Welsh girls’ football gets £1m facilities upgrade

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Girls’ and women’s football in Wales is set to benefit from a £1 million facilities upgrade at the national football centre, following new investment from the Welsh Government.

The funding will support the development of a new 3G pitch and improved training infrastructure at Dragon Park, the home of the Football Association of Wales national training facility.

Located in Newport, the site will become the base for the FAW Girls Regional Programme for players aged 12 to 17, while also providing enhanced facilities for grassroots football in the surrounding area.

The project forms part of a wider £15 million Welsh Government investment programme in 2025–26 aimed at improving sports facilities across Wales.

Overall, the government has committed £60 million to sports infrastructure during the current term.

The announcement comes as interest in women’s and girls’ football continues to grow across Wales, following the success of the national team in recent international competitions.

Minister for Sport Jack Sargeant visited the venue earlier this month, meeting training staff, young players and Rhian Wilkinson, head coach of the Wales women’s national football team.

Among the players taking part in the programme is 13-year-old Maizie Carrington from Pontypridd, who said: “Having access to facilities like these would be a massive boost for me and players like me. When I started out, I was just joining in kickabouts in the school yard – I never imagined I’d be training with the FAW.

“Better facilities mean more time on the pitch and the chance to keep pushing towards my goals. I want to keep improving every single session, and having a space like this makes that so much easier.”

Minister for Sport, Jack Sargeant MS, said: “These new facilities send a clear message to every girl in Wales who loves football – there is a place for you in this game.

“By building on the success of our national team reaching UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 last summer and by investing in Dragon Park, we are making sure that talent is never held back by a lack of opportunity.

“Wales is committed to giving every young woman and girl the chance to fulfil their potential on the pitch.”

Bethan Woolley, Strategic Lead for Women and Girls’ Football at the Football Association of Wales, said: “We’re grateful to the Welsh Government and Sport Wales for their investment in Dragon Park, which will be an important legacy for the Women’s Euros 2025 and will be a catalyst for future growth in the Women and Girls’ game.

“At the grassroots level, this investment will help us build and grow women and girls’ participation in football, and at the elite level, the site will be the home of our FAW Girls Regional Programme U12–17.

“Newport is a rapidly growing city, and these enhanced facilities will be an important resource, bringing far reaching benefits for the community.”