Cymru Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson Inspires Next Generation

Johnstown Football Club was delighted to welcome Cymru Women’s National Team Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson to the club this week for a special evening with the next generation of female footballers.

The visit provided players from the club’s U8, U9, U10, U11, U12 and U13 girls’ teams with a unique opportunity to meet one of the leading figures in Welsh football and showcase their skills across a series of training sessions.

Wilkinson, who was appointed Cymru Head Coach in February 2024, made history by leading Wales to UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 – the first major international tournament ever reached by the Cymru Women’s senior team.

Throughout the evening, Rhian spent time with players and coaches across the different age groups, observing sessions, offering encouragement and sharing some of her experiences from the international game.

For the young players in attendance, the opportunity to meet the Cymru Head Coach and hear from someone operating at the very highest level of the women’s game provided a source of inspiration and memories that will be treasured for many years to come. The evening also represented another proud moment for Johnstown FC and its growing female football pathway.

As an FAW Platinum Accredited Club, Johnstown FC is committed to providing opportunities for girls and women to enjoy football, develop as players and see a clear pathway within the game. The club currently provides opportunities for female players from mini football through the junior age groups and into senior football.

Johnstown FC Vice-Chair Matthew John said:

“Welcoming Rhian to Johnstown FC was an incredibly proud moment for everyone associated with the club. For our young players to have the opportunity to meet the Head Coach of their national team, particularly after what Rhian and the Cymru squad achieved last summer, was hugely inspirational. You could see how much it meant to the girls throughout the evening. These are the experiences that can have a lasting impact on young players and hopefully inspire them to continue enjoying football, developing and dreaming about where the game could one day take them. We’re incredibly proud of the female pathway we are building at Johnstown FC and grateful to Rhian and the FAW for giving our players an evening they’ll remember for a very long time."

The club would like to place on record its thanks to Rhian for giving her time so generously, as well as everyone at the Football Association of Wales who helped make the visit possible.

Johnstown FC would also like to thank the coaches and volunteers who supported the sessions and, most importantly, every player who took part and represented the club so brilliantly.

Everyone at Johnstown FC wishes Rhian, her staff and the Cymru Women’s senior team the very best of luck for their upcoming international fixtures.

Images courtesy of the Football Association of Wales