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| Euro 2025 hopes as Wales women on brink of footballing history | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Wales will be looking to make history if they manage to qualify for their first major tournament | Wales will be looking to make history if they manage to qualify for their first major tournament |
| Wales could be about to make footballing history over the next two games. | Wales could be about to make footballing history over the next two games. |
| Wales need to come out on top against the Republic of Ireland across the two games to ensure qualification for their first major tournament. | Wales need to come out on top against the Republic of Ireland across the two games to ensure qualification for their first major tournament. |
| A record number of tickets have been sold for the first leg, at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening. | A record number of tickets have been sold for the first leg, at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening. |
| Rhian Wilkinson's side will be hoping the crowd of more than 16,000 will help them secure a victory to put them in the best possible situation for the second leg in Dublin on 3 December. | Rhian Wilkinson's side will be hoping the crowd of more than 16,000 will help them secure a victory to put them in the best possible situation for the second leg in Dublin on 3 December. |
| The prize? A spot at Euro 2025. | The prize? A spot at Euro 2025. |
| Someone who knows a thing or two about scoring for Wales against the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is Gloria O’Connell. | Someone who knows a thing or two about scoring for Wales against the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is Gloria O’Connell. |
| She played in the first ever women’s international, before it was officially recognised by the Football Association of Wales (FAW). | She played in the first ever women’s international, before it was officially recognised by the Football Association of Wales (FAW). |
| The match took place not long after the ban on women’s football had been lifted in the early 1970s. | The match took place not long after the ban on women’s football had been lifted in the early 1970s. |
| Gloria scored, but the game finished 3-2 to the RoI, a result Wales will not be hoping to recreate. | Gloria scored, but the game finished 3-2 to the RoI, a result Wales will not be hoping to recreate. |
| "We didn’t play on pitches like they do today," Gloria said. | "We didn’t play on pitches like they do today," Gloria said. |
| "If I could have my life over again I'd be in my element, it's fantastic," she said, adding there is "nothing greater than pulling on that shirt for my country". | "If I could have my life over again I'd be in my element, it's fantastic," she said, adding there is "nothing greater than pulling on that shirt for my country". |
| Jayne and Gloria were given their caps last month, almost 50 years after they played for Wales | Jayne and Gloria were given their caps last month, almost 50 years after they played for Wales |
| Looking ahead to the game on Friday, she said she was confident the team will do it. | Looking ahead to the game on Friday, she said she was confident the team will do it. |
| "I think we've got what it takes, I think Jess [Fishlock] will get a hat-trick," she said. | "I think we've got what it takes, I think Jess [Fishlock] will get a hat-trick," she said. |
| "If it was me in that changing room I would be cheering them up, come on we got this. Fight for every ball, get in there." | "If it was me in that changing room I would be cheering them up, come on we got this. Fight for every ball, get in there." |
| Looking back at her playing days, Gloria said she had to pay to play. | Looking back at her playing days, Gloria said she had to pay to play. |
| "We had to pay for literally everything, including our kit. We had to stay in people's houses and sometimes with the opposition," she said. | "We had to pay for literally everything, including our kit. We had to stay in people's houses and sometimes with the opposition," she said. |
| Jayne “Tosh” Angove - now Hughes - who also played in the 1970s, is nicknamed after her favourite player John Toshack. | Jayne “Tosh” Angove - now Hughes - who also played in the 1970s, is nicknamed after her favourite player John Toshack. |
| She said she remembers playing for Wales as the "good days", and feels "part of the journey". | She said she remembers playing for Wales as the "good days", and feels "part of the journey". |
| "If it wasn't for us women then, the football wouldn't be as big as it is now," she said. | "If it wasn't for us women then, the football wouldn't be as big as it is now," she said. |
| Family and friends' well wishes | Family and friends' well wishes |
| Wales captain Angharad James will be hoping to lead her side to victory over the two legs. | Wales captain Angharad James will be hoping to lead her side to victory over the two legs. |
| Angharad, who also plays for Reign FC based in Seattle, USA, has a proud family back home in Pembrokeshire. | Angharad, who also plays for Reign FC based in Seattle, USA, has a proud family back home in Pembrokeshire. |
| Her father Clive James said watching her and the team play is a "massive rollercoaster of emotions". | Her father Clive James said watching her and the team play is a "massive rollercoaster of emotions". |
| "We are all massively proud, it's an accumulation of a lot of blood sweat and tears for her to get this far," he said. | "We are all massively proud, it's an accumulation of a lot of blood sweat and tears for her to get this far," he said. |
| Clive said he will be watching on Friday with family and friends, but that "it's excruciating from start to finish, hoping it all goes okay for her". | Clive said he will be watching on Friday with family and friends, but that "it's excruciating from start to finish, hoping it all goes okay for her". |
| Clive said his mother is 80, has never missed a home game and will be cheering on her granddaughter. | Clive said his mother is 80, has never missed a home game and will be cheering on her granddaughter. |
| "Hopefully she will be a lucky charm for her on Friday," he said. | "Hopefully she will be a lucky charm for her on Friday," he said. |
| Jayden, Angharad's brother, said: "It's unbelievable that someone in my family could be the captain of Wales." | Jayden, Angharad's brother, said: "It's unbelievable that someone in my family could be the captain of Wales." |
