Jones, newydd redeg marathon i godi arian at rai o hoff elusennau Gary, gan orffen yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd. I’r rheiny sy’n hoffi bocsio, roedd y pencampwr WBO, Nathan Cleverly, hefyd wrth law i dalu teyrnged.

Cyn y gêm, aeth tad Gary, Roger, ynghyd â’i feibion, Tommy ac Ed, i siarad â thîm Cymru yn eu hystafell

RHYNGWLADOL

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CYMRU V COSTA RICA newid. Yna, ymddangosodd y ddau fachgen fel masgots ar gyfer y tîm a cherdded ar y cae gyda’r capten am y noson, Craig Bellamy. Roedd y dyfarnwr, Howard Webb, wrth law i oruchwylio’r gêm, a does dim dwywaith ei fod wedi’i synnu at weld y gymeradwyaeth i Gary yn para’n llawer hirach na’r funud a glustnodwyd, a doedd dim gronyn o ots gan unrhyw un!

Roedd hi’n anochel y byddai’r gêm yn dod yn ail i’r digwyddiad ei hun, ac yn wir, felly y bu. Roedd yr ymwelwyr yn garfan gadarn, ac roedd eu dull a’u chwarae yn gwbl briodol o dan yr amgylchiadau, wedi’r cyfan, roedd y gêm hon yn rhan bwysig o’u paratoadau ar gyfer gemau rhagbrofol Cwpan y Byd. Ar y noson, Osian Roberts oedd wrth y llyw, tra’r oedd y rheolwr newydd, Chris Coleman, yn hapus i gamu’n ôl am y tro.

Er bod chwaraewyr Cymru wedi gwneud eu gorau glas ar y noson,

roedd hi’n glir bod yr achlysur a’r amgylchiadau wedi effeithio’n fawr ar lawer ohonynt, a byddai wedi cymryd dyn calon-galed iawn i fod yn feirniadol ohonynt. Daeth unig gôl y gêm gan Joel Campbell o dîm Costa Rica ar ôl saith munud, er y daeth Cymru’n agos sawl gwaith.

Pan ddaeth y chwiban olaf a thawelodd y bloeddiadau o ‘Speedo’, fe aeth y cefnogwyr gartref, llawer ohonynt yn meddwl yn ddwys am ba mor rhyfedd a chreulon y mae bywyd yn gallu bod. Mae un peth yn sicr fodd bynnag, byddai Gary Speed am i dîm Cymru barhau â’i waith caled a chyrraedd uchelfannau nad ydynt erioed wedi’u troedio o’r blaen. Dyma obeithio, gyda’ch cefnogaeth chi, y gall Chris Coleman a’i garfan wireddu’r freuddwyd honno. Felly unwaith eto, gadewch i ni ddweud Cysga’n Dawel Gary Speed – Cymro i’r Carn.

OUR ANTHEM SINGER COURTENAY HAMILTON. CLAYTON BLACKMORE AND MARK HUGHES. CANTORES YR ANTHEM GENEDLAETHOL, COURTENAY HAMILTON. CLAYTON BLACKMORE A MARK HUGHES.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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ONE ON ONE

HUNGRY FOR

SUCCESS Chris Coleman in conversation with Ian Gwyn Hughes

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

IGH Thanks for taking the time to speak to The Voice. You have been in the post now for a couple of months.

How have you found things?

CC Busy. Very busy although we have

only played the one game and I wasn’t really that involved against Costa Rica. But I have been busy travelling all over Wales taking part in school visits and doing roadshows.

I have been to primary and secondary schools and have visited places like Ton Pentre, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Holyhead and Bangor. It is very important to get out and about and meet the Welsh public and the general football supporter. I have been watching plenty of football at all levels. From the Premier League in England to the Welsh Premier matches at Bangor and Port Talbot.

I have to say the reception I have received throughout Wales has been brilliant.

IGH How proud are you of being Welsh manager?

CC Very proud. It was my proudest

moment in football when I became the manager but obviously the circumstances were all wrong. Gary was one of my best friends and I was, like everyone else, devastated with the news of his death. I came across him first of all as an eleven-year-old when I played for Swansea schools and he was playing for Deeside. And, of course, we spent hours with each other on Wales duty. He was doing a fantastic job with Wales. He was just a fantastic person.

Since then I have spent time with his parents, Roger and Carol. They came down to stay with me for a week and I hope I helped them in a small way.

But now I am the manager I have to carry on and build on the foundations laid by Gary during his short time in charge.

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‘We play a fine brand of football, the players are comfortable playing that way, they obviously enjoy it and are familiar with it.’

IGH You don’t have long. Only two friendly matches and then the first qualifier against Belgium in September.

CC That’s right. We go to New York

at the end of May and then we play Bosnia in August. I will not be changing many things. We play a fine brand of football, the players are comfortable playing that way, they obviously enjoy it and are familiar with it. That is how I want to play.

But as I have said before there may be a few changes in terms of training and preparation. I am not Gary. I am my own man. I will stamp my own authority on the squad, I will do things my own way with hopefully the same results.

IGH You have brought Kit Symons into the backroom team. What can Kit bring to the post?

CC Kit is a great guy and has been

a great friend of mine for years. But that is not why I brought him in.

He is highly thought of at Fulham looking after the under-18s and they were reluctant at first to allow him to join up with the set-up. But I have huge respect for him as a person and a coach. He is someone I can trust, discuss things with and bounce ideas off. The players will like and respond to him. He has played international football for Wales of course and at the top level of club football. Osian Roberts of course worked with Gary and Raymond. I have been very impressed with Osian.

AGAINST COSTA RICA. YN ERBYN COSTA RICA.

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S

HOLI AC ATEB

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

16

ONE ON ONE

CHRIS IN ACTION AGAINST NORWAY 2000.

CHRIS WRTH EI WAITH YN ERBYN NORWY 2000.

The players rate him highly and he is an excellent coach. We have a very strong backroom team but of course I am the manager.

IGH. Talking of being a manager, you have spoken a great deal in the past about the perception about your record as a manager.

CC Yes I have. What was the word

that was used about me? It was chequered I think. Well I was at the time the youngest ever manager in the Premier League. I kept Fulham up, took them into the top ten.

In Spain with Real Sociedad we were doing really well, challenging at the top when there was a change of president. We did not see eye to eye.

Coventry maybe was a mistake. I made mistakes, I admit to that, but so did many other people around me.

And my last job in Greece was going well on the field. We were second in

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the league but the problems behind the scenes were incredible. I was not paid, the players were not being paid, and the staff were not being paid either. In the end enough was enough. I resigned before there was any news about the Welsh job.

IGH If we can just touch briefly on club football. You started your career at Swansea City. What do you think of what has been achieved there?

CC It is absolutely fantastic. It is so

different to the Swansea City I knew, the club I supported as a boy and, of course, played for. They play a fantastic brand of football; they have a fine team on the field but also a fine team behind the scenes.

The board has been astute in their managerial appointments. I know everyone talks about Brendan, Paulo and Roberto but it was Kenny Jackett who gained promotion, indeed very

HOLI AC ATEB

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‘As Welsh manager I want to see all the Welsh clubs, at whatever level do well. That improves the standard of the game here in Wales generally and increases the interest and the profile and image of the game.’

nearly a double promotion. I know the brand of football was different but he got the Swans moving in the right direction. This season they have been magnificent and deserve all the plaudits they get.

But of course as Welsh manager I want to see all the Welsh clubs, at whatever level do well. That improves the standard of the game here in Wales generally and increases the interest and the profile and image of the game. At national level we then need to take advantage of that factor in terms of boosting attendances at the international matches. Wherever we play we should be filling the stadiums. That is why as I said earlier it is so important I visit all parts of Wales; that is the clubs and schools.

IGH Finally, the World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September. What are your thoughts on the group?

CC It’s a tough, competitive group but one we could qualify from. It is important we start well. In terms of preparation on and off the field we have to be ready for the first game against Belgium. As well as the Belgians, the Serbs, Croats, Scots and Macedonia under John Toshack will all be hard to beat. But they will be thinking the same about us. Everyone talks about Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey but we have a lot of very talented players in our squad. They are hungry for success.

I have said all along that I cannot make any promises. I cannot sit here and tell you that we will qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil. What I can say is that we will be doing our very best to ensure we are successful.

Working hard and being honest.

IGH Thanks Chris.

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ONE ON ONE

CHRIS COLEMAN YN SGWRSIO AG IAN GWYN HUGHES

CHRIS WITH SHIRT. CHRIS GYDA CHRYS CYMRU.

IGH Diolch am gymryd yr amser i siarad gyda Y Llais. Rwyt ti wedi bod wrthi ers cwpwl o fisoedd erbyn hyn.

Sut mae’n mynd?

CC Prysur. Prysur iawn, er ein bod ni

dim ond wedi chwarae un gêm a wnes i ddim cymaint â hynny gyda’r gêm yn erbyn Costa Rica. Ond rydw i wedi bod yn brysur iawn yn teithio i bob cwr o Gymru yn ymweld ag ysgolion a gwneud y sioeau teithio. Rydw i wedi bod mewn ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd ac wedi ymweld â lleoedd fel Ton Pentre, Abertawe, Aberystwyth, Caergybi a Bangor.

Mae’n bwysig iawn i fi fynd allan a chyfarfod â’r cyhoedd a’r cefnogwyr pêl-droed. Rydw i wedi bod yn gwylio digonedd o bêl-droed ar bob lefel.

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O Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr i gemau Uwch-gynghrair Cymru ym Mangor a Phort Talbot. Mae’n rhaid i mi ddweud i mi gael croeso anhygoel ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

IGH Pa mor falch wyt ti o gael rheoli Cymru?

CC Rwy’n hynod falch. Uchafbwynt

fy ngyrfa pêl-droed oedd cael fy ngwneud yn Rheolwr Cymru, ond yn amlwg, roedd yr amgylchiadau’n erchyll. Gary oedd un o’m ffrindiau pennaf, ac fel pawb arall, fe dorrais i fy nghalon pan fu farw. Fe gwrddon ni gyntaf yn un ar ddeg oed, a finnau’n chwarae i ysgolion Abertawe ac yntau’n chwarae i Lannau Dyfrdwy. Ac wrth gwrs, fe dreulion ni

HOLI AC ATEB oriau gyda’n gilydd ar ddyletswydd i Gymru. Roedd e’n gwneud jobyn ffantastig gyda Chymru. Roedd e’n berson ffantastig, mae mor syml â hynny.

Ers hynny, rydw i wedi treulio amser gyda’i rieni, Roger a Carol. Daethon nhw i aros gyda fi am wythnos ac rwy’n gobeithio fy mod i wedi eu helpu nhw mewn ffordd fach. Ond fi yw’r Rheolwr nawr ac mae’n rhaid i mi adeiladu ar y seiliau a osodwyd gan Gary yn ystod ei gyfnod wrth y llyw.

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ymddiried ynddo, trafod ag e’ a thaflu syniadau ato. Bydd y chwaraewyr yn ei hoffi ac yn ymateb yn dda iddo.

Wrth gwrs, mae wedi chwarae pêl-droed rhyngwladol i Gymru ac wedi chwarae ar y lefel uchaf. Roedd Osian Roberts wrth gwrs yn gweithio gyda Gary a Raymond. Mae Osian wedi creu cryn argraff arna’ i ac mae e’n hyfforddwr rhagorol. Mae gennym ni dîm cryf iawn y tu cefn i ni, ond wrth gwrs, fi yw’r Rheolwr.

IGH Nid oes llawer o amser gen ti.

Dim ond dwy gêm gyfeillgar ac yna’r gêm ragbrofol gyntaf yn erbyn Gwlad Belg ym mis Medi.

CC Ie wir. Rydym ni’n mynd i Efrog

Newydd ddiwedd mis Mai ac yna rydym ni’n chwarae Bosnia ym mis Awst. Fydda i ddim yn newid rhyw lawer. Rydym ni’n chwarae brand da o bêl-droed, mae’r chwaraewyr yn gyfforddus gyda hynny, mae’n amlwg eu bod yn ei fwynhau ac maent yn gyfarwydd ag ef. Dyna sut yr ydw i eisiau chwarae. Ond fel yr wyf i wedi’i ddweud o’r blaen, mae’n bosibl y bydd yna ambell beth yn newid o ran hyfforddi a pharatoi. Nid Gary ydw i.

Rwy’n berson fy hun. Byddaf yn rhoi stamp fy awdurdod fy hunan ar y garfan, byddaf yn gwneud pethau yn fy ffordd fy hunan, ac rwy’n gobeithio y cawn ni’r un canlyniadau.

CC Mae Kit yn grêt ac wedi bod yn

ffrind mawr i fi ers blynyddoedd. Ond nid dyna’r rheswm pam y mae e’ wedi ymuno â ni. Mae e’n uchel ei barch yn Fulham, yn gyfrifol am y tîm dan 18, ac i ddechrau, roedden nhw’n gyndyn iawn o ganiatáu iddo fe ymuno â ni.

Ond mae gen i barch enfawr tuag ato, fel dyn ac fel hyfforddwr. Galla’ i

IGH A sôn am reoli, rwyt ti wedi siarad yn aml yn y gorffennol am y canfyddiad o dy record di fel rheolwr.

CC Ydw. Beth oedd y gair a oedd yn

cael ei ddefnyddio i fy nisgrifio i?

Chequered dwi’n meddwl. Wel, ar y pryd, fi oedd y rheolwr ifancaf erioed yn yr Uwch-gynghrair. Fe gadwais i Fulham i fyny, fe es i â nhw i’r deg uchaf.

CHRIS AND KIT MAKE THE SEMI-FINAL DRAW FOR THE WELSH CUP. CHRIS A KIT YN TYNNU’R ENWAU O’R HET AR GYFER ROWND GYN-DERFYNOL CWPAN CYMRU.

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IGH Rwyt ti wedi dod â Kit Symons i’r tîm. Pa gyfraniad sydd gan Kit i’w wneud?

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ONE ON ONE

CHRIS TRAINING THE SQUAD. CHRIS YN HYFFORDDI’R GARFAN.

Yn Sbaen gyda Real Sociedad, roeddem ni’n gwneud yn dda iawn, gan herio’r rheiny ar y brig. Yna daeth Llywydd newydd a doedd e’ a fi ddim yn gweld llygad yn llygad. Coventry – efallai fod hynny’n gamgymeriad.

Fe wnes i gamgymeriadau, dwi’n cyfaddef, ond fe wnaeth llawer o’r bobl o’n nghwmpas i gamgymeriadau hefyd.

Roedd fy swydd ddiwethaf yng Ngwlad Groeg yn mynd yn dda iawn ar y cae. Roeddem ni’n ail yn y gynghrair, ond roedd yna broblemau di-ri yn y cefndir. Doeddwn i ddim yn cael fy nhalu, doedd y chwaraewyr ddim yn cael eu talu, doedd y staff ddim yn cael eu talu. Yn y diwedd, digon oedd digon. Fe ymddiswyddais i cyn i mi glywed unrhyw beth am swydd Cymru.

IGH Gad i ni sôn yn gyflym am bêl-droed clwb. Dechreuais di dy

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yrfa yn Ninas Abertawe. Beth yw dy farn di am yr hyn sydd wedi’i gyflawni yno?

CC Mae’n hollol ffantastig. Mae mor

wahanol i’r Dinas Abertawe yr oeddwn i’n ei hadnabod, y clwb yr oeddwn i’n ei gefnogi pan oeddwn i’n fachgen ac wrth gwrs y clwb y chwaraeais i iddo. Maent yn chwarae’n anhygoel; mae ganddyn nhw dîm gwych ar y cae ac y tu ôl i’r llenni hefyd.

Mae’r bwrdd wedi bod yn graff iawn gyda’u penodiadau rheoli. Rwy’n gwybod bod pawb yn sôn am Brendan, Paulo a Roberto ond Kenny Jackett oedd yr un a sicrhaodd ddyrchafiad – yn wir, bron iddo fe sicrhau dyrchafiad dwbl. Rwy’n gwybod bod y pêl-droed yr oedden nhw’n chwarae yn wahanol, ond fe wnaeth e’n siŵr bod yr Elyrch yn symud i’r cyfeiriad cywir. Y tymor

HOLI AC ATEB

hwn, maen nhw wedi bod yn wych ac maen nhw’n haeddu pob clod.

Ond wrth gwrs, fel Rheolwr Cymru, rydw i am weld holl glybiau Cymru, ar bob lefel, yn gwneud yn dda. Mae hynny’n gwella safon y gêm yma yng Nghymru ac yn cynyddu diddordeb yn y gêm, ac yn hybu’i phroffil a’i delwedd. Ar lefel genedlaethol, mae angen i ni fanteisio ar y ffactor hwnnw o ran hybu’r gynulleidfa yn y gemau rhyngwladol. Lle bynnag yr ydym ni’n chwarae, dylai’r stadiwm fod yn llawn. Dyna pam, fel y dywedais i’n gynharach, ei bod hi mor bwysig i fi ymweld â phob cwr o Gymru; er mwyn cael gweld y clybiau a’r ysgolion.

IGH Yn olaf, mae’r ymgyrch ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd yn dechrau ym mis Medi. Beth yw dy farn di am y grŵp?

CC Mae’n grŵp anodd a chystadleuol, ond fe allwn ni gyrraedd y rowndiau

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terfynol. Mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n cael dechrau da. O ran paratoi ar y cae ac oddi arno, mae’n rhaid i ni fod yn barod ar gyfer y gêm gyntaf yn erbyn Gwlad Belg. Yn ogystal â Gwlad Belg, bydd Serbia, Croatia, yr Alban a Macedonia dan arweinyddiaeth John Toshack oll yn anodd eu curo. Ond fe fyddan nhw’n meddwl yr un peth amdanom ni. Mae pawb yn siarad am Gareth Bale ac Aaron Ramsey ond mae gennym ni lawer o chwaraewyr talentog yn ein carfan. Maen nhw’n dyheu am lwyddiant.

Rydw i wedi dweud a dweud na alla’ i wneud unrhyw addewidion. Alla’ i ddim eistedd fan hyn a dweud y byddwn ni’n cyrraedd Cwpan y Byd ym Mrasil. Ond fe alla’ i ddweud heb flewyn ar dafod y byddwn ni’n gwneud ein gorau glas i lwyddo. Drwy waith caled a gonest.

IGH Diolch Chris.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

22

HOME AND AWAY

On the face of it Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town FC has had a difficult season.

EVEN THE BAD TIMES ARE GOOD

BY THOMAS CROCKETT

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN V AFAN LIDO. TREF ABERYSTWYTH V AFAN LIDO.

After spending the majority of 2011/12 in the bottom three, the Black and Greens finished the season with four wins out of five which ensured a last day reprieve from relegation. Club Media Director Thomas Crockett explains: “On the field there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s been a very disappointing season for the first team. We hoped to have assembled a side to challenge in the top six, but it didn’t quite work out like that.” A shock home defeat to Cefn Druids in the Welsh Cup quarter-final led to the club parting company with manager Alan Morgan at the end of February.

However, 2011/12 was a season to remember for plenty of good reasons too. The experienced Tommi Morgan returned to the club to fill the void,

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

and he and his assistant manager Ian Hughes finally masterminded Welsh Premier League survival with a 3-2 win over Newtown on 21st April.

Local mainstays such as evergreen defender Aneurin Thomas, combative Sion James, and exciting winger Geoff Kellaway were joined in the squad by recognised Welsh Premier big hitters Steve Cann in goal and centre back Wyn Thomas. There is also a wealth of Football League experience, including Michael Howard, who spent a number of years at left back for Swansea City, legendary Tranmere midfielder Andy Parkinson, and ex-Sunderland star Sean Thornton, whose performances in the centre of the park have consistently been a high point for supporters.

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

Emyr Jones’ youth side has performed admirably in the inaugural Welsh Premier under- 19s’ League while the club’s Academy, ran by David Hinton-Jones and Gari Lewis, has this year provided no less than three 16-year-olds who have graduated to, and impressed at national as well as WPL level over the past six months.

Aberystwyth Town Ladies Football Club has become an integral part of the club since it hosted the first ever Welsh Women’s Premier League game in September 2009. This season manager Ray Hughes inspired them to a best ever position in the Welsh Women’s Premier League, currently standing second in the Northern Conference, after a last day defeat to champions Wrexham.

To improve links with the supporters, the club now has endorsed social networking sites on Facebook (‘Green Army’) and Twitter (@AberystwythTown), run by Supporters Liaison Officer Jacob Hughes Pickering, and their weekly nomination for supporters’ Man of the Match has become a highlight on the club website www.atfc.org.uk, maintained by Media Officer James Edwards.

A new book outlining the history of the club between 1960-2010 was

published in January. Written by David Pugh, who made 472 appearances as a player for the club between 1969 and 1987, the fascinating read was entitled Aberystwyth Town Football Club 1960-2010: The Fall and Rise, and sold out in the town’s bookshops within days of its release.

Off the field the club retained its domestic and UEFA licences and the welcoming hospitality at Park Avenue, personified by on-site caterers Phil and Ruth Thomas, is renowned throughout Wales. This season the club was delighted to host an FAW roadshow with Chris Coleman, the FAW Trophy semifinals and final, the Welsh Premier League Cup Final, and Welsh Cup semi-final, not to mention local finals such as the Emrys Morgan Cup. At a difficult economic time, thanks in large part to the fantastic generosity shown by the club’s local sponsors, the club’s accounts show that it broke even over the past three years, and club chairman Tony Bates remains extremely positive about the future. “We have something very precious at this club. People seem to like coming here and appreciate the fantastic work the directors, staff and volunteers put in for the club. You will always get a smile when you visit Park Avenue.”

TOMMI MORGAN

They say every cloud has a silver lining and, in fact, Aber’s dramatic 77th minute winner against Newtown earned the club an unexpected eighth placed finish, bringing with it the prospect of the UEFA Europa League play-offs, depending on the outcome of the Welsh Premier League’s Licensing Appeals Panel on 27th April. The Black and Greens are, once again, daring to dream.

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“The club’s support has been absolutely superb. You find out who your true supporters are when you are down the bottom, and they have been so loyal, home and away this year. Matthew Wallace wrote an article in which one of our student supporters, Chris Heffernan, said he would happily swap a First for three points for Aber, which sums it up really. We invited supporters into the last home game against Newtown for free, to show our appreciation, and over 600 turned up,” says Crockett.

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Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

24

HOME AND AWAY

DAW ETO HAUL AR FRYN Byddai rhai yn dweud bod tymor CPD Tref Aberystwyth wedi bod yn un cythryblus.

GAN THOMAS CROCKETT

Ar ôl treulio y rhan fwyaf o 2011/12 ar waelod y tabl, llwyddodd y clwb i orffen y tymor gyda phedair buddugoliaeth allan o bump, ac osgoi disgyn i’r gynghrair oddi tano.

Meddai Cyfarwyddwr Cyfryngau CPD Aberystwyth, Thomas Crockett: “Ar y cae, does dim dianc rhag y ffaith bod y tîm cyntaf wedi cael tymor siomedig iawn. Roddem ni wedi gobeithio ffurfio tîm a fyddai’n ddigon cryf i gyrraedd y chwech uchaf, ond nid felly y bu.” Ar ôl y sioc o golli gartref yn erbyn y Derwyddon Cefn yng Nghwpan Cymru, ffarweliodd y clwb â’i reolwr, Alan Morgan, ddiwedd mis Chwefror.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN V AIRBUS UK. TREF ABERYSTWYTH V AIRBUS UK.

Fodd bynnag, roedd 2011/12 yn dymor i’w gofio am nifer o resymau da hefyd. Dychwelodd y rheolwr profiadol, Tomi Morgan, i’r clwb i lenwi’r bwlch, a law yn llaw â’i is-reolwr, Ian Hughes, gwnaeth yn siŵr bod Aber yn aros yn Uwchgynghrair Cymru gyda buddugoliaeth o 3-2 yn erbyn y Drenewydd ar 21

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Ebrill. Ymunodd y gôl-geidwad Steve Cann a’r canolwr cefn Wyn Thomas, dau o fawrion Uwch-gynghrair Cymru, â charfan a oedd eisoes yn cynnwys selogion lleol megis Aneurin Thomas, Sion James a Geoff Kellaway. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae’r garfan yn gyfoeth o brofiad gan gynnwys Michael Howard, a dreuliodd nifer o flynyddoedd yn amddiffyn i Ddinas Abertawe, canolwr enwog Tranmere Andy Parkinson, a chyn seren Sunderland, Sean Thornton.

“Mae’r cefnogwyr wedi bod yn anhygoel. Pan ydych chi lawr yn y gwaelod, dyna pryd ydych chi’n dysgu pwy yw eich cefnogwyr go iawn, ac maent wedi bod yn ffyddlon iawn eleni, gartref ac oddi cartref. Mewn erthygl a ysgrifennwyd gan Matthew Wallace dywedodd Chris Heffernan, un o’n cefnogwyr sy’n astudio yn y brifysgol, y byddai’n ddigon hapus i gyfnewid gradd dosbarth cyntaf am dri phwynt gwerthfawr yn y gynghrair, ac mae hynny’n dweud y cwbl. Er mwyn dangos i’r cefnogwyr cymaint yr ydym ni’n eu gwerthfawrogi, cawsant wahoddiad i gêm gartref olaf y tymor yn erbyn y Drenewydd yn rhad ac am ddim, a daeth dros 600 o gefnogwyr i’r gêm.” meddai Crockett.

Mae bechgyn ifanc Emyr Jones wedi perfformio’n arbennig yn nhymor cyntaf Uwch-gynghrair Dan 19 Cymru ac eleni mae Academi’r clwb, dan ofal David Hinton-Jones a Gari Lewis, wedi cynhyrchu tri chwaraewr 16 oed sydd wedi datblygu i’r lefel nesaf i’w

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

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gwlad ac yn y Gynghrair dros y chwe mis diwethaf, ac wedi creu cryn dipyn o argraff.

Mae Clwb Pêl-droed Merched Tref Aberystwyth wedi dod yn rhan annatod o’r clwb ers cynnal y gêm gyntaf erioed yn Uwch-gynghrair Merched Cymru ym mis Medi 2009.

Y tymor hwn, cafodd y merched eu hysbrydoli i gyrraedd eu safle gorau eto yn Uwch-gynghrair Merched Cymru gan eu rheolwr Ray Hughes.

Er mwyn gwella cysylltiadau â’r cefnogwyr, mae’r clwb wedi datblygu tudalennau rhwydweithio cymdeithasol ar Facebook (‘Green Army’) a Twitter (@AberystwythTown), a hynny dan ofal Swyddog Cyswllt Cefnogwyr y clwb, Jacob Hughes Pickering. At hynny, mae enwebiadau ‘Man of the Match’ wythnosol y cefnogwyr wedi dod yn dipyn o uchafbwynt ar wefan y clwb www.atfc.org.uk, diolch i Swyddog Cyfryngau CPD Aberystwyth, James Edwards.

Cymru a rownd gynderfynol Cwpan Cymru, heb son am rowndiau terfynol lleol megis Cwpan Emrys Morgan.

SOME HAPPY ABER FANS IN THE RAIN AT PARK AVENUE. RHAI O GEFNOGWYR HAPUS ABER YN Y GLAW YNG NGHOEDLAN Y PARC.

Ym mis Ionawr, cyhoeddwyd llyfr newydd yn amlinellu hanes y clwb rhwng 1960 a 2010. Ysgrifennwyd y gyfrol hynod ddiddorol, sy’n dwyn y teitl Aberystwyth Town Football Club 1960-2010: The Fall and Rise, gan David Pugh, a ymddangosodd i’r clwb 472 o weithiau rhwng 1969 a 1987. Profodd y llyfr i fod mor boblogaidd fel ei fod wedi gwerthu allan ym mhob un o siopau llyfrau’r dre o fewn dyddiau i’w gyhoeddi.

Er gwaetha’r hinsawdd economaidd sydd ohoni, diolch yn bennaf i haelioni noddwyr lleol, mae’r cyfrifon yn dangos fod y clwb wedi llwyddo i gadw ei ben uwchlaw’r dŵr dros y tair blynedd diwethaf, ac mae Cadeirydd y clwb, Tony Bates, yn parhau i fod yn gadarnhaol iawn am y dyfodol: “Mae gennym ni rywbeth gwerthfawr iawn yn y clwb hwn. Mae pobl yn mwynhau dod yma ac yn gwerthfawrogi’r gwaith gwych y mae’r cyfarwyddwyr, y staff a’r gwirfoddolwyr yn ei wneud yma.

