“It was a blast” – Wales Women head home but fans take pride in first Euros

This year’s Euros was the first time Wales Women have qualified for the competition and FSA member groups Wal Goch y Menywod (Wales Women’s Red Wall) and Cymru Women’s Supporters Group were out in Switzerland helping travelling fans. Penny Miles, writing on behalf of both, tells more…

We came, we sang, we painted Luzern and St Gallen red, and what a magical journey it was. For those of us used to 40-50 away travelling supporters, to be part of a 3,800-strong fan contingent for our first match in Luzern was beyond any of our wildest dreams.

Rivalling one of women football’s most renowned fan bases, the Dutch, in that first game, was an unexpected delight. To then follow them on our very first fan walk at a major tournament was so very special. Whilst we haven’t quite mastered the art of a travelling party bus just yet, we managed an impromptu rendition of ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ (Land of My Fathers) outside the Welsh players’ hotel. As a country now known for its national anthem, its first rendition at a women’s major tournament brought tears to many eyes. The Welsh had arrived on the pitch and off it, and fans used the anthem to honour their history-makers.

Fan walk in Luzern

Qualification for Cymru women national team’s first major tournament brought a whole host of new fans to tournament football. Young families, groups of women of all ages, couples, many former players, and some of the stalwarts of the men’s fan base were all in attendance to witness so many firsts: Welsh bands (Adwaith, Aleighcia Scott) representing in the fan zones, bucket-hat filled fan walks, and pre-match meet ups with attendees into their hundreds. The latter is a far cry from our usual numbers of 20-40.

Daughter and mum enjoy the atmosphere

This is where the supporter-volunteers came into their own (thanks go to Holly, Judy, Jaz, Ian, Carl, James, Cerian, Kirsty, Siân, Ben, Lianne, Sarah and Lizzie – see below ‘Volunteers on matchday three’).

Representing Wal Goch y Menywod and Cymru Women’s Supporters, under the careful guidance of the FSA’s Debs Dilworth, these groups played a key role in assisting new fans pre- and during the Swiss adventure. Creating and handing out bilingual (Welsh/Cymraeg-English) fan guides, providing pre-tournament support via numerous WhatsApp groups, circulating song sheets to get the crowd vocally behind the players, adorning fans’ cheeks in dragon flag tattoos, and providing a warm Welsh welcome or ‘croeso mawr’ to all who came.

From beautiful Luzern, the fans decamped to St Gallen. It is quite fitting that the city where we were to play our final two group matches (against France and England) was established by a fellow Celt. Their city emblem, a bear, is also not too dissimilar from our flag-adorning dragon. As is common with the travelling Welsh contingent, they are just happy to be there, bringing a joyful smile with their lyrical song.

Swiss fans hold a Wal Goch y Menywod flag

Whilst our journey came to a tough end, the fans could not have been prouder of the team. For the first time ever, Welsh women were at the forefront of the world’s most popular sport, playing on the international stage. To witness our taliswoman, Jess Fishlock, score and get an assist was priceless.

We have memories of song, celebration and history-making and we hope to be back on this stage sooner rather than later.

A special thanks must go to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) for ensuring that bucket hats adorned Swiss streets, making the fan walks so successful and funding our first ever fan guide. We are hugely grateful to the host cities for making the experience so memorable, and to the Swiss for funding match day travel.

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