Event: International football squads train on the 3G Pitch

21 January 2009

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is a member of FIFA and UEFA and in addition to its administration responsibilities it has the responsibility of running the international teams which range from the Men’s and Women’s ‘A’ squads, Under 21’s all the way down to the first opportunity for any player to represent Wales at Under 16 level.

The University Sports Centre - Talybont 3G pitch recently played host to both the Men’s and Women’s U16 training squads before they are ‘trimmed’ down from their current numbers of 37 and 30 respectively to the final squad. These squads will then go on to compete in International events including a Celtic Cup and tournaments in Macedonia and Holland later on in the year. The men will also compete in the prestigious ‘Victory Shield’ which is contested by the Home Nations and shown live on Sky Sports next winter.

Throughout their training camp the players and officials have been based at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Sophia Gardens. The facilities provided are ideal as players and staff can eat, sleep, train and study on the same site allowing for as little disruption to their day as possible. The players in this age group are still in full-time education so it is important their education doesn’t suffer as a result of being out of the classroom all day. Consequently, each of their teachers provides them with work to do in their allocated evening ‘study time’. The professionalism with which everything is conducted by the FAW is second to none and most importantly it teaches the players what kind of commitment levels it will take to continue to improve in the hope of one day making a living out of the game and winning a cap for the Senior (‘A’) Wales team.

Sport & Exercise would like to wish all the FAW International squads every success for the rest of the season and beyond. For further information on the 3G training facility and how it can be booked please click here.