Byddwch chi wastad yn cael eich croesawu â gwen yng Nghoedlan y Parc.”

Oddi ar y cae, llwyddodd y clwb i ddal gafael ar ei drwydded ddomestig a’i drwydded UEFA ac mae’r croeso sydd i’w gael yng Nghoedlan y Parc, diolch yn bennaf i’r arlwywyr Phil a Ruth Thomas, yn enwog ledled Cymru.

Y tymor hwn, cafodd y clwb y fraint o gynnal un o sioeau teithio CBDC gyda Chris Coleman, rowndiau cynderfynol a rownd derfynol Tlws CBDC, Rownd Derfynol Cwpan Uwch-gynghrair

Ac mae CPD Aberystwyth yma o hyd!

Roedd gôl ddramatig ar ôl 77 munud yn erbyn y Drenewydd yn ddigon i gipio wythfed safle annisgwyl i’r clwb, sy’n golygu y gall y clwb gyrraedd gemau ail gyfle Cynghrair Europa UEFA, gan ddibynnu ar ganlyniad Panel Apeliadau Trwyddedu Uwchgynghrair Cymru ar 27 Ebrill. Mae’r gwŷr mewn gwyrdd a du yn barod i freuddwydio unwaith eto!

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

WALES WELCOMES EUROPE

BY REBECCA CROCKETT

We are all familiar with images of the Euros – crowds of face-painted fans wrapped in their national flags, thronging the streets and filling decorated stadiums, a ubiquitous tournament mascot, and, of course, Europe’s best football teams putting in some jaw-dropping performances on the pitch in a bid to be champions.

1. LIBERTY STADIUM. 2. BREWERY FIELD. 3. RICHMOND PARK. 4. NEW BRIDGE MEADOW. 5. PARC Y SCARLETS. 6. STEBONHEATH PARK.

Most of us will have watched this on TV rather than experiencing it first-hand, but this could soon change, as the Euros are coming to Wales in August 2013! Okay, we may not be hosting the senior men’s competition yet, but the women’s under-19 Euro finals are run on the same principles by UEFA and will allow Europe and the world to see the

welcome Wales can provide, as well as giving Welsh fans chance to see the stars of the future on home soil and be a part of this festival of football.

The south-west of Wales has been chosen as the host region for next year’s tournament for a number of reasons. An important factor from UEFA’s and the teams’ points of view is the distance between venues. We wanted to make sure that the matches take place at quality venues without excessive travel for the teams involved, and also to keep the venues close enough for the host region to embrace the event and get on board with promoting the tournament, and, in turn, the region. Swansea will be the hub of the tournament due to the

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RHYNGWLADOL

The tournament match venues will be Richmond Park in Carmarthen, Bridge Meadow in Haverfordwest, the Brewery Field in Bridgend, Stebonheath Park and Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, and the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. Almost all of these venues and clubs have previously hosted women’s international matches, and shown their support to the women’s game in Wales. While Swansea is also the home of Wales’ representatives in the women’s Champions’ League for the last two years, Swansea City Ladies. The home

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of FA Premier League Swansea will make an ideal showpiece venue for the prestigious opening match and tournament final. Work is progressing, not only to make sure that a successful tournament can be staged in south-west Wales, but also to ensure that the legacy continues beyond the tournament. Ground improvement work has begun at both Richmond Park, where Carmarthen Town FC will benefit from a new dressing room block, and at Stebonheath Park, where doping control facilities will be improved in line with UEFA regulations.

As well as this legacy of bricks and mortar, the tournament presents countless opportunities to encourage more people to get involved in football on and off the pitch. If you are interested in getting involved, or increasing your involvement in football, now is the perfect chance, as numerous volunteering opportunities across many different roles will be available in the lead up to and during the tournament, as well as after the tournament when the aim will be to continue the momentum and enthusiasm in the host communities and wider area.

During the tournament, fifteen matches (sometimes four on the same day!), across six venues, over thirteen days, will need to be staffed by teams of stewards, caterers, ground staff, press officers, first-aiders, PA announcers, ball kids, mascots, liaison officers, programme sellers, and so on, so clearly a great deal of manpower will be needed! At least sixty cars and drivers will be needed to get tournament personnel, referees and UEFA representatives to where they need to be. Believe it or not, at least 9,860 litres of water will be drunk by the players taking part in the tournament during their stay, and they will dirty around 2,000 sets of kit, so somebody needs to ensure the

1. STADIWM LIBERTY. 2. BREWERY FIELD. 3. PARC WAUN DEW. 4. NEW BRIDGE MEADOW. 5. PARC Y SCARLETS. 6. PARC STEBONHEATH.

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hotel infrastructure the city can provide, and match and training venues will stretch to the east and west, covering the areas of Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire. We hope that the visiting teams will be followed by fans taking the opportunity to enjoy a summer holiday on the Welsh coast while supporting their teams.

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INTERNATIONAL water is delivered and kit collected to keep things going! As these examples show, the tournament itself is a giant operation. Let’s not forget promoting the tournament. The more people spreading the word, and, of course, the more fans at the stadiums, the better the tournament will be. The record attendance to date at a single match during the UEFA women’s under-19 tournament is 8,000 (Macedonia, 2010). Let’s see if we can top this, and show our young players just how proud we are of them to be competing among Europe’s best.

If you are interested in getting involved in the UEFA women’s under-19 championship in Wales in August 2013 or would like to find out more, please come along to one of our roadshows, taking place monthly in the tournament areas (see www.faw.org.uk for details), or contact Rebecca Crockett at rcrockett@faw.co.uk or on 029 2043 5840.

Bydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom ni wedi gwylio’r cyfan yn digwydd ar y teledu yn hytrach na’i weld gyda’n llygaid ein hunain, ond gall hyn newid yn fuan iawn gan fod y gemau yn dod i Gymru ym mis Awst 2013! Efallai nad ydym ni eto yn cynnal pencampwriaeth y dynion, ond mae UEFA yn cynnal Rowndiau Terfynol Merched Dan 19 Ewrop ar yr un egwyddor, a bydd yn gyfle i Gymru ddangos i Ewrop a gweddill y byd cystal croeso sydd i’w gael yma. Bydd hefyd yn rhoi’r cyfle i gefnogwyr Cymru weld sêr y dyfodol ar eu tir eu hunain a bod yn rhan o’r wledd hon o bêl-droed.

Dewiswyd rhanbarth de-orllewin Cymru i gynnal y gystadleuaeth flwyddyn nesaf am nifer o resymau.

Un ffactor pwysig o safbwynt UEFA a’r timau yw’r pellter rhwng pob lleoliad. Roeddem ni am wneud yn siŵr bod y gemau’n cael eu cynnal mewn lleoliadau o safon heb i’r timau orfod teithio’n bell. Roeddem ni hefyd am sicrhau bod y lleoliadau’n ddigon agos fel bod y rhanbarth yn cofleidio ac yn croesawu’r digwyddiad, ac yn cyfrannu at hyrwyddo’r gystadleuaeth ac, yn ei dro, y rhanbarth.

Cymru yn croesawu Ewrop GAN REBECCA CROCKETT

Mae pob un ohonom ni’n gyfarwydd â’r delweddau o bencampwriaethau Ewrop - neu’r ‘Euros’. Cefnogwyr yn eu miloedd yn gwisgo’u lliwiau a’u baneri cenedlaethol gyda balchder, rhai hyd yn oed yn paentio’u hwynebau ar gyfer yr achlysur. Mae’r strydoedd yn berwi o’u bwrlwm wrth iddynt heidio i’r meysydd chwarae lliwgar i wylio rhai o dimau pêl-droed gorau Ewrop yn arddangos eu doniau a gwneud eu gorau glas i gipio coron Ewrop.

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Abertawe fydd canolbwynt y bencampwriaeth oherwydd yr arlwy o westai sydd ar gael yn y ddinas. Bydd lleoliadau hyfforddi wedi’u gwasgaru i’r dwyrain a’r gorllewin, gan gynnwys ardaloedd Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Sir Gaerfyrddin a Sir Benfro. Rydym ni’n mawr obeithio y bydd y cefnogwyr oddi cartref yn manteisio ar y cyfle i fwynhau gwyliau haf ar arfordir Cymru wrth ddod i gefnogi eu timau.

Bydd y gemau’n cael eu cynnal ym Mharc Waun Dew, Caerfyrddin,

RHYNGWLADOL Bridge Meadow yn Hwlffordd, Brewery Field ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Parc Stebonheath a Pharc y Scarlets yn Llanelli a Stadiwm Liberty yn Abertawe. Mae bron i bob un o’r lleoliadau a’r clybiau hyn wedi cynnal gemau merched rhyngwladol yn flaenorol, ac yn parhau i gefnogi’r gêm yng Nghymru. Mae Abertawe hefyd yn gartref i dîm Merched Dinas Abertawe, sydd wedi cynrychioli Cymru yng Nghynghrair y Pencampwyr (Champions’ League) am y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Bydd cartref Clwb Abertawe, sydd bellach yn chwarae yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr, yn cynnig llwyfan godidog ar gyfer cynnal y gêm agoriadol bwysig a’r rownd derfynol.

Mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo nid yn unig i sicrhau bod modd cynnal cystadleuaeth lwyddiannus yn Ne-orllewin Cymru, ond hefyd i sicrhau bod yr ardal yn parhau i elwa ymhell wedi i’r digwyddiad ddod i ben. Mae gwaith wedi dechrau ar wella maes Parc Waun Dew, lle bydd CPD Tref Caerfyrddin yn elwa ar ystafelloedd newid newydd sbon a maes Parc Stebonheath, lle bydd cyfleusterau rheoli cyffuriau yn cael eu gwella yn unol â rheoliadau UEFA. Yn ogystal â’r etifeddiaeth strwythurol, mae’r gystadleuaeth yn cynnig nifer o gyfleoedd i annog mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan mewn pêldroed, ar y cae ac oddi arno. Os oes gennych chi ddiddordeb mewn cymryd rhan mewn pêl-droed, neu gyfrannu mwy at y gêm, dyma’r cyfle perffaith! Bydd nifer o gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli ar gael ar draws amrywiaeth o wahanol feysydd, a hynny wrth baratoi ar gyfer y bencampwriaeth, wrth i’r gystadleuaeth fynd rhagddi ac wedi i’r cyfan ddod i ben er mwyn ceisio cynnal y momentwm a’r brwdfrydedd yn y cymunedau sy’n cynnal y gystadleuaeth a thu hwnt.

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Bydd gofyn i ni recriwtio timau o stiwardiaid, arlwywyr, staff maes, swyddogion y wasg, swyddogion cymorth cyntaf, cyhoeddwyr PA, codwyr peli (ball kids), masgots, swyddogion cyswllt, gwerthwyr rhaglenni ac yn y blaen, ac felly bydd angen sawl par o ddwylo arnom ni!

Bydd angen o leiaf 60 o geir a gyrwyr i gludo personél, dyfarnwyr a chynrychiolwyr UEFA o un lle i’r llall.

Credwch neu beidio, bydd o leiaf 9,860 litr o ddŵr yn cael ei yfed gan y chwaraewyr a byddant yn maeddu tua 2,000 cit, felly bydd angen rhywun i sicrhau bod y dŵr yn cael ei ddosbarthu a’r citiau’n cael eu casglu er mwyn cadw popeth i fynd! Mae’r gystadleuaeth yn ddigwyddiad enfawr, heb son am y gwaith o’i hyrwyddo. Ac felly po fwyaf o bobl sy’n lledaenu’r gair, ac, wrth gwrs, po fwyaf o gefnogwyr sy’n llenwi pob stadiwm, y mwyaf llwyddiannus fydd y gystadleuaeth! 8,000 yw’r record bresennol ar gyfer nifer y cefnogwyr mewn un gêm yn ystod cystadleuaeth merched dan 19 UEFA (Macedonia, 2010). Beth am i ni geisio rhagori ar hyn, a dangos i’n chwaraewyr ifanc pa mor falch ydym ni ohonynt wrth iddynt gystadlu ymhlith y gorau yn Ewrop.

Os oes gennych chi ddiddordeb mewn cymryd rhan ym Mhencampwriaeth Merched Dan 19 UEFA ym mis Awst 2013, neu os hoffech wybod mwy, dewch i un o’n sioeau teithio sy’n cael eu cynnal bob mis yn yr ardaloedd a fydd yn rhan o’r gystadleuaeth (ewch i www.faw.org.uk i gael rhagor o fanylion), neu cysylltwch â Rebecca Crockett drwy anfon e-bost at rcrockett@faw.co.uk neu ffonio 029 2043 5840.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

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ORCHARD LIFTS VAUXHALL WELSH PHOTOGRAPHY CROWN Freelance photographer Andrew Orchard has been crowned the inaugural Welsh International Football Photographer of the Year by the Wales team sponsor Vauxhall.

The title of Vauxhall Wales Best Individual Photograph went to Andrew Couldridge, of the Action Images agency, for his shot of Gareth Bale celebrating his goal against Switzerland in October.

The two winners both receive a winner’s cheque of £500 and keep the respective titles for a year.

Chris Hornbuckle, Vauxhall Head of Sponsorship, said: “The judging panel was tremendously impressed by the stunning quality of the imagery which has been entered.

“Without a doubt, all the entrants captured the passion, commitment, intensity and excitement displayed in Welsh football.

“Wales enjoyed an excellent set of results in 2011 and have risen significantly in the FIFA world rankings. Our entries reflect that success story throughout.

“These awards do not solely focus on the senior men’s team but reflect and celebrate age group and women’s international football and we are delighted to say that this full spectrum of international football has been reflected in our entries.

“Vauxhall are committed to strengthening and developing our

relationships with all sections of the media and this competition is an important way in which we can highlight and reward the football photography profession for the excellent work they undertake and which is not always fully recognised by everyone within the game.

PORTRAIT OF CRAIG BELLAMY. LLUN O CRAIG BELLAMY.

“Our intention with these awards is to celebrate and reward the art of football photography.

“We have been truly overwhelmed and stunned by the quality of the entrants and the substantial interest our awards have created within the photography profession.

“The standard of entrants in Welsh international football was exceptional. Andrew was a very worthy winner with an excellent portfolio which conveyed the excitement, drama and passion of Welsh football.”

Each winner received a £500 first prize and each national winner was entered into the Vauxhall Home Nations Photographer of the Year award alongside the Scottish, Northern Irish and English winners.

The overall Vauxhall Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year went to The Mail on Sunday’s Mark Pain who received the use of a Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, SRI Ecoflex, 1.7 CDTI (125ps) car for one year.

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Orchard claimed the title of Vauxhall Wales Football Photographer of the Year after submitting a portfolio which the judging panel described as ‘capturing the very essence of international football’.

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HOME AND AWAY

ORCHARD YN CIPIO’R WOBR GYNTAF YNG NGHYSTADLEUAETH FFOTOGRAFFIAETH VAUXHALL CYMRU Y ffotograffydd llawrydd, Andrew Orchard, a oedd yn fuddugol yng nghystadleuaeth gyntaf Ffotograffydd Pêl-droed Rhyngwladol y Flwyddyn Cymru, wedi’i ddewis gan noddwr tîm Cymru, Vauxhall.

Cipiodd Orchard deitl Ffotograffydd Pêl-droed y Flwyddyn Vauxhall Cymru ar ôl cyflwyno portffolio a oedd, yn ôl y panel beirniadu, yn ‘ymgorffori hanfod pêl-droed rhyngwladol’.

Andrew Couldridge, o asiantaeth Action Images, ddaeth yn fuddugol yn y categori Ffotograff Unigol Gorau Vauxhall Cymru, a hynny am ddelwedd o Gareth Bale yn dathlu ei gôl yn erbyn y Swistir ym mis Hydref.

Mae’r ddau enillydd wedi cael siec o £500 ac yn cadw’r teitlau am flwyddyn.

Meddai Chris Hornbuckle, Pennaeth Nawdd Vauxhall: “Roedd y panel o feirniaid wedi’u siomi ar yr ochr orau gydag ansawdd anhygoel y delweddau a ddaeth i law.

“Heb os nac oni bai, mae’r holl ffotograffwyr wedi llwyddo i gyfleu angerdd, ymrwymiad, tanbeidrwydd a chyffro pêl-droed Cymru.

“Llwyddodd Cymru i sicrhau canlyniadau gwych yn 2011 ac maent wedi dringo’n uwch ar restr FIFA. Mae’r ffotograffau a ddaeth i law yn adlewyrchu’r llwyddiant hwnnw drwyddynt draw.

“Nid yw’r gwobrau hyn yn canolbwyntio’n unig ar dîm y dynion.

Maent hefyd yn dathlu pêl-droed

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rhyngwladol merched a’r gwahanol grwpiau oedran, ac mae’n bleser gennym fod yr ystod gyfan o bêldroed yng Nghymru wedi’i chynrychioli yn y gystadleuaeth hon.

“Mae Vauxhall wedi ymrwymo i atgyfnerthu a datblygu’r berthynas gyda’r cyfryngau ac mae’r gystadleuaeth hon yn ffordd bwysig o dynnu sylw at y proffesiwn ffotograffiaeth pêl-droed, a’i wobrwyo, am y gwaith anhygoel y mae’n ei wneud nad yw bob amser yn cael y sylw haeddiannol.

“Nod y gwobrau hyn yw dathlu a gwobrwyo celfyddyd ffotograffiaeth pêl-droed.

“Rydym wedi ein synnu gan ansawdd y cystadleuwyr a’r diddordeb brwd a gafwyd gan y proffesiwn ffotograffiaeth.

“Roedd safon y gwaith yng nghystadleuaeth Pêl-droed Rhyngwladol Cymru yn anhygoel.

Roedd Andrew yn enillydd teilwng dros ben a chanddo bortffolio rhagorol a oedd yn cyfleu cyffro, drama ac angerdd pêl-droed yng Nghymru.”

Cafodd pob enillydd wobr o £500, ac yna roedd enillwyr y pedair gwlad yn cystadlu yn erbyn ei gilydd am deitl Ffotograffydd Gwledydd Cartref y Flwyddyn Vauxhall.

Enillydd cyffredinol Ffotograffydd Gwledydd Cartref y Flwyddyn Vauxhall oedd Mark Pain o’r Mail on Sunday a gafodd Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, SRI Ecoflex, 1.7 CDTI (125ps) i’w ddefnyddio am flwyddyn.

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

PORTRAIT OF GARETH BALE.

The shortlist for the Vauxhall Wales Photographer of the Year 2011/Dyma’r rhestr fer ar gyfer Ffotograffydd y Flwyddyn 2011 Vauxhall Cymru: Andrew Orchard Andy Couldridge James Benwell

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LLUN O GARETH BALE.

Freelance/Llawrydd Action Images Action Images

The shortlist for the Vauxhall Wales Individual Photograph of the Year 2011/Dyma’r rhestr fer ar gyfer Ffotograff Unigol y Flwyddyn 2011 Vauxhall Cymru: Mike Egerton Andy Couldridge Andrew Matthews

Press Association Action Images Press Association

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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ONE ON ONE

John Deakin looks back...

When I set off from my home in Llantwit Major to referee at Oxford United one Saturday in the autumn of 1991, little did I know that it was a day that would change my life.

I was 47 years old, had served in the Royal Air Force for 31 years and was in my twelfth season as a Football League referee. One of my linesmen that day was Paul Brown from Merthyr and during the pre-match conversation he asked if I had seen the advertisement in the Western Mail by the FAW, for a Secretary for the League of Wales. I applied for the job which attracted significant interest and after being offered the post duly walked into the Westgate Street office in April of 1992, the Western Mail proclaiming ‘Deakin takes over Welsh football’s hot seat’.

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HOLI AC ATEB

Another manager, who left an indelible mark was Gary Barnett, who presided over the most successful years of Barry Town, who were League champions six times in seven seasons between 1995 and 2003, finishing runners-up to, the then, Total Network Solutions in 1999/2000. Barry became the first club in the new league to go ‘fulltime’, with a lot of support from their local authority. What a team they were boasting and entertaining the likes of Dinamo Kiev and Aberdeen at Jenner Park and being the first of our clubs to progress through two rounds of UEFA competition in the 1995/1996 season.

There then followed a period six seasons that saw three clubs, Total Network Solutions/The New Saints, Llanelli and Rhyl vying for League glory, with TNS winning three League

titles and twice finishing runners-up during the period, while Rhyl won the League twice and finished runners-up on two occasions during the period.

Llanelli won their one championship in the 2007/2008 season but were three times runners-up. The sequence of domination by these three excellent clubs was broken last season when Bangor City won their third Welsh Premier League title.

‘It’s imperative that spectators are provided with a comfortable and safe environment in which to watch games.’

It was indeed fitting that the famous old club won the title in front of their own fans at a stadium that had hosted many memorable matches in its long history. But, as we know, City has now moved to their new stadium at Nantporth, which is a facility that they and the League can be proud of.

Grounds have improved significantly throughout the League, but there is still some way to go. It’s imperative that spectators are provided with a comfortable and safe environment in which to watch games. I visited all of the then 20 grounds and was appalled by the generally poor standard of facilities. We’ve come a long way since and thanks to investment over the past 20 years from the Football Trust, the Football Foundation and the FAW through Welsh Ground Improvements, grounds are almost unrecognisable to those that I visited in 1992. We now need to identify areas where any future grant aid should be targeted, with a particular area of concern being the inconsistency of playing surfaces.

JOHN DEAKIN THE REF. JOHN DEAKIN Y DYFARNWR.

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I was well aware of the controversy that the FAW’s decision to set up the LoW had caused. So when the 20 clubs played the first fixtures on Saturday 15th August 1992 it was like embarking on a new adventure. The League had received a timely boost prior to the big kick-off, when Swansea-based Konica Peter Llewellyn agreed to be our main sponsor for the first three seasons.

After an exciting first season it was Cwmbran Town who were crowned champions and were accepted by UEFA into the European Champions Cup, drawing Cork City and going out on the ‘away goals’ rule. It was Bangor City that dominated the next two seasons, twice winning the championship under Nigel Adkins.

His departure from Bangor certainly did not adversely affected his career as he looks likely to take Southampton into the English Premier League at the end of the season.

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ONE ON ONE

JOHN DEAKIN WITH CUP. JOHN DEAKIN YN GAFAEL MEWN CWPAN.

The other two most significant developments in my opinion during my tenure as Secretary are the introduction of club licensing and the restructuring of the League at the start of the 2010/2011 season. Club licensing has resulted in wide-ranging improvements, particularly the greater financial control of clubs, which is an evolving process and further measures will be made in the future in an effort to assist clubs to enhance their financial management.

The requirement for head coaches to hold a UEFA Pro Licence and for Academies to be overseen by UEFA- qualified coaches is a development of which we can be justly proud. The introduction of the so-called Super 12 has also, by general consent, made the League more competitive and adds interest throughout the season and into the play-offs that decide which club joins the League winners and runners-up in UEFA competitions. This has proved attractive to our broadcasting partner S4C, which affords the League superb coverage throughout the season. It has also proved attractive to sponsors, with Corbett Bookmakers committing to the League for a period of three years at the start of the current season.

There’s still a great deal to be done and I am confident that my successor, Gwyn Derfel, who has worked with me over recent months, will rise to the challenge and take the Welsh Premier League to a new level of success. He will certainly have the support of FAW Chief Executive, Jonathan Ford and the vibrant staff that we have in the Association, with whom it has been a pleasure to work.

The recent launch of the FAW Strategy was, in my opinion, a watershed and if the recommendations therein are

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implemented it will doubtless be of benefit to all stakeholders in Welsh football.

As I approach the end of what for me has been an immensely enjoyable period of my life, I can only wish the League and the FAW every success in the future, that will hopefully see the national team under the excellent Chris Coleman qualify for a major tournament and the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League continue to build on the progress made over the past 20 years.

John Deakin

HOLI AC ATEB

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John Deakin yn hel atgofion...

Roeddwn yn 47 mlwydd oed, wedi gwasanaethu yn yr Awyrlu Brenhinol ers 31 mlynedd ac yn fy neuddegfed tymor fel dyfarnwr yn y Gynghrair Bêl-droed. Y diwrnod hwnnw, un o’r llinellwyr oedd Paul Brown o Ferthyr ac wrth i ni sgwrsio cyn y gêm, gofynnodd i mi a oeddwn wedi gweld yr hysbyseb gan CBDC yn y Western Mail, yn chwilio am Ysgrifennydd ar gyfer Cynghrair Cymru (LoW). Fe wnes gais am y swydd, ac er bod cryn dipyn o ddiddordeb yn y swydd, roeddwn i’n llwyddiannus. Cyrhaeddais y swyddfa ar Heol y Porth ym mis Ebrill 1992, gyda’r Western Mail yn datgan ‘Deakin takes over Welsh football’s hot seat’.

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Pan adewais fy nghartref yn Llanilltud Fawr i ddyfarnu gêm yn Oxford United un dydd Sadwrn yn ystod hydref 1991, prin iawn y gwyddwn y byddai’n ddiwrnod a fyddai’n newid fy mywyd.

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ONE ON ONE

SPONSORSHIP LAUNCH FOR THE WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE WITH PRINCIPALITY BUILDING SOCIETY 2006.

LANSIO CYMDEITHAS ADEILADU PRINCIPALITY FEL NODDWYR UWCH-GYNGHRAIR CYMRU 2006.

Roeddwn yn gwbl ymwybodol o’r ymryson a fu am benderfyniad dadleuol CBDC i sefydlu’r LoW. Felly, pan aeth yr 20 clwb ati i chwarae eu gemau cyntaf ddydd Sadwrn 15 Awst 1992, roedd hi’n teimlo fel ein bod ni’n dechrau ar antur fawr. Cafodd y Gynghrair hwb cyn y chwiban gyntaf, wrth i Konica Peter Llewellyn, a oedd yn seiliedig yn Abertawe, gytuno i fod yn brif noddwr ar gyfer y tri thymor cyntaf. Ar ôl tymor cyntaf cyffrous, Tref Cwmbrân a oedd yn fuddugol ac fe’u derbyniwyd gan UEFA i Gwpan Pencampwyr Ewrop, gan chwarae yn erbyn Dinas Cork a cholli yn sgil y rheol ‘golau oddi cartref ’. Dinas Bangor a oedd ar y brig am y ddau dymor nesaf, gan ennill y bencampwriaeth ddwywaith dan arweinyddiaeth Nigel Adkins. Ni wnaeth gadael Bangor unrhyw ddrwg i’w yrfa, gan ei bod erbyn hyn yn edrych yn debygol y bydd yn arwain Southampton i Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr ar ddiwedd y tymor.

Rheolwr arall a adawodd ei ôl oedd Gary Barnett, a oedd yn llywyddu yn

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ystod blynyddoedd mwyaf llwyddiannus Tref y Barri, a oedd yn bencampwyr ar y Gynghrair chwe gwaith mewn saith mlynedd rhwng 1995 a 2003, gan ddod yn agos ar sodlau’r Total Network Solutions, fel y’u gelwir ar y pryd, yn 1999/2000.

Y Barri oedd y clwb cyntaf yn y Gynghrair i fynd yn ‘llawn amser’, gyda llawer o gefnogaeth gan eu hawdurdod lleol. Dyna beth oedd tîm anhygoel, yn chwarae timau fel Dinamo Kiev ac Aberdeen ym Mharc Jenner, Nhw oedd y cyntaf o’n clybiau i fynd drwy ddau rownd o gystadleuaeth UEFA yn nhymor 1995/1996.

Yna, cafwyd cyfnod o chwe thymor lle gwelwyd tri chlwb, Total Network Solutions/The New Saints (Y Seintiau Newydd), Llanelli a’r Rhyl yn brwydro am y gorau, gyda TNS yn ennill y teitl deirgwaith ac yn dod yn ail ddwywaith. Enillodd y Rhyl y Gynghrair ddwywaith, a dod yn ail ddwywaith yn ystod y cyfnod.

Enillodd Llanelli’r bencampwriaeth yn 2007/2008 ond daethant yn ail

HOLI AC ATEB deirgwaith. Daeth teyrnasiad y tri chlwb rhagorol hyn i ben tymor diwethaf wrth i Fangor ennill Uwch-gynghrair Cymru am y trydydd tro.

Roedd yn briodol bod yr hen glwb enwog wedi ennill y teitl o flaen eu cefnogwyr eu hunain mewn stadiwm a oedd wedi gweld llawer o gemau cofiadwy yn ystod ei hanes hir. Ond fel y gwyddwn, mae Dinas Bangor bellach wedi symud i’w stadiwm newydd yn Nantporth, sy’n gyfleuster y gallan nhw, a’r Gynghrair, fod yn falch ohono. Mae’r meysydd chwarae wedi gwella’n sylweddol drwy’r Gynghrair, ond mae lle i wella eto.

