GOOD LUCK BOYS
HOPES AND DREAMS OF A NATION REST ON SHOULDERS OF WALES SQUAD
THE Welsh football team has been given a heroes’ welcome at Cardiff Airport as they departed for their Euro 2016 adventure.
Chris Coleman’s men flew to Stockholm ahead of today’s friendly against Sweden – their one and only warm-up match ahead of the European Championships in France.
The squad won’t return to Wales in between the Sweden game and the tournament itself, which starts in Bordeaux on June 11 for Wales when they take on Slovakia.
While Euro 2016 promises to be a special tournament for the entire Welsh squad – with Wales’ last ap- pearance coming in the 1958 World Cup – yesterday was also a remarkable day for the young pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna.
The Cardiff primary school was selected by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to greet the squad at Cardiff Airport, ahead of the team’s 3pm flight.
Waving flags, singing hymns and trying to get a glimpse of their heroes, the pupils formed a sea of red as the Welsh bus arrived from the team’s base at the Vale Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan. Long before the team bus had arrived, the Ysgol Treganna pupils had been singing famous Welsh hymns as the atmosphere built.
Led by manager Chris Coleman and captain Ashley Williams, the stars departed the coach to a chorus of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Each and every one of the players stopped to sign autographs and pose for photographs with the excited pupils.
And, as anticipated, a huge scrum formed around Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale as he gave his time to the fans.
The primary school pupils grabbed their chance of meeting the £85m man, who is the world’s most expensive footballer.
Among those who got to meet the superstar was pupil Macsen Gwyn, who said: “I got to meet Bale, Neil Taylor, Simon Church and Chris Gunter – I was bursting with excitement. Since we were told we would meet the Wales team, the whole school has been looking forward to it.
“I just really wanted to get their autographs.”
Arsenal fan Dafydd Bleasdale, a Year 6 pupil, said he was overwhelmed to meet midfielder Aaron Ramsey – who was, of course, sporting his new blond hairdo.
Dafydd said: “It was a really great experience, especially because we could get signatures from the players.
“When they came out of the bus everyone was screaming – it was quite emotional.
“I had a season ticket for the home games and have watched all the away games on the television.
“It’s really amazing that Wales have started winning so many games and have qualified for this tournament, and I’m so happy I got to meet Ramsey.”
Cati Davies, also of Year 6, added: “I didn’t expect to meet every single player.
“Bale was amazing, I couldn’t even breathe! I was nervous at meeting all
the players but it was really special to be here.”
Deputy head teacher Rhiannon Roberts explained how the school had been chosen by the FAW to give the Welsh team a special send-off.
“We were honoured and very fortunate to have the opportunity, and we were all very excited to come here today – and now we’re all very excited for the first game next Saturday.
“We have some very keen football supporters in the school, and one of the teachers, Gareth Evans, has been organising trips to the qualifying games.
“Then the FAW was looking for a school to come here and show their support, and we were top on the attendance records of the Welsh games.
“Mr Evans has been arranging it all with them ever since.
“It has been a day that these young children will never forget, and that I will never forget. We hope that the Wales team will do us proud, which I’m sure they will.”
Even football freestyler Stephen Gray, from Bristol, was having a ball. As part of the event, he was asked to show off his incredible skills to the youngsters.
Photos were later released of the team on board the plane with Chris Coleman and Ashley Williams in the cockpit and with captain Steve Hunt.
The team themselves posted updates from the plane with Gareth Bale describing it as the “start of our Euro journey”.
After the Wales-Slovakia opener in Bordeaux, Wales face England in Lens on June 16 and Russia in Toulouse on June 20 as they bid to advance from the group stages.