| Jayden said Angharad also helped his own footballing skills. | Jayden said Angharad also helped his own footballing skills. |
| "She helps me with loads of different skills, encourages me to pass and I've become both footed since she's helped me," he said. | "She helps me with loads of different skills, encourages me to pass and I've become both footed since she's helped me," he said. |
| Angharad James' family say are "unbelievably proud" of her. | Angharad James' family say are "unbelievably proud" of her. |
| Friends of Lily Woodham said that watching their best friend represent Wales was an "indescribable feeling". | Friends of Lily Woodham said that watching their best friend represent Wales was an "indescribable feeling". |
| Tara Male, one of Lily's closest friends said: "I’ve been friends with Lily for 19 years, watching her transformation from playing football on the school yard to watching her play professionally is amazing." | Tara Male, one of Lily's closest friends said: "I’ve been friends with Lily for 19 years, watching her transformation from playing football on the school yard to watching her play professionally is amazing." |
| Lily Woodham also plays for Reign FC, but is currently on loan to Crystal Palace | Lily Woodham also plays for Reign FC, but is currently on loan to Crystal Palace |
| Has women's football grown in Wales? | Has women's football grown in Wales? |
| Since 2021, women and girls' football in Wales has seen a rise of 45% in participation. | Since 2021, women and girls' football in Wales has seen a rise of 45% in participation. |
| During the 2023-24 season, more than 15,898 women and girls were taking part in football. | During the 2023-24 season, more than 15,898 women and girls were taking part in football. |
| The national team games have seen a 198% increase in attendance, growing from an average of 1,800 to 5,370. | The national team games have seen a 198% increase in attendance, growing from an average of 1,800 to 5,370. |
| Tondu United Football Club in Bridgend County was formed after the success of the Welsh national team during the summer of 2016. | Tondu United Football Club in Bridgend County was formed after the success of the Welsh national team during the summer of 2016. |
| They now have more than 250 girls playing for them, and took more than 300 fans to Wales' play-off semi-final last month. | They now have more than 250 girls playing for them, and took more than 300 fans to Wales' play-off semi-final last month. |
| Joe Powton, director at the club, said the Wales women's team has had an effect on the number of players at the club. | Joe Powton, director at the club, said the Wales women's team has had an effect on the number of players at the club. |
| "For them to have role models in the game, it's fantastic," he said. | "For them to have role models in the game, it's fantastic," he said. |
| "I think that the old stereotypical idea that girls wont go out and play in the rain and the cold isn't true, they absolutely will." | "I think that the old stereotypical idea that girls wont go out and play in the rain and the cold isn't true, they absolutely will." |
| The success of the Wales women team has had an effect on the number of players at the club, says Tondu United FC | The success of the Wales women team has had an effect on the number of players at the club, says Tondu United FC |
| Gwennan, Caitlin, Esmae and Amelie all play for Tondu United FC. | Gwennan, Caitlin, Esmae and Amelie all play for Tondu United FC. |
| They said being able to "play with their friends and scoring goals" is their favourite part of playing football. | They said being able to "play with their friends and scoring goals" is their favourite part of playing football. |
| Jess Fishlock was a firm favourite of theirs, with a mention for Ffion Morgan too. | Jess Fishlock was a firm favourite of theirs, with a mention for Ffion Morgan too. |
| They all said being able to go to the games and cheer on the players was great fun too. | They all said being able to go to the games and cheer on the players was great fun too. |
| Cerian began going to games because Parc y Scarlets started hosting women's fixtures. | Cerian began going to games because Parc y Scarlets started hosting women's fixtures. |
| Cerian Jenkins from Aberystwyth has been attending games since 2021. She said she has "every confidence" that they can qualify. | Cerian Jenkins from Aberystwyth has been attending games since 2021. She said she has "every confidence" that they can qualify. |
| She also said being part of the red wall inspired her to take up the game herself. | She also said being part of the red wall inspired her to take up the game herself. |
| "This team is so important to me, they have inspired me and given me confidence to start playing football and I am so grateful for that." | "This team is so important to me, they have inspired me and given me confidence to start playing football and I am so grateful for that." |
| Wales v Ireland – how to follow all the action on the BBC | Wales v Ireland – how to follow all the action on the BBC |
| Wales v Republic of Ireland (first leg) | Wales v Republic of Ireland (first leg) |
| 29th of November, Cardiff City Stadium. K.O. 19:15pm | 29th of November, Cardiff City Stadium. K.O. 19:15pm |
| Match Of The Day Wales - BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer | Match Of The Day Wales - BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer |
| Radio Wales Sport and Chwaraeon Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds | Radio Wales Sport and Chwaraeon Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds |
| Follow all updates on the BBC Sport website and app. | Follow all updates on the BBC Sport website and app. |
| Republic of Ireland v Wales (second leg) | Republic of Ireland v Wales (second leg) |
| 3rd of December, Aviva Stadium. K.O. 19:30pm | 3rd of December, Aviva Stadium. K.O. 19:30pm |
| Match Of The Day Wales - BBC One Wales, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer | Match Of The Day Wales - BBC One Wales, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer |
| Radio Wales Sport and Chwaraeon Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds | Radio Wales Sport and Chwaraeon Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds |
| Follow all updates on the BBC Sport website and app. | Follow all updates on the BBC Sport website and app. |