Mae’n hanfodol bod y dorf yn cael gwylio’r gêm mewn amgylchedd cyfforddus a diogel. Yn y dechrau, fe es i i ymweld â phob un o’r 20 o feysydd chwarae a oedd yna ar y pryd ac roedd yn gas gen i weld safon wael y cyfleusterau. Rydym wedi cymryd camau breision ers hynny a diolch i fuddsoddiad dros yr ugain mlynedd diwethaf gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed, y Sefydliad Pêl-droed a CBDC drwy gyfrwng menter Gwella Meysydd Chwarae Cymru, mae’r meysydd chwarae bellach yn wahanol iawn i’r rhai yr es i i ymweld â hwy ym 1992. Mae angen i ni yn awr nodi meysydd sydd angen i ni dargedu arian grant tuag atynt. Mae anghysondeb yr arwynebau chwarae yn un o’r pethau sy’n peri pryder.

Y ddau ddatblygiad mwyaf sylweddol arall yn ystod fy nghyfnod fel Ysgrifennydd oedd cyflwyno’r broses o drwyddedu clybiau ac ailstrwythuro’r Gynghrair ddechrau tymor 2010/2011. Mae trwyddedu’r clybiau wedi esgor ar amrywiaeth o welliannau, yn enwedig mwy o reolaeth ariannol. Mae hon yn broses sy’n esblygu a bydd camau pellach yn cael eu cymryd yn y dyfodol er mwyn helpu clybiau i wella’u prosesau rheoli ariannol. Mae’r gofyniad i brif

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hyfforddwyr feddu ar Drwydded Pro UEFA ac i Academïau gael eu goruchwylio gan hyfforddwyr â chymwysterau UEFA yn ddatblygiad y dylem fod yn falch ohono.

Cydnabyddir yn gyffredin bod cyflwyno’r Super 12 bondigrybwyll wedi gwneud y Gynghrair yn fwy cystadleuol ac yn meithrin diddordeb drwy gydol y tymor hyd at y gemau ail gyfle (play-off) sy’n pennu pa glwb a fydd yn ymuno â phencampwyr y Gynghrair yng nghystadlaethau UEFA. Mae hyn wedi denu sylw ein partner darlledu, S4C, sy’n rhoi sylw gwych i’r Gynghrair drwy gydol y tymor. Mae hefyd wedi denu noddwyr, gyda Corbett Bookmakers yn ymrwymo i’r Gynghrair am gyfnod o dair blynedd ddechrau’r tymor presennol.

Mae llawer o waith i’w wneud o hyd ac rwy’n hyderus y bydd fy olynydd, Gwyn Derfel, sydd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda mi dros y misoedd diwethaf, yn ateb yr her a thywys Uwch-gynghrair Cymru i lefel uwch fyth o lwyddiant. Yn sicr, bydd ganddo gefnogaeth Prif Weithredwr CBDC, Jonathan Ford, a staff egnïol y Gymdeithas. Mae wedi bod yn bleser cael gweithio gyda hwy. Yn fy marn i, roedd lansio Strategaeth CBDC yn ddiweddar yn drobwynt allweddol ac os caiff ei hargymhellion eu gweithredu, bydd yn fantais i holl randdeiliaid pêl-droed Cymru.

Wrth i mi ddyfod tuag at ddiwedd cyfnod sydd wedi bod yn un arbennig iawn yn fy mywyd i, dyma ddymuno pob llwyddiant i’r Gynghrair ac i CBDC yn y dyfodol. Rwy’n mawr obeithio y gwelwn ni’r tîm cenedlaethol yn cyrraedd cystadleuaeth o bwys dan arweinyddiaeth ragorol Chris Coleman, ac y bydd Uwch-gynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru yn parhau i adeiladu ar y cynnydd a wnaed dros John Deakin yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

WALES GOES

States METLIFE STADIUM WITH A MATCH IN PROGRESS. STADIWM METLIFE YN EI HOLL OGONIANT.

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

RHYNGWLADOL

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On Sunday 27th May 2012, Chris Coleman’s team will venture across the Atlantic to play Mexico in a friendly international.

It will be the second time that Wales has played in the USA. Almost nine years ago to the day, Mark Hughes’s team played the USA at Spartan Field, San Jose on the West Coast and lost 2-0 to a strong American side.

This time, Wales will face Mexico, who are tuning-up for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with a series of matches around the USA against various opponents. They have already met Venezuela in Houston and Columbia in Miami.

After the match with Wales, they play Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago four days later, before a final match with Brazil in Arlington (Texas) on June 3rd.

side

As you might expect, there are millions of Mexicans who live and work in the USA, so these matches will be very much ‘home games’ for the team in green and indeed, a sell-out crowd is expected for the match with Wales on that Sunday afternoon (kick-off is 3pm EST).

H

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TUDALEN 42

WALES V USA 2003.

CYMRU V UDA 2003.

THE MEXICAN TEAM.

TÎM MECSICO.

METLIFE STADIUM.

STADIWM METLIFE.

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The setting for the match is impressive too (this is America!). The MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is not far from New York itself and was formerly known as the New Meadowlands Stadium. It is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League (American Football that is) and has hosted many other major sporting events as well as their fair share of rock concerts.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

The stadium has a capacity of 82,500 and the playing surface is usually artificial, however for this game real turf will be laid. The stadium is accessible via exit 16W on the western spur of the New Jersey Turnpike. Coach USA provides a regular service to the stadium from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and there are regular rail links from Penn Station (in Manhattan once again) too. So, Wales’ fans visiting the ‘Big Apple’ should have no difficulties in getting to and from the stadium.

The match will be a very important one for Chris Coleman and his team. It will be the only end-ofseason friendly and the players will be in camp for some ten days, including the trip to the USA. After that game, there will be one more friendly – with Bosnia-Herzegovina – in August prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifiers in September.

For the record, Wales and Mexico have met twice before. The first time came in the finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden when the sides fought out a 1-1 draw – Ivor Allchurch scoring for Wales. They met again in May 1962 when Wales stopped off on the way home from two games in Brazil to play in Mexico City. It proved an experience in every way, as a mild earthquake hit the city whilst the Wales team was preparing! A fairly physical game at the University Stadium saw Wales winger Cliff Jones sent off as the visitors lost 2-1, John Charles getting the late consolation goal.

So, a chance after fifty years to set the record straight as far as Wales is concerned and the trip of a lifetime for those fans lucky enough to be going.

RHYNGWLADOL

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Cymru yn croesi’r Iwerydd

Ddydd Sul, 27 Mai 2012, bydd tîm Chris Coleman yn croesi’r Iwerydd er mwyn chwarae Mecsico mewn gêm ryngwladol gyfeillgar.

Dyma fydd yr ail dro i Gymru chwarae yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Mae bron i naw mlynedd yn union ers i dîm Mark Hughes wynebu UDA ar Spartan Field, San Jose ar Arfordir y Gorllewin. Colli 2-0 i dîm cryf America fu eu hanes y diwrnod hwnnw.

Y tro hwn, bydd Cymru yn wynebu Mecsico, sydd wrthi’n paratoi ar gyfer gemau rhagbrofol Cwpan y Byd gyda chyfres o gemau ledled UDA yn erbyn amrywiol wrthwynebwyr. Maent eisoes wedi chwarae Venezuela yn Houston a Columbia yn Miami.

Bedwar diwrnod ar ôl y gêm yn erbyn Cymru, byddant yn chwarae BosniaHerzegovina yn Chicago, cyn gêm derfynol yn erbyn Brasil yn Arlington (Texas) ar 3 Mehefin.

Fel y byddech yn ei ddisgwyl, mae miliynau o Fecsicanwyr yn byw ac yn gweithio yn UDA, felly bydd digon o gefnogaeth i’r tîm mewn gwyrdd yn y gemau hyn. Yn wir, disgwylir y bydd y lle’n llawn ar gyfer y gêm yn erbyn Cymru (bydd y gêm yn dechrau am 3pm).

Mae’r gêm yn cael ei chwarae mewn lleoliad heb ei ail (dyma America wedi’r cyfan!). Mae Stadiwm MetLife, a elwir gynt yn Stadiwm New Meadowlands, wedi’i leoli yn East Rutherford, New Jersey, nepell o Efrog Newydd ei hun. Dyma gartref y New York Giants a’r New York Jets o’r Gynghrair Pêl-droed Genedlaethol (Pêl-droed Americanaidd, hynny yw) ac mae wedi croesawu nifer o ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon mawr yn ogystal â chyngherddau roc.

Mae’r stadiwm yn dal 82,500 o bobl ac mae’r arwynebedd chwarae fel

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arfer yn un artiffisial, fodd bynnag, mae tywarchen go iawn yn cael ei gosod ar gyfer y gêm hon. Gellir cyrraedd y stadiwm drwy gyffordd 16W ar fraich orllewin y New Jersey Turnpike. Mae Coach USA yn cynnig gwasanaeth rheolaidd i’r stadiwm o Orsaf Fysiau’r Port Authority ym Manhattan ac mae trenau rheolaidd o Orsaf Penn (unwaith eto ym Manhattan). Felly fe ddylai cefnogwyr Cymru allu cyrraedd y stadiwm heb fawr o drafferth.

Mae hon yn gêm bwysig i Chris Coleman a’i dîm. Dyma fydd yr unig gêm gyfeillgar ar ddiwedd y tymor a bydd y chwaraewyr yn hyfforddi am ryw ddeng niwrnod, gan gynnwys y daith i’r Unol Daleithiau. Ar ôl y gêm, bydd un gêm gyfeillgar arall – yn erbyn Bosnia-Herzegovina – ym mis Awst cyn i gemau rhagbrofol Cwpan y Byd FIFA 2014 ddechrau ym mis Medi.

Mae Cymru a Mecsico wedi cyfarfod ddwywaith o’r blaen. Y tro cyntaf yng Nghwpan y Byd 1958 yn Sweden pan ddaeth y ddwy wlad yn gyfartal gyda sgôr o 1-1 – gydag Ivor Allchurch yn sgorio i Gymru. Yr ail dro y daethant wyneb yn wyneb oedd yn Ninas Mecsico ym mis Mai 1962, pan oedd tîm Cymru ar eu ffordd yn ôl adref ar ôl chwarae dwy gêm ym Mrasil.

Roedd hi’n gêm gyffrous mewn mwy nag un ffordd, gan y bu daeargryn wrth i dîm Cymru baratoi ar gyfer y gêm! Mewn gêm gymharol gorfforol yn yr University Stadium, cafodd asgellwr Cymru, Cliff Jones, ei anfon o’r cae a cholli 2-1 fu hanes yr ymwelwyr, gyda John Charles yn sgorio gôl hwyr.

Felly dyma gyfle ar ôl 50 mlynedd i unioni’r camau hyn, a chyfle i gefnogwyr Cymru gael taith fythgofiadwy i ben draw’r byd.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY

News from the Welsh Football Trust:

GRASSROOTS Coaching Conferences BY/GAN JAMES ROWBERRY

The Welsh Football Trust has been organizing six ‘Grassroots Coaching Conferences’ across the Principality, each operating within one of the area associations. So far, four have taken place with over 320 coaches in attendance.

The themes for the conferences are: ‘The Barcelona Way’ and ‘Supporting the player to improve’.

Both themes demonstrate to coaches what the modern trends are and how this can be adapted for those who work at the grassroots level both in the youth and senior game.

At each conference there is also a guest presenter: Geraint Twose (Cardiff City), Jimmy Hunter (Stoke City) and Wayne Hatswell (Newport County) have spoken. At the recent North East Wales FA grassroots conference, coaches from the conference observed Wales v England Futsal where they performed match analysis tasks.

Kevin Sheedy from Everton and Lee Skyrme from Cardiff City are also set to deliver on forthcoming conferences at Newtown FC and Carmarthen FC respectively.

“Coaches are at the heartbeat of the game,” said Technical Director Osian Roberts. “It’s important that we help

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

our coaches keep up with modern trends and help them be the best they can be.”

All coaches of junior football in Wales are required to complete their Level 1 Football Leaders Award, the first step on the coaching pyramid. With this qualification needing to be revalidated every three years, the grassroots conference will serve a dual purpose as attendance will activate the qualification for a further three years.

Coaches attending two conferences over a three-year period will also revalidate their FAW C Certificate.

Recently the FAW C Certificate has been made more specific to meet the needs of coaches within Wales. It is now split into two pathways: youth and senior. Each pathway is specific to the age group that the coaches are working with. The same pathway is also used for the UEFA B Licence.

Roberts added “If we want to keep growing the games in Wales and have better players then it’s obvious we need to support our coaches in the same way. They are at the heart of what we do. We have never provided conferences like this before but we think it’s important we provide additional opportunities whenever we can.”

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF

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NEWYDDION YMDDIRIEDOLAETH BÊL-DROED CYMRU: CYNADLEDDAU HYFFORDDI AR LAWR GWLAD Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru (YBDC) wedi bod yn trefnu chwech ‘Cynhadledd Hyfforddi ar Lawr Gwlad’ ledled Cymru, gyda phob un yn cael ei chynnal o fewn un o’r cymdeithasau ardal. Hyd yn hyn, mae pedwar wedi’u cynnal gan ddenu dros 320 o hyfforddwyr.

Y themâu ar gyfer y cynadleddau yw: ‘The Barcelona Way’ a ‘Supporting the player to improve’.

Mae’r ddwy thema yn addysgu hyfforddwyr am y tueddiadau modern a sut y gellir addasu’r rhain ar gyfer y rheiny sy’n gweithio ar lawr gwlad, boed hynny ar lefel ieuenctid neu ar lefel uwch.

Bydd cyflwynydd gwadd yn cymryd rhan ym mhob cynhadledd: Mae Geraint Twose (Dinas Caerdydd), Jimmy Hunter (Stoke City) a Wayne Hatswell (Sir Casnewydd) eisoes wedi cymryd rhan. Yng nghynhadledd ddiweddar Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, cafodd hyfforddwyr y cyfle i arsylwi ar gêm Ffwtsal rhwng Cymru a Lloegr, cyn ymgymryd â thasgau i ddadansoddi’r gêm.

