Women's World Cup: Wales inspires younger generation

The success of the Wales women's football team has young girls across the country wanting to take up the beautiful game.

"Watching the women play is really inspiring," said Princess, a Year 8 at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. "I'd love to be in that position one day".

A PE teacher at her school said Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign has seen more girls than ever wanting to take up the sport.

Ysgol Gyfun y Strade is planning to send 350 pupils to Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday to cheer on Wales as they face Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off match.

Wales' women could be on course to qualify for a major tournament for the first time.

Princess said playing football is her "happy place".

"I really enjoy doing it and it takes a lot of stress away," she explained. "It makes me happy."

She hoping to be one of the pupils sent to Cardiff to cheer for Wales.

"I love watching them play...and can't wait to support them," she said.

Her teacher Josh Williams said the number of girls wanting to play and train had increased significantly during the tournament.

"We've seen our numbers fly up as far as participation in our extra-curricular activities," he said.

"In football and rugby, the numbers compared to a few years ago have shot up," Mr Williams said. "I think the biggest factor in that is the success of the Wales women's teams.

He said the girls now have role models and see how much attention these sports are getting in the press, and it inspires them.

"There's no doubt it's had a big impact on our playing fields, when I first started here, we had maybe 10-12 girls training weekly, maybe one or two would be club players.

"But now, we have over 20 girls out training most lunch times, and almost each one plays in a club outside of school," said Mr Williams.

"Over the last two games, we've got over 350 pupils going up to Cardiff to watch, compared to a few years where we took around 50 pupils up, it shows how keen the girls, and boys are to go up and support them," he added.

One pupil who said she has seen attitudes change towards the sport since starting at the school is Year 13 pupil Poppy.

"When I first started in Year 7, I was the only girl in my year to play football outside of school, I used to play with only a few other girls.

"But now I help to coach the young girls football and 90% of them play for a club outside of school, which is lovely to see."

Poppy plays for Swansea City Ladies Under 19s, and hopes to continue to follow her passion.

"I think seeing Wales women play has really influenced us a lot, we get excited when seