Euro 2025 hopes as Wales on brink of footballing history

Wales could be about to make footballing history over the next two games.

Two wins over two legs against the Republic of Ireland is what's needed to ensure qualification for their first major tournament.

A record number of tickets have been sold for the first leg, at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening.

Rhian Wilkinson's side will be hoping the crowd of more than 16,000 will help them secure a victory to put them in the best possible situation for the second leg in Dublin on 3 December.

The prize? A spot at Euro 2025.

Someone who knows a thing or two about scoring for Wales against the Republic of Ireland is Gloria O’Connell.

She played in the first ever women’s international, before it was officially recognised by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

The match took place not long after the ban on women’s football had been lifted in the early 1970s.

Gloria scored, but the game finished 3-2 to ROI, a result Wales will not be hoping to recreate.

"We didn’t play on pitches like they do today," Gloria said.

"If I could have my life over again I'd be in my element, it's fantastic," she said, adding there is "nothing greater than pulling on that shirt for my country".

Looking ahead to the game on Friday, she said she was confident the team will do it.

"I think we've got what it takes, I think Jess [Fishlock] will get a hat-trick," she said.

"If it was me in that changing room I would be cheering them up, come on we got this. Fight for every ball, get in there."

Looking back at her playing days, Gloria said she had to pay out of her own money to play.

"We had to pay for literally everything, including our kit. We had to stay in people's houses and sometimes with the opposition," she said.

Jayne “Tosh” Angove - now Hughes - who also played in the 1970s, is nick-named after her favourite player John Toshack.

She said she remembers playing for Wales as the "good days", and feels "part of the journey".

"If it wasn't for us women then, the football wouldn't be as big as it is now," she said.

Wales captain Angharad James will be hoping to lead her side to victory over the two legs.

Angharad, who also plays for Reign FC based in Seattle, USA, has a proud family back home in Pembrokeshire.

Her father Clive James said watching her and the team play is a "massive rollercoaster of emotions".

"We are all massively proud, it's an accumulation of a lot of blood sweat and tears for her to get this far," he said.

Clive said he will be watching on Friday with family and friends, but that "it's excruciating from start to finish, hoping it all goes ok for her".

Clive said his mother is 80, has never missed a home game and will be cheering her granddaughter on.

"Hopefully she will be a lucky charm for her on Friday," he said.

Jayden, Angharad's brother, said: "It's unbelievable that someone in my family could be the captain of Wales."

Jayden said Angharad also helped his own footballing skills.

"She helps me with loads of different skills, encourages me to pass and I've become both footed since she's helped me," he said.

Friends of Lily Woodham said that watching their best friend represent Wales was an "indescribable feeling".

Tara Male, one of Lily's closest friends said: "I’ve been friends with Lily for 19 years, watching her transformation from playing football on the school yard to watching her play professionally is amazing."

Since 2021, women and girls' football in Wales has seen a rise of 45% in participation.

During the 2023-24 season, more than 15,898 women and girls were taking part in football.

The national team games have seen a 198% increase in attendance, growing from an average of 1,800 to 5,370.

Tondu United Football Club in Bridgend County was formed after the success of the Welsh national team during the summer of 2016.

They now have more than 250 girls playing for them, and took more than 300 fans to Wales' playoff semi-final last month.

Joe Powton, director at the club, said the Wales women's team has had an effect on the number of players at the club.

"For them to have role models in the game, it's fantastic," he said.

"I think that the old stereotypical idea that girls wont go out and play in the rain and the cold isn't true, they absolutely will."

Gwennan, Caitlin, Esmae and Amelie all play for Tondu United FC.

They said being able to "play with their friends and scoring goals" is their favourite part of playing football.

Jess Fishlock was a firm favourite of theirs, with a mention for Ffion Morgan too.

They all said being able to go to the games and cheer on the players was great fun too.

Cerian Jenkins from Aberystwyth has been attending games since 2021. She said she has "every confidence" that they can qualify.

She also said being part of the red wall inspired her to take up the game herself.

"This team is so important to me, they have inspired me and given me confidence to start playing football and I am so grateful for that."