Bydd Kevin Sheedy o Everton a Lee Skyrme o Ddinas Caerdydd hefyd yn cymryd rhan yn y cynadleddau hyn yn CPD y Drenewydd a CPD Caerfyrddin, yn y drefn honno.

“Mae hyfforddwyr wrth galon y gêm,” meddai’r Cyfarwyddwr Technegol Osian Roberts. “Mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n helpu ein hyfforddwyr i

ymgyfarwyddo â thueddiadau modern a’u helpu i gyflawni eu gwir botensial.”

Mae gofyn i bawb sy’n hyfforddi pêl-droed ieuenctid yng Nghymru gwblhau Gwobr Arweinwyr Pêl-droed Lefel 1, sef y cam cyntaf ar y pyramid hyfforddi. Gan fod gofyn ail-ddilysu’r cymhwyster hwn bob tair blynedd, mae’r cynadleddau hyn yn gyfle gwych i bawb sy’n mynychu i ail-ddilysu’r cymhwyster hwn am dair blynedd arall.

Bydd hyfforddwyr sy’n mynychu dwy gynhadledd dros gyfnod o dair blynedd hefyd yn ail-ddilysu Tystysgrif C CBDC. Yn ddiweddar, mae meini prawf y Dystysgrif hon wedi’u haddasu i fod yn fwy penodol er mwyn diwallu anghenion hyfforddwyr yng Nghymru. Mae’r dystysgrif bellach wedi’i rhannu’n ddau lwybr: lefel ieuenctid a lefel uwch. Mae pob llwybr yn benodol i’r grŵp oedran y mae hyfforddwyr yn gweithio gyda nhw. Caiff yr un llwybr hefyd ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer trwydded UEFA B. Ychwanegodd Roberts “Os ydym ni am barhau i ddatblygu’r gêm yng Nghymru a chael gwell chwaraewyr, mae’n amlwg bod gofyn i ni gefnogi ein hyfforddwyr yn yr un modd.

Maent yn ganolog i bopeth yr ydym ni’n ei wneud. Nid ydym erioed wedi cynnig cynadleddau o’r fath yn y gorffennol, ond rydym ni’n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod ni’n cynnig cyfleodd ychwanegol lle bynnag y bo’n bosibl.”

COACHES WATCHING A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION. HYFFORDDWYR YN GWYLIO SESIWN YMARFEROL.

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HOME AND AWAY improvement of coaching in the Wales Women’s Premier League clubs and top youth clubs. The other target is to increase and encourage women’s involvement in top football in different roles.

TAKING WOMEN’S TOP FOOTBALL FORWARD BY/GAN JARMO MATIKAINEN

WREXHAM V ABERYSTWYTH TOWN. WRECSAM V TREF ABERYSTWYTH.

The FAW Pro Women’s Top Football 2016 development project has been accepted to be one of the pilot countries of the UEFA run programme.

UEFA Women’s Football Chairwoman, Karen Espelund, visited Wales in January and was presented with the project. Soon after that the FAW was included as one of the pilot associations. UEFA is using the Hat Trick programme to activate member associations to promote women’s football and has earmarked the support funding for development of the women’s game.

Pro Wales Women’s Top Football 2016 is a four year project which focuses on two things: supporting

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The Wales Women’s Premier League is going national next season. The FAW wants to target physical training programming, goalkeeper coaching and the individual technical skills. All the Premier League clubs will be visited this spring and given support to plan their coaching for the next pre-season. Clubs will get a materials package that includes training session material and technical analysis of the recent international competitions.

General health and injury prevention material is also provided. The first three clubs (Wrexham, Northop Girls and Caernarfon) were visited in March.

The other part of the Pro Wales Women’s Top Football 2016 project is women’s involvement in top football.

The main focus is on coaching, but the project will also cover other roles. The FAW is assembling a Female Top Coaches Talent Group. The members will be involved with the national team activities and, together with FAW staff coaches and league coaches, will participate in the international events to analyse women’s top football. They will be the core of the future female top coaches at club and international level. In April, Katie Williams from Caernarfon and Elain Owen from Northop Girls participated in the WU17 UEFA tournament in Switzerland.

The UEFA Women’s under-19 finals tournament in 2013 in Wales is a major opportunity for the FAW and the clubs to take women’s football to the next level. As an event it will be used to promote women’s top football and general awareness of the female game. It is only fitting that 2013 will

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF see the first major international female tournament in Wales and the Women’s League turning national.

Both are great opportunities. Join us!

For more information, contact Rebecca Crockett or Angela Roberts at the FAW: rcrockett@faw.co.uk or aroberts@faw.co.uk

HYBU PÊL-DROED MERCHED Mae prosiect datblygu Pêl-droed Merched Proffesiynol Cymru CBDC 2016 (Pro Wales Women’s Top Football 2016) wedi’i dderbyn fel un o wledydd peilot y rhaglen a gynhelir gan UEFA. Daeth Cadeirydd Pêl-droed Merched UEFA, Karen Espelund, i Gymru ym mis Ionawr, a chyflwynwyd y prosiect iddi. Yn fuan wedi hynny, cafodd CBDC ei derbyn fel un o’r cymdeithasau peilot. Mae UEFA yn defnyddio’r rhaglen Hat Trick i helpu aelod-gymdeithasau i hyrwyddo pêl-droed merched ac mae wedi clustnodi arian ar gyfer datblygu’r gêm i ferched.

Mae’r prosiect yn para am bedair blynedd ac mae’n canolbwyntio ar ddau beth: cefnogi’r broses o wella hyfforddiant yng nghlybiau Uwchgynghrair Merched Cymru a’r clybiau ieuenctid ar y lefel uchaf. Y targed arall yw cynyddu ac annog merched i gymryd rhan mewn gwahanol rolau yn y maes pêl-droed.

Mae Uwch-gynghrair Merched Cymru yn mynd yn genedlaethol y tymor nesaf. Mae CBDC am dargedu rhaglenni hyfforddiant corfforol, hyfforddi gôl-geidwaid a sgiliau technegol unigol. Byddwn yn ymweld â holl glybiau’r Uwch-gynghrair yn ystod y gwanwyn ac yn eu cefnogi wrth iddynt gynllunio eu rhaglen hyfforddi cyn y tymor nesaf. Bydd y clybiau’n cael pecyn yn cynnwys

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deunyddiau ar gyfer sesiynau hyfforddi a dadansoddiad technegol o gystadlaethau rhyngwladol diweddar. Rydym hefyd yn darparu deunyddiau cyffredinol ar iechyd ac atal anafiadau. Aethom i ymweld â’r tri chlwb cyntaf (Wrecsam, Merched Northop a Chaernarfon) ym mis Mawrth.

Elfen arall o’r prosiect yw annog merched i gymryd rhan mewn pêl-droed lefel uchaf. Y prif ffocws yw hyfforddi, ond bydd y prosiect hefyd yn trafod rolau eraill. Mae CBDC yn creu Grŵp Talent Hyfforddwyr Merched Lefel Uchaf.

Bydd yr aelodau yn ymwneud â gweithgareddau’r tîm cenedlaethol ac, ynghyd â hyfforddwyr staff CBDC a hyfforddwyr y Gynghrair, byddant yn cymryd rhan mewn digwyddiadau rhyngwladol i ddadansoddi pêl-droed merched ar y lefel uchaf. Y rhain fydd hyfforddwyr merched y dyfodol ar lefel clybiau ac ar lefel rhyngwladol.

Ym mis Ebrill, bu Katie Williams o Gaernarfon ac Elain Owen o Ferched Northop yn cymryd rhan yn nhwrnamaint Merched Dan 17 UEFA yn y Swistir.

KAREN ESPELUND

Mae rowndiau terfynol Merched dan-19 UEFA yn 2013 yng Nghymru yn gyfle euraid i CBDC a’r clybiau fynd â phêl-droed merched i’r lefel nesaf. Bydd y digwyddiad yn cael ei ddefnyddio i hyrwyddo pêl-droed merched ar y lefel uchaf ac i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r gêm i ferched.

Mae’n amser perffaith i gynnal y gystadleuaeth fawr cyntaf i ferched yng Nghymru, gan mai 2013 fydd y flwyddyn y bydd y Gynghrair Merched yn troi’n genedlaethol. Mae’r ddau ddatblygiad yn cynnig cyfleoedd gwych o ran pêl-droed merched.

Dewch i gael bod yn rhan ohono!

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Rebecca Crockett neu Angela Roberts yn CBDC: rcrockett@faw.co.uk neu aroberts@faw.co.uk

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY

NEW MULTI-SPORT VENUE COMES ONLINE BY/GAN DAVE JONES

THE VIEW FROM THE STAND. YR OLYGFA O’R STAND.

SOUTH AFRICA VISIT COLWYN BAY 1924.

DE AFFRICA YN YMWELD Â BAE COLWYN 1924.

One of North Wales’ newest sporting facilities is developing into a tremendous asset for the region.

Since opening last autumn the £6.5 million state-of-the-art rugby centre of excellence at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, has made big news for all the right reasons.

The complex features an indoor training centre, gym and high performance sports analysis facilities as well as an impressive new 2,000-seater stand.

The centre has become home to the WRU’s North Wales Rugby Academy and RGC 1404 representative side.

However, it was the staging of three Wales under-20 rugby union internationals this year that put Parc Eirias firmly in the spotlight.

Six Nations matches against Scotland, Italy and France, two of which the Welsh won, all attracted sell-out crowds of over 5,500, while there was also a big turnout for the recent RGC versus Georgia game which ended in a narrow victory for the visitors.

In hosting Wales’ three home fixtures in the tournament, both Conwy

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County Council and Colwyn Bay proved they are capable of staging such large-scale events ahead of the 15,000 Olympic ‘Access All Eirias’ pop concert in July.

It has also opened the door for other top class sporting showpieces to be held at Eirias. Chief executive of Conwy County Council Iwan Davies said he was delighted the rugby tournament had been such a success.

“This is just what we’d hoped for – successful, popular events that contribute to the regeneration of the area,” he said. “This is just the beginning for Eirias and I look forward to seeing this venue go from strength to strength.”

There was brief talk of Colwyn Bay Football Club adopting Eirias as their new home on a ground-share basis due to problems in meeting the criteria needed to compete in the Conference North. However, tremendous work has since been carried out in a short space of time at the Red Lion Foods Stadium, Llanelian Road, to ensure it reached the standards required for the club to stay at its current level.

The Eirias project is a cornerstone of Conwy’s BayLife regeneration effort and has been made possible with £4.8 million backing from the Welsh Government through the European Regional Development Fund.

As far as football is concerned, one thing is already in the record book – the Wales amateur side met the touring South Africans at Eirias Park on Saturday 4th October 1924 as part of the ‘Boks’ United Kingdom tour.

Wales won that day 1-0 with a goal from Idwal Davies. Who knows if it could host matches once more?

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LLEOLIAD AMLCHWARAEON NEWYDD Mae un o gyfleusterau chwaraeon mwyaf newydd Gogledd Cymru yn datblygu i fod yn ased arbennig ar gyfer y rhanbarth.

Ers agor yr hydref diwethaf, mae’r ganolfan rhagoriaeth rygbi gwerth £6.5 miliwn ym Mharc Eirias, Bae Colwyn, wedi creu penawdau am y rhesymau cywir.

Mae’r safle yn cynnwys canolfan hyfforddi dan do, campfa a chyfleusterau dadansoddi chwaraeon o’r radd flaenaf yn ogystal â stand newydd sy’n cynnwys 2,000 o seddi.

llwyddiannus a phoblogaidd sy’n cyfrannu at adfywio’r ardal,” meddai.

“Ac mae llawer mwy i ddod. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weld y lleoliad hwn yn mynd o nerth i nerth.”

Mae’r ganolfan bellach yn gartref i Academi Rygbi Gogledd Cymru Undeb Rygbi Cymru a charfan gynrychioladol RGC 1404. Fodd bynnag, y ffaith mai yma y cynhaliwyd tair gêm tîm Dan 20 Cymru ym Mhencampwriaeth y Chwe Gwlad eleni sydd wedi rhoi Parc Eirias ar y map.

Cafwyd peth trafodaeth ar p’un a fyddai Clwb Pêl-droed Bae Colwyn yn mabwysiadu Parc Eirias fel eu cartref newydd, a hynny fel trefniant i rannu’r maes gan eu bod yn cael problemau bodloni’r meini prawf ar gyfer cystadlu yn Uwch-gynghrair Gogledd Lloegr (Conference North).

Fodd bynnag, ers hynny, mae llawer o waith wedi’i wneud mewn cyfnod byr o amser yn Stadiwm Red Lion Foods, Ffordd Llanelian, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn bodloni’r safonau y mae gofyn i’r clwb eu cyrraedd er mwyn parhau i gystadlu ar ei lefel bresennol.

Llwyddodd pob un o’r tair gêm yn erbyn yr Alban, yr Eidal a Ffrainc, dau ohonynt y bu i Gymru eu hennill, i ddenu dros 5,500 o gefnogwyr , ac roedd nifer o gefnogwyr hefyd yn bresennol ar gyfer gêm RGC yn erbyn Georgia yn ddiweddar, gêm y bu i’r ymwelwyr ei hennill o drwch blewyn.

Yn dilyn llwyddiant y gemau hyn, mae Cyngor Sir Conwy a Bae Colwyn wedi profi eu bod â’r gallu i gynnal digwyddiad ar raddfa fawr, a hynny cyn y cyngerdd ‘Access All Eirias’ i ddathlu’r Gemau Olympaidd ym mis Gorffennaf.

Mae hefyd wedi gosod y llwyfan ar gyfer cynnal digwyddiadau chwaraeon eraill ym Mharc Eirias.

Dywedodd Prif Weithredwr Cyngor Sir Conwy, Iwan Davies, ei fod wrth ei fodd bod y gystadleuaeth rygbi wedi bod mor llwyddiannus. “Dyma’n union yr oeddem ni wedi gobeithio amdano – digwyddiadau

THE PLAYING SURFACE. Y MAES CHWARAE.

Prosiect Eirias yw conglfaen ymdrechion adfywio Rhaglen Bywyd y Bae+ Conwy, prosiect a wireddwyd diolch i grant gwerth £4.8 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy Gronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop.

Mewn perthynas â phêl-droed, mae’r lleoliad eisoes yn y llyfrau record wedi i dîm amatur Cymru herio tîm De Affrica ym Mharc Eirias ddydd Sadwrn 4 Hydref 1924 fel rhan o daith y ‘Boks’ o’r Deyrnas Unedig.

