Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
EMPIRE STA TE OF MIND
Who needs glitz and glamour of New York? Rob Page lit up Tylorstown Welfare Hall in the Rhondda all by himself and turned it into Wales’ own House of the Dragon
Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Group B, 7pm,
USA named their World Cup squad in the shadow of the Empire State Building which was lit up red, white and blue.
Wales boss Rob Page, by contrast, chose a rather more modest, lowclose-knit key setting. Yet his decision to reveal his 26-man World Cup squad in the Valleys community where he grew up was every bit as powerful a statement in Wales.
Page wiped the tears from his eyes and had to stop to compose himself when he discussed his picks in front of an audience of family and fans at Tylorstown Welfare Hall opposite where his parents still live.
The 48-year-old calls Sheffield home these days after playing for the Blades in defence but the values forged in Tylorstown shaped the humbleness and work ethic which radiate from him through Wales’ squad to diff defender Scot in the old mining ing youth football being reunited bri Bluebirds and the
“Pagey is two y me,” said Young brought up qui Rhondda Valleys.
“He was just ov of the mount Tylorstown and Trealaw. I was qu play up a couple o young so I played Tylorstown. For t
from the Rhondda it was a tough and challenging upbringing.
“But Pagey’s parents and my dad took us everywhere even though finances were tight. That is what we do when we are from the Rhondda, we dig in. We were similar players, though he obviously played at a higher level than me.
“We both liked a challenge, a tackle and liked to compete and give everything.
“That came from our parents, everything we did in life we give 100 per cent.” Page’s leadership qualities were spotted at an early age and helped him in an 18-year playing career in which he captained a team and scored in all four divisions of English football during spells with Watford, Sheffield United, Cardiff, Coventry, Huddersfield and Chesterfield.
Coaching and management was a natural progression before he was on hand to step up as Wales caretaker from Ryan Giggs’ coaching staff in 2020.
Winning over the changing room might have been a challenge for some but not Page. Young reflected: “There were a lot of senior players who have respected Pagey from the minute he walked through the door.
“They are world-class players and that is a massive pat on the back for him. Players are so knowledgeable about the game and tactical awareness, you have to earn that respect from them straight away.
“But Pagey has done that after working under Ryan before taking over. He has the group with him and put his own little stamp on it.
“I am certain these players will give him and the country everything.” Despite Wales’ success under Page, which earned him a new deal in September, Young insists the man himself remains the same. In Doha after completing the ‘Electric Car to Qatar’ challenge, Young added: “He hasn’t changed as a guy.
“I messaged him the night of the squad announcement and I just dropped him a message from Europe on my travels saying how proud we were.
“He was about to go live and he messaged me straight back. No matter what he is doing he still has respect for his friends from the
Rhondda. He is a hero in the Rhondda and Wales – it is a massive achievement.
“We are emotional people from the Rhondda. When I spoke to his dad recently the tears were rolling down his face.
“Just to see him so proud of his son was great. I never thought I would see the day Wales were in the World Cup. Whatever happens, they are heroes already and will get a great reception back home.”