Ynysddu’s shock win reads like a Hollywood epic script
The story of a scratch Welsh youth side who triumph against the odds is pure box office, writes James Corrigan
‘We decided to keep it to local boys – but we only had time for one training session’
Robyn Lewis had given up football. He had played for his local club from the age of four to 16, but apart from a trial with Welsh League club Risca United his dream had never materialised. So, after enrolling on an engineering course, Lewis put away his boots. Until he saw the social media message.
On Tuesday, Sept 18, Ynysddu Welfare FC were drawn away against Briton Ferry in the first round of the Football Association of Wales Youth Cup. It would have been a daunting prospect for the Gwent club anyway, considering their opponents were a few rungs higher in the pyramid and boasted six players who had been involved in the Swansea City academies. But there was another factor which made it much tougher.
Ynysddu Welfare did not have a youth team. They disbanded it in 2016 due to lack of interest.
Ben Murphy, the club’s manager, thought it humorous at first, but delayed advising the governing body of its administrative cock-up while he slept on it. Something was stirring.
On the Wednesday, he put the news out on Facebook and Twitter calling for players to form a scratch side and his plea attracted attention.
Murphy was inundated. “We could have filled three, maybe four teams, with players getting in touch from all over the place,” he told me. “We decided to keep it to local boys, most of whom were playing in Sunday leagues, but we only had days to get them registered. We only had time for one training session before the game.”
What unfolded was the cup shock of this or any other season. It was 2-2 after extra time and Ynysddu won 5-4 on penalties. It was a wonderfully unreconstructed fairy tale. The referee refused to start until the travelling support had disposed of their beers, and the smoke bombs let off in celebration might still earn the wrath of the FAW.
Yet the beaks would have no hearts if they act because everything about that scene screams Hollywood. The backdrop of a humble Welsh valley where hope runs dry; the struggles of a small club trying to bind a fading community; the childhood fantasies laying moribund in disgruntled teenagers.
Who knows, the tale might yet become more fantastical still, as in the second round on Nov 4 they face Llanelli Town, the former club of Jock Stein who appeared in the Europa League in 2013. Except for Murphy, the stardust will not be provided by going through and then drawing Cardiff City or even making it to Tinseltown. His main ambition is to establish this team as a fixture and give these boys somewhere permanent to play.
“There is far more to youth football than just academy level,” Murphy said. “Too much of youth football has become about reaching stardom and the enjoyment factor is forgotten. Some of that team who had stopped playing altogether have now joined our senior side and to get these boys enjoying football again is more satisfying than winning one match.”
Lewis is one of these. He thought of himself as a winger, but played centre-half and made such an impression he signed forms on Tuesday. The dream is back on. “Maybe I can do a Jamie Vardy,” Lewis said. But then maybe not. “No, it isn’t the be all and end all,” he agreed. “It’s about having fun, being a team and trying to be the best we can. That’s what football should be.”