Cymru oedd yn fuddugol y diwrnod hwnnw o 1-0 gyda gôl gan Idwal Davies. A phwy a ŵyr – efallai y bydd y stadiwm yn fwrlwm o bêl-droed unwaith eto yn y dyfodol?

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL

Football Supporters Federation in Wales – FSF CYMRU

BY PAUL CORKREY

problems with police or simply get into bother due to local customs they are unaware of, although the vast majority of Welsh fans are seasoned travellers now.

Before every away fixture a lot of research is put in to produce the information booklets. Our British embassies abroad send feedback, our police force and Football Association do reconnaissance trips, and the internet resource all provide material for a comprehensive booklet to be produced. The FAW kindly sends a copy of the booklet to every fan that travels to an away game.

WALES FANS IN BILBAO. CEFNOGWYR CYMRU YN BILBAO.

FSF Cymru is a splinter organisation of the Football Supporters’ Federation (www.fsf.org.uk). They deal with international football matches, and were specifically set up to assist fans when the national team plays abroad. The Home Office supports the organisation with grant funding in order that the small band of volunteers can carry out their work. During the last nine years all Welsh fans that have been to an away game will have been aware of FSF Cymru reps, mainly through the information booklets they produce prior to every away fixture, or sometimes because they have had to call the FSF Cymru helpline during the trip due to problems that they have encountered.

The organisation is independent and run by the fans for the fans but works closely with the police, the FAW and the consulate offices abroad to ensure that everything is in place if fans find themselves in trouble during a trip.

Some of the work involved includes lost passports, lost money, lost tickets and even lost fans; some fans get in to

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The FAW invites FSF Cymru to attend meetings to discuss fan issues on a regular basis. These are open meetings and quite informal, where a variety of topics are discussed.

Membership schemes, season tickets, match day prices, security at away games and fans’ ideas are just some of the agenda discussed and the feedback from these meetings is normally recorded and put out on fans’ web sites.

At time of writing we are preparing for our first trip outside of Europe; the friendly game against Mexico in the USA. Neil Dymock will run our fans’ embassy there and he will be assisted by Tommie Collins. There will be a supporters’ game against Mexico fans, respects will be paid at the Hanover Square for the seven people from Wales who lost their lives in the Twin Towers atrocity and Legends Bar on 33rd Street in Manhattan will host Welsh fans on the day of the game.

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RHYNGWLADOL

Ffederasiwn Cefnogwyr Pêl-droed Cymru – FSF CYMRU GAN PAUL CORKREY

Mae FSF Cymru yn perthyn i’r Ffederasiwn Cefnogwyr Pêl-droed (www.fsf.org.uk). Mae’r sefydliad yn delio â gemau pêl-droed rhyngwladol, a chafodd ei sefydlu yn benodol i gynorthwyo cefnogwyr pan fo’r tîm cenedlaethol yn chwarae dramor.

Mae’r Swyddfa Gartref yn cefnogi’r sefydliad gyda chyllid grant er mwyn galluogi’r criw bychan o wirfoddolwyr i wneud eu gwaith. Dros y naw mlynedd diwethaf bydd pob un o gefnogwyr Cymru sydd wedi teithio i gêm oddi cartref wedi bod yn ymwybodol o gynrychiolwyr FSF Cymru. Mae hyn yn bennaf drwy’r llyfrynnau gwybodaeth y mae’r sefydliad yn eu cynhyrchu cyn pob gêm oddi cartref, neu weithiau gan eu bod wedi gorfod ffonio llinell gymorth FSF Cymru yn ystod eu taith oherwydd eu bod yn cael trafferthion.

WALES FANS IN RUSSIA. CEFNOGWYR CYMRU YN RWSIA.

Mae’r sefydliad yn annibynnol a chaiff ei weithredu gan y cefnogwyr ar gyfer y cefnogwyr. Mae FSF Cymru hefyd yn cydweithio â’r heddlu, Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru (CBDC) a swyddfeydd yr is-genhadon dramor er mwyn sicrhau bod popeth yn ei le os yw cefnogwyr yn canfod eu hunain mewn helbul yn ystod taith oddi cartref. Mae gwaith y sefydliad yn cynnwys pasportiau coll, arian coll, tocynnau coll a hyd yn oed cefnogwyr coll. Mae rhai cefnogwyr yn cael problemau gyda’r heddlu neu’n mynd i drafferth oherwydd arferion lleol nad ydynt yn ymwybodol ohonynt, er bod y rhan fwyaf o gefnogwyr Cymru wedi hen arfer teithio erbyn hyn.

Cyn bob gêm oddi cartref mae FSF Cymru yn cynnal cryn dipyn o waith ymchwil er mwyn cynhyrchu’r llyfrynnau gwybodaeth. Mae adborth gan ein llysgenadaethau Prydeinig,

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

ymweliadau gan ein heddluoedd a’n Cymdeithas Bêl-droed ymlaen llaw a’r rhyngrwyd oll yn cyfrannu at gynhyrchu llyfryn cynhwysfawr. Mae CBDC yn anfon copi o’r llyfryn at bob cefnogwr sy’n teithio i weld Cymru oddi cartref.

Mae CBDC yn gwahodd FSF Cymru i fynychu cyfarfodydd er mwyn trafod materion cefnogwyr yn rheolaidd.

Mae’r rhain yn gyfarfodydd agored ac yn eithaf anffurfiol, a chaiff amrywiaeth o bynciau eu trafod ynddynt. Ymhlith yr eitemau ar yr agenda y mae cynlluniau aelodaeth, tocynnau tymor, prisiau gemau, mesurau diogelwch mewn gemau oddi cartref a syniadau cefnogwyr.

Mae’r adborth o’r cyfarfodydd hyn fel arfer yn cael ei gofnodi a’i lanlwytho ar wefannau cefnogwyr.

Wrth i mi ysgrifennu’r erthygl hon, rydym ni wrthi’n paratoi ar gyfer ein trip cyntaf y tu allan i Ewrop, sef y gêm gyfeillgar yn erbyn Mecsico yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Bydd Neil Dymock yn gweithredu ein llysgenhadaeth ar gyfer cefnogwyr gyda help llaw Tommie Collins. Bydd gêm yn cael ei chynnal rhwng cefnogwyr Cymru a chefnogwyr Mecsico a bydd cyfle yn Hanover Square i dalu teyrnged i’r saith Cymro a gollodd eu bywydau yn erchylltra’r Twin Towers. At hynny, bydd Legends Bar ar 33rd Street yn Manhattan yn croesawu cefnogwyr Cymru ar ddiwrnod y gêm.

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HOME AND AWAY

WALES TEAMS OF THE PAST TIMAU CYMRU’R GORFFENNOL 1946-47. v England (Amateur) Rexville, Newport. 1-4. v Lloegr (Amatur) Rexville, Casnewydd. 1-4.

Back Row/Rhes Gefn: Glyn Gwilym (Ransome & Marles), Billy Reed (Rhondda Transport), John Hassell (Llandudno), Evan Williams (Caernarvon Town), Ben Jones (Slough), Jack Jones (Crittalls Athletic). Front Row/Rhes Flaen: Billy Williams (Lovells Athetic), Terry Wood (Cardiff City), Albert Clarke (Lovells Athletic), Tom Reynolds (Troedyrhiw), Billy Shergold (Walthamstow Avenue).

1953-54. v Northern Ireland (Youth) Shamrock Park, Portadown. 0-2. v Gogledd Iwerddon (Ieuenctid) Parc Shamrock, Portadown. 0-2.

Back Row/Rhes Gefn: Des Roberts (Mancot Juniors), Marsden Hubbard (Aberaeron), Norman Fender (Canton United), Ron Lovegrove (Briton Ferry Athletic), Arthur Thomas (Canton Athletic), William Rees (Swansea Town). Front Row/Rhes Flaen: Dilwyn Wood (Druids United), Colin Burbage (Barry Town), Alan Fox (Wrexham), Malcolm Williams (Davies Athletic), Ken Jones (Wrexham).

1946/47

46 1953/54

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55

1954/55

54 1961/62

61 1954-55. v Yugoslavia (Senior) Ninian Park, Cardiff. 1-3. v Iwgoslafia (TĂŽm A) Parc Ninian, Caerdydd. 1-3.

Back Row/Rhes Gefn: Ivor Allchurch (Swansea Town), Roy Paul (Manchester City), Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), John Charles (Leeds United), Dave Bowen (Arsenal), Alf Sherwood (Cardiff City).

Front Row/Rhes Flaen: Billy Reed (Ipswich Town), Trevor Ford (Cardiff City), Walley Barnes (Arsenal), Derek Tapscott (Arsenal), Roy Clarke (Manchester City).

1961-62. v Scotland (Under 23) Racecourse, Wrexham. 0-0. v Yr Alban (Dan 23) Y Cae Ras, Wrecsam. 0-0.

Back Row/Rhes Gefn: Mike England (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Rankmore (Cardiff City), Tony Millington (WBA), Barrie Hole (Cardiff City), Graham Moore (Cardiff City), Colin Green (Everton).

Front Row/Rhes Flaen: Barrie Jones (Swansea Town), Reg Blore (Southport), Mal Lucas (Leyton Orient), Herbie Williams (Swansea Town), Ron Roberts (Wrexham).

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

56

HOME AND AWAY

CLUB SEASON REVIEW

2011

BY ROBERT DOWLING

CARDIFF PLAYERS CELEBRATE REACHING WEMBLEY.

CHWARAEWYR CAERDYDD YN DATHLU CYRRAEDD WEMBLEY.

Another eventful season has come to pass with the top honours in domestic Welsh football being awarded to a triumphant The New Saints, after they secured both the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League title and the FAW Welsh Cup, following victory over Cefn Druids in the final at Bangor City’s Nantporth home.

The conclusion to the Welsh Premier League season saw the title race come down to the very final match of the fixture schedule, with reigning champions Bangor City and The New Saints battling it out for the second consecutive campaign. This time it was the Saints who came out on top with a magnificent 5-0 victory at Park Hall in the title decider. They will now represent Wales in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The 2011/2012 season began with European adventures for Bangor City, The New Saints, Llanelli and Neath.

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

When the focus returned to domestic matters, newly promoted Afan Lido proved to be the Welsh Premier’s surprise package. Many predicted that the Port Talbot based club would be relegation candidates, but they steered their way to safety and ended their season by lifting the League Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over Newtown.

The contest in the Huws Gray Alliance has been pretty fierce this season, with several clubs beginning the campaign believing they had a chance at glory and promotion to the Welsh Premier League. Although Porthmadog, Buckley Town and Rhyl were all in the hunt, it was Gap Connah’s Quay who finished on top to retain the championship for a second consecutive season.

It has been incredibly tight in MacWhirter Welsh League Division One this season with at least twelve

CARTREF AC ODDI CARTREF of the sixteen teams believing that they could launch a title challenge with as much as three-quarters of the season played, leading to an exhilarating competition. Rhondda Valleys outfit Cambrian & Clydach Vale were eventually crowned Welsh League champions in late April.

In this season’s national cup competitions there have been many memorable moments, however, it is Cefn Druids who have gained the most kudos with their Welsh Cup performances and results. The Huws Gray Alliance club knocked three Welsh Premier clubs out of the competition in the latter stages to reach the final. Their rewarded is entry into next season’s UEFA Europa League.

In the FAW Womens Cup it took extra-time and penalties to separate Cardiff City Ladies and UWIC Ladies.

The only difference between the teams was shoot-out saves from Rhian Nokes, whose goalkeeping skills saw Cardiff City Ladies regain the trophy.

English Premier League throughout the 2011/2012 season, all of which has helped the club comfortably secure safety.

Meanwhile, Cardiff City has also enjoyed success this season after securing a play-off place in the Football League Championship giving them a chance of promotion to the English Premier League, at the time of writing.

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SWANSEA PLAYERS CELEBRATE THE WIN OVER MANCHESTER CITY. CHWARAEWYR ABERTAWE YN DATHLU’R FUDDUGOLIAETH DROS MANCHESTER CITY.

The Bluebirds also enjoyed an excellent run in the Football League Cup that saw them reach the final at Wembley Stadium. Despite a valiant performance against the might of Liverpool, Cardiff missed out on the silverware following a penalty shoot-out. They did however, gain much acclaim for what was a moral victory.

In the Football Conference, Wrexham had to settle for the play-offs following an incredible title battle with Fleetwood Town, while Newport County overcame a difficult start to the season under Anthony Hudson with his successor Justin Edinburgh guiding the club to safety. The Gwent club ended their season at Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final against fellow Conference club York City.

1/12 Sully Sports pulled off a shock result to hold the FAW Trophy aloft as the South Wales Senior League outfit, who are in Level 5 of the Welsh football pyramid and sit outside the directly affiliated leagues, defeated Level 3 opponents Holyhead Hotspur of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance League in the final at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth.

Swansea City and The New Saints contested this season’s FAW Youth Cup final with the young starlets of Swansea taking the honours for the seventh time after coming from behind to win 2-1.

The Swans are currently breeding success as their first team have been winning many plaudits throughout the season as the Liberty Stadium based club have consistently turned in impressive performances in the

Colwyn Bay had a nervy finish to their Football Conference North season as a tight lower half of the table saw them involved in a battle against relegation but the Seagulls eventually finished five points above the drop zone. Merthyr Town finished the season strongly to achieve a second successive promotion after securing the Western League Premier Division title.

So, as we pause for breath in May, we look forward to the start all-over again as early-season outings in Europe beckon for some of our clubs.

Cricket? No time for it!

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

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HOME AND AWAY Gan edrych yn ôl tuag adref, roedd Afan Lido, y tîm newyddddyrchafedig, wedi siomi ar yr ochr orau yn Uwch-gynghrair Cymru.

Tybiodd llawer y byddai’r clwb o Bort Talbot yn ymdroi tua’r gwaelodion, ac yn ymladd i gadw’u lle. I’r gwrthwyneb, llwyddiant fu eu hanes hwy, gan orffen y tymor gyda Chwpan y Gynghrair yn eu dwylo ar ôl buddugoliaeth yn erbyn y Drenewydd.

Adolygiad o’r Tymor

Mae’r gystadleuaeth yng Nghyngrair Huws Gray wedi bod yn ffyrnig eleni, gyda nifer o glybiau yn dechrau eu hymgyrch yn dyheu am ogoniant a dyrchafiad i Uwch-gynghrair Cymru.

