Despite recent successes at under-19 level, including a victory over England, there is growing concern that talented young female footballers in Wales are being lost due to a lack of a bridge between youth and senior teams.
Soraya Kelly, a campaigner and former player, argues that the gap between under-19 and senior football is 'unacceptable'. She points out that only four or five of the current under-19 squad will remain eligible, leaving many talented girls with nowhere to go. 'So many talented girls are dropping off, or even before dropping off, are thinking, "Well, we've only got till we're 19, so what's the point?"' Kelly said.
One such player is Shanelle Edwards, now 32 and working in property finance, who left football after being invited to train with the seniors but never earning a cap. She believes an under-21 or under-23 team would have helped. 'The gap between being an 18 or 19-year-old footballer to competing with senior level players... is a big jump both physically and mentally,' Edwards said.
Former Wales striker Helen Ward, who won 105 caps, now sees a need for an intermediate team due to the growing talent pool. 'There is now a bigger pool where not everybody is going to be able to jump from the 17s and 19s straight into senior football,' Ward said. She herself didn't make her senior debut until 22, noting that not everyone is ready at 19.
Funding remains a key obstacle. The FAW relies on commercial revenue and international governing bodies, and the men's failure to qualify for the World Cup hasn't helped. Kelly believes the Welsh Government should step in to support an elite pathway. The Welsh Government stated it is committed to working with governing bodies to expand opportunities and remove barriers, and noted the FAW leads on strengthening pathways.
Kelly plans to launch her campaign in August, with backing from Race Council Cymru, the Black Police Association, Her Game Too, and MP Kanishka Narayan. She also plans to meet UEFA vice president Laura McAllister. 'The boys have got it and have always had it... The women's game has come on so much and how are we ever going to be able to compete against the likes of England going forward, if we don't have that middle buffer?' Kelly said.