Cyprus vs Wales (Euro 2016 qualifier)

FSF Cymru’s Paul Corkrey (left) has been out to Cyrpus ahead of Wales’ Euro 2016 qualifier at the GSP Stadium, Nicosia in September. Over the coming months he’ll update this rolling blog with the latest information and images. Corky explains more below…

• Download FSF Cymru’s comprehensive information booklet for this fixture…
• Download FSF Cymru’s information booklet in Welsh…
• Click here to read Corky’s blog in Welsh…
• See our slideshow of images from the GSP Stadium, Nicosia…

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) visited the GSP stadium in Nicosia during April and FSF Cymru made the trip out in May to follow it up. The trip was made possible thanks to Wyn Rhys Lewis, a resident of Pathos, who kindly offered to drive me around the Island during my stay and generally assist me during the reconnaissance trip.

The FAW security team will make a further visit shortly to ensure everything is prepared ready for our visit in September, the biggest concern inside the stadium was the state of the seating areas in the Welsh end, apparently these seats get smashed at most games by the away fans so they don’t often get replaced, however they have promised to replace them in readiness for their two matches at home in September against Wales and then Belgium.

It is difficult at this stage to estimate the amount of Welsh fans expected to travel but based on what we do know it’s fair to say the numbers will exceed 2,500 which would be our biggest travelling support for a few years.

The stadium holds 23,000, and we can expect a large allocation of tickets behind the goal for this game, but the seating has to be made safe before that number is confirmed. It is not expected that the Cypriots will sell out the home sections although there will be tickets sold to British ex-pats in the Cypriot end.

Our allocation will most likely go on sale towards the end of June and will be online and through the FAW dedicated booking line 0844 248 1876. Tickets will only be available to Gold members and membership will be available again soon after being suspended whilst sales of Israel and Andorra tickets were on sale – this was done to safeguard the current membership.

Built in 1999, The GSP stadium is small by international standards, however, it is the largest stadium in Cyprus. It serves as the home stadium for Nicosia’s two biggest clubs Apoel and Omonia. The GSP Stadium is located south of Nicosia approximately four miles from the city centre.

The stadium lies adjacent to the A1 motorway, which runs from Nicosia to the south coast of the island. You will be able to see the stadium from the motorway and take the appropriate exit. There are no restaurants, bars, or cafes near the stadium but they have promised to provide catering outside the stadium. Once inside there are adequate concourses with food, drink and toilet facilities.  There are large car/coach park areas outside the away section of the stadium where our fans will be located on arrival at the venue.

The majority of Welsh fans are staying in resorts rather than the actual capital city and with this in mind Leigh James has organised coaches on match day to the stadium from Larnaca, Limassol, Ayia Napa, Pathos and Protaras, further details can be found by contacting Leigh by email [email protected],

There is a very good road that joins the resorts to the capital and the distance varies as follows: from Larnaca it is 29 miles (35 minutes), Ayia Napa is 52 miles (one hour) via A3, Protaras 59 miles (70 minutes) via A3, Limassol is 52 miles (one hour) via A1 and finally Pathos 93 miles (nearly 2 hours)

Many fans may opt to hire a vehicle and the good news is that the rates are reasonable and the Cypriots drive on the left side of the road so exactly what we are used to. The bad news is that the island has some very poor drivers and caution is advised. Taxis are quite expensive but local and inter-city buses are very cheap, there are no railways in Cyprus.

FSF Cymru will be providing the normal fan embassy service in Cyprus throughout the week of the game and our 24-hour help line will be open throughout the trip.

There will be information booklets printed which the FAW kindly send out with match tickets, this information will also be available online three weeks before the game.  If you lose your passport, get into trouble with police or need medical assistance or any information about anything please ring our help line +44 7905 861848 (please save this number to your mobile).

 Blog Cyprus

Aeth y Gymdeithas Bêl-droed i Nicosia i weld stadiwm GSP ym mis Ebrill ac aeth FSF Cymru yno ar eu holau wedyn ym Mai. Hwyluswyd y daith gan Wyn Rhys Lewis, sy’n byw yn Pathos, a fu’n ddigon caredig i gynnig fy nghludo o gwmpas yr Ynys tra roeddwn yno a rhoi cymorth cyffredinol imi yn ystod y daith. Bydd tîm diogelwch y Gymdeithas yn ymweld eto cyn bo hir i sicrhau bod popeth yn barod ar gyfer ein hymweliad ym mis Medi. Y pryder mwyaf y tu mewn i’r stadiwm oedd cyflwr y seti ym mhen Cymru, mae’n debyg fod cefnogwyr y tîm oddi cartref yn malu’r seti hyn yn rheolaidd felly dydyn nhw ddim yn trafferthu eu hadnewyddu bob tro. Ond maen nhw wedi addo gosod seti newydd yn barod ar gyfer eu dwy gêm gartref ym Medi yn erbyn Cymru ac wedyn Gwlad Belg.

Mae’n anodd amcangyfrif ar hyn o bryd faint o gefnogwyr Cymru fydd yn teithio, ond mae’n debyg ei bod yn deg dweud y bydd dros 2,500 ohonom, ein nifer fwyaf o gefnogwyr oddi cartref ers rhai blynyddoedd. Mae’r stadiwm yn dal 23,000, a gallwn ddisgwyl cyfran dda o dicedi y tu ôl i’r gôl ar gyfer y gêm hon, ond mae’n rhaid sicrhau bod y seti’n ddiogel cyn gallu cadarnhau’r nifer. Does dim disgwyl y bydd yr adrannau cartref wedi gwerthu allan. Bydd pobl sydd wedi symud i Gyprus i fyw’n gallu prynu ticedi yn rhan Cyprus o’r stadiwm. Mae’n debyg yr aiff ein tocynnau ni ar werth tua diwedd Mehefin, a hynny ar lein neu dros y ffôn ar y rhif archebu tocynnau 0844 248 1876. Dim ond aelodau Aur fydd yn cael prynu ticedi, a bydd aelodaeth ar gael eto’n fuan ar ôl cael ei hatal tra roedd tocynnau gemau Israel ac Andorra ar werth, rhywbeth a wnaed er mwyn diogelu’r aelodaeth bresennol.

Adeiladwyd stadiwm GSP ym 1999 ac mae’n fychan yn ôl safonau rhyngwladol. Ond dyma’r stadiwm mwyaf yng Nghyprus, sy’n gartref i ddau glwb mwyaf Nicosia, Apoel ac Omonia. Mae’r Stadiwm i’r de o Nicosia, ryw 4 milltir o ganol y ddinas, wrth ochr traffordd yr A1 sy’n rhedeg o Nicosia i arfordir deheuol yr ynys. Gallwch weld y stadiwm o’r draffordd a dilyn y ffordd briodol ati. Does dim tai bwyta, bariau, caffis ac ati yn y cyffiniau ond maen nhw wedi addo darparu stondinau bwyd a diod y tu allan i’r stadiwm. Wedi ichi fynd i mewn bydd bwyd, diod a thoiledau ar gael o dan yr eisteddle. Mae meysydd parcio mawr y tu allan i adran y cefnogwyr oddicartref, a dyna lle cyfeirir ein cefnogwyr ni pan gyrhaeddant.

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o gefnogwyr Cymru am aros mewn trefi gwyliau yn hytrach na’r brifddinas, felly mae Leigh James wedi trefnu bysus i’r stadiwm ar ddiwrnod y gêm o Larnaca, Limassol, Ayia Napa, Pathos a Protaras. Am fanylion pellach cysylltwch â Leigh trwy ebost [email protected].

Mae ffordd dda iawn yn cysylltu’r trefi glan môr â’r brifddinas ac mae’r pellter yn amrywio, fel a ganlyn: o Larnaca mae’n 29 milltir (35 munud), Ayia Napa  52 milltir (awr) ar yr A3, Protaras 59 milltir (70 munud) ar yr A3, Limassol 52 milltir (awr) ar yr A1 ac yn olaf Pathos 93 milltir (bron i 2 awr).

Bydd llawer o gefnogwyr yn dewis llogi cerbyd, a’r newyddion da yw fod y gost yn rhesymol a bod pobl Cyprus yn gyrru ar yr ochr chwith i’r ffordd fel ni. Y newyddion drwg yw fod yna yrwyr gwael iawn ar yr ynys ac felly pwyll piau hi! Mae tacsis yn eithaf drud ond mae bysus lleol, a rhwng dinasoedd, yn rhad iawn. Does dim rheilffyrdd yng Nghyprus.

Bydd FSF Cymru yn cynnig y gwasanaeth llysgenhadaeth arferol i gefnogwyr yng Nghyprus drwy gydol wythnos y gêm a bydd ein llinell gymorth 24 awr yn agored ar hyd y daith. Byddwn yn argraffu llyfrynnau gwybodaeth a anfonir allan yn garedig iawn gan y Gymdeithas Bêl-droed gyda thocynnau’r gêm, a bydd y wybodaeth yma ar gael ar lein hefyd dair wythnos cyn y gêm. Os collwch eich pasbort, os ewch i helynt gyda’r heddlu, neu os bydd angen sylw meddygol neu unrhyw wybodaeth am unrhyw beth, cofiwch alw ein llinell gymorth +44 7905 861848 (safiwch y rhif hwn yn eich ffôn symudol).

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