Er bod Porthmadog, Tref Bwcle a’r Rhyl yn weddol agos ati, Gap Cei Connah gyrhaeddodd y brig i gipio’r bencampwriaeth am yr ail dymor yn olynol.

Mae wedi bod yn agos dros ben yn Adran Un Cynghrair Cymru MacWhirter y tymor hwn, gydag o leiaf deuddeg o’r un tîm ar bymtheg yn credu bod y teitl o fewn eu gafael, a hynny dri chwater ffordd drwy’r tymor. Dyna i chi rysáit ar gyfer cystadleuaeth gyffrous. Y tîm o Gwm Rhondda, Cambrian a Clydach, a gipiodd y fuddugoliaeth yng Nghynghrair Cymru ym mis Ebrill.

2011 GAN ROBERT DOWLING

Daeth tymor prysur arall i ben gyda phrif wobrau Pêl-droed Cymru yn cael eu hennill gan y Seintiau Newydd. Yn ogystal â theitl Uwchgynghrair Cymru Corbett Sports, fe gipion nhw Gwpan Cymru CBDC yn dilyn eu buddugoliaeth yn erbyn y Derwyddon Cefn yn y rownd derfynol yn Nantporth, cartref Dinas Bangor.

GAP CONNAHS QUAY CHAMPIONS. GAP CEI CONNAH PENCAMPWYR.

Daeth y ras ar gyfer teitl Uwchgynghrair Cymru i ben yng ngêm olaf un y tymor, gyda Dinas Bangor a’r Seintiau Newydd yn brwydro am y gorau am yr ail flwyddyn yn olynol.

Tro’r Seintiau oedd hi y tymor hwn, ar ôl sicrhau buddugoliaeth odidog 5-0 yn Park Hall. Nhw felly fydd yn cynrychioli Cymru yng Nghynghrair y Pencampwyr UEFA y tymor nesaf.

Dechreuodd tymor 2011/2012 gydag anturiaethau Ewropeaidd i Ddinas Bangor, y Seintiau Newydd, Llanelli a Chastell-nedd.

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Gwelwyd nifer o eiliadau cofiadwy yng nghystadlaethau Cwpan Cenedlaethol Cymru eleni, ond y Derwyddon Cefn sydd wedi creu’r argraff fawr gyda’u perfformiad – a’u canlyniadau – yng Nghwpan Cymru.

Trechodd y clwb o gynghrair Huws Gray dri o glybiau Uwch-gynghrair Cymru tua diwedd y gystadleuaeth er mwyn cyrraedd y rownd derfynol. Eu gwobr? Mynediad i Gynghrair Ewropa UEFA y tymor nesaf.

Yng Nghwpan Merched Cymru, roedd yn rhaid mynd i amser ychwanegol a chiciau cosb er mwyn datrys yr ymrafael rhwng Merched Dinas

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Caerdydd a Merched UWIC. Yr unig wahaniaeth rhwng y ddau dîm oedd sgiliau’r gôl-geidwad Rhian Nokes, a sicrhaodd fuddugoliaeth i Ferched Dinas Caerdydd, a chyfle i ailafael yn y tlws.

Syndod oedd i Sully Sports godi tlws CBDC wrth i’r tîm o Uwch-gynghrair De Cymru, sydd ar Lefel 5 pyramid pêl-droed Cymru, guro eu gwrthwynebwyr o Lefel 3, Hotspur Caergybi o Gynghrair Lock Stock Cymru, yn y gêm derfynol yng Nghoedlan y Parc, Aberystwyth.

STEVE EVANS AND TNS CELEBRATE. STEVE EVANS A’R SEINTIAU NEWYDD YN DATHLU.

Dinas Abertawe a’r Seintiau Newydd fu’n brwydro am Gwpan Ieuenctid CBDC y tymor hwn, gyda sêr ifanc Abertawe yn achub y blaen am y seithfed tro, gyda sgôr o 2-1.

Mae’r Elyrch yn gyfarwydd â llwyddiant ar hyn o bryd, gan fod eu tîm cyntaf wedi denu canmoliaeth gydol y tymor wrth i’r tîm o Stadiwm y Liberty greu argraff fawr yn Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr yn ystod 2011/2012. Gyda pherfformiadau fel hyn, does dim dwywaith bod y clwb yn ddiogel ar y lefel uchaf.

TNS CELEBRATE THEIR WELSH CUP WIN.

1/12 Yn y cyfamser, mae Dinas Caerdydd hefyd wedi bod yn mwynhau llwyddiant y tymor hwn ar ôl sicrhau gêm ail-gyfle yn y Bencampwriaeth Bêl-droed, gan roi’r cyfle iddynt gael eu dyrchafu i Uwch-gynghrair Lloegr.

Mae’r Adar Gleision hefyd wedi troedio llwybr disglair yng Nghwpan y Gynghrair, a’u harweiniodd at y Gêm Derfynol yn Stadiwm Wembley.

Er gwaethaf perfformiad gwrol yn erbyn Lerpwl, colli fu hanes Caerdydd yn dilyn y ciciau cosb. Serch hyn, Caerdydd a enillodd y fuddugoliaeth foesol, a’r clod haeddiannol am hynny.

Yn y Gyngres, roedd yn rhaid i Wrecsam fodloni ar gemau ail-gyfle yn dilyn brwydr anhygoel gyda Fleetwood Town, wrth i Gasnewydd oresgyn dechrau anodd dan

Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD YN DATHLU ENNILL CWPAN CYMRU.

Anthony Hudson. Ei olynydd, Justin Edinburgh, a arweiniodd y clwb i ddiogelwch. Daeth tymor y clwb i ben yn Stadiwm Wembley yng Ngêm Derfynol Tlws y Gymdeithas Bêldroed yn erbyn un o’u cymheiriaid yn y Gyngres, York City.

Cafodd Bae Colwyn ddiwedd nerfus i’w tymor wrth iddynt gael eu hunain mewn brwydr agos ar waelod y tabl.

Llwyddodd y Gwylanod i ddal eu tir, gan orffen bum pwynt yn glir.

Gorffennodd Tref Merthyr yn gryf gydag ail ddyrchafiad yn olynol ar ôl cipio teitl Cynghrair Bêl-droed y Gorllewin.

Felly, wrth i ni gymryd saib a dal ein hanadl ym mis Mai, dyma edrych ymlaen at ddechrau’r cyfan unwaith eto wrth i rai o’n clybiau fentro tuag Ewrop. Amdani!

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

60

FAW NEWS

OUT AND ABOUT WITH FAW Ar Grwydr gyda’r Gymdeithas

A FINE BODY OF MEN AT THE ST. DAVID’S DAY PARADE. ˆ Y GYMDEITHAS GWYR YN DANGOS YCHYDIG O GOES!

SPIKEY AT THE PARADE. SBEICI AR YR ORYMDAITH.

ST. DAVID’S DAY PARADE

GORYMDAITH DYDD GŴYL DEWI

Members of the FAW and Welsh Football Trust staff once again took part in the annual St. David’s Day parade around the streets of Cardiff on March 1st. Coming as it did, the morning after the Wales v Costa Rica game, there were more than a few tired pairs of feet who had been working non-stop on the Gary Speed Memorial match. The event was a great success and blessed with good weather too. Thousands followed the procession from the Cardiff Law Courts, past the castle and eventually ended up on The Hayes in the centre of the city. Many staff members were also brave enough to don Welsh kits that they had been loaned for the day!

Unwaith eto, ymunodd staff CBDC ac Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru (YBDC) yn yr orymdaith flynyddol o amgylch strydoedd Caerdydd i ddathlu Dydd Gŵyl Dewi ar 1 Mawrth. Cynhaliwyd yr orymdaith ddiwrnod ar ôl gêm Cymru yn erbyn Costa Rica, ac roedd mwy nag un pâr o draed blinedig ymhlith y staff ar ôl i bawb fod yn gweithio’n galed yn paratoi ar gyfer Gêm Goffa Gary Speed. Roedd y digwyddiad yn llwyddiant ysgubol a’r haul yn gwenu ar ddiwrnod ein nawdd sant!

Ymunodd miloedd yn yr orymdaith o Lysoedd Cyfreithiol Caerdydd, heibio’r castell cyn i’r daith ddod i ben ar yr Aes yng nghanol y ddinas.

Roedd nifer o’r staff hefyd ddigon dewr i wisgo ciltiau Cymreig yr oeddent wedi’u benthyca am y dydd!

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

NEWYDDION CBDC

‘CHWARAE DROS GYMRU’ – ARDDANGOSFA O BÊLDROED YNG NGHYMRU

During the early part of the year, FAW historian, Ceri Stennett’s exhibition, ‘Playing for Wales’ was resident at the Waterfront Museum in Swansea. It received much coverage locally as well as on TV and new Wales manager, Chris Coleman, visited it one evening as part of an FAW roadshow. Further venues are sought for the exhibition during the rest of 2012. In addition, if you think you have any old Welsh football artefacts that could be added to the national collection, contact Ceri by email on: cstennett@faw.co.uk

Ddechrau’r flwyddyn, roedd arddangosfa hanesydd CBDC, Ceri Stennett, ‘Chwarae dros Gymru’ i’w weld yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau, Abertawe. Llwyddodd yr arddangosfa i ddenu llawer o sylw yn lleol yn ogystal ag ar y teledu, ac fe ymwelodd rheolwr newydd Cymru, Chris Coleman, â’r arddangosfa fel rhan o sioe deithio CBDC. Mae’r Gymdeithas yn chwilio am ragor o leoliadau i gynnal yr arddangosfa yn ystod 2012. Os oes gennych chi unrhyw hen arteffactau pêl-droed Cymreig y gellir eu hychwanegu at y casgliad cenedlaethol, cysylltwch â Ceri drwy anfon e-bost at: cstennett@faw.co.uk

CHRIS AT THE WELSH FOOTBALL EXHIBITION SWANSEA. CHRIS YN YR ARDDANGOSFA O BÊL-DROED YNG NGHYMRU YN ABERTAWE.

V

‘PLAYING FOR WALES’ – WELSH FOOTBALL EXHIBITION

61

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

62

NEWS

FAW STAFF TEAM AT MERTHYR. STAFF CBDC YM MERTHYR.

SCHOOLS VISITS

YMWELD AG YSGOLION

Apart from Chris Coleman attending FAW roadshows, he has also been very happy to go along to schools to chat to children of all ages about his career and his hopes for the future of Welsh international football. He is partnered by the FAW’s Head of Public Affairs, Ian Gwyn Hughes.

Chris is pictured here with some of the pupils from Glan Taf in Cardiff on a recent visit.

Ar wahân i fynychu sioeau teithio CBDC, mae Chris, law yn llaw â Phennaeth Materion Cyhoeddus CBDC, Ian Gwyn Hughes, hefyd wedi bod yn ymweld ag ysgolion Cymru.

Mae’r rheolwr wedi manteisio ar bob cyfle i sgwrsio â phlant o bob oedran am ei yrfa a’i obeithion ar gyfer dyfodol pêl-droed Cymru. Dyma lun o Chris gyda rai o ddisgyblion Glan Taf yng Nghaerdydd ar ymweliad diweddar.

CHRIS COLEMAN AT GLAN TAF. CHRIS COLEMAN YN YSGOL GLAN TAF.

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

NEWYDDION

FAW/WFT STAFF FOOTBALL TEAM

TÎM PÊL-DROED CBDC/YBDC

Staff of both the FAW and WFT have formed a football team to play against all-comers. The team is a mix of the talented and enthusiastic, plus the fit and the ‘strollers’. Matches have also been staged indoors with 5-a-side teams. If you have a works or staff team who would like to challenge our lads, contact Tim Lane at the FAW on tlane@faw.co.uk

Mae staff CBDC ac YBDC wedi dod ynghyd i ffurfio tîm pêl-droed.

Mae’r tîm yn gyfuniad o’r talentog a’r brwdfrydig, yn ogystal â’r ffit a’r ffôl! Mae gemau hefyd wedi’u cynnal dan do gyda thimau 5 bob ochr. Os oes gennych chi dîm gwaith neu dîm staff sydd awydd ein herio, cysylltwch â Tim Lane yn CBDC drwy anfon e-bost at tlane@faw.co.uk

63

SIOEAU TEITHIO ‘CWRDD Â’R RHEOLWR’

‘MEET THE MANAGER’ ROADSHOWS As part of the continuing series of roadshows at which fans can ‘Meet the Manager’, no area on the map of Wales has been left untouched.

Recent visits have seen Chris and Co. at Aberystwyth Town FC, Ton Pentre FC, Cwmaman Institute FC, Airbus UK Broughton, Bangor City and the Waterfront Museum Swansea. The format of Ian interviewing Chris, then Ceri Stennett taking fans questions and answers, plus a free raffle and plenty of FAW giveaways has proven to be a huge success. More are planned during the summer months.

If you would like us to consider Chris coming to your club, contact Ian Gwyn Hughes at: igwynhughes@faw.co.uk

Fel rhan o gyfres o sioeau teithio lle all cefnogwyr ‘Gwrdd â’r Rheolwr’, mae’r Gymdeithas wedi ymweld â phob cwr o Gymru. Yn fwyaf diweddar, mae Chris a’i griw wedi ymweld â CPD Aberystwyth, CPD Ton Pentre, CPD Sefydliad Cwmaman, Airbus UK Brychdyn, Dinas Bangor ac Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau Abertawe.

Mae fformat y digwyddiadau wedi profi i fod yn llwyddiannus dros ben, gan ddechrau gydag Ian yn cyfweld â Chris cyn i Ceri Stennett gynnal sesiwn holi ac ateb gyda’r cefnogwyr. At hynny, mae cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn raffl rhad ac am ddim ac mae llond gwlad o wobrau CBDC ar gael. Mae’r Gymdeithas yn bwriadu cynnal mwy o ddigwyddiadau dros yr haf. Os hoffech chi i Chris ymweld â’ch clwb chi, cysylltwch ag Ian Gwyn Hughes drwy anfon e-bost at: igwynhughes@faw.co.uk

CHRIS SIGNS IN FOR THE FANS. CHRIS YN TREULIO AMSER GYDA’R CEFNOGWYR.

Y LLAIS CBDC HAF 2012 faw.org.uk

THE VOICE FAW SUMMER 2012 faw.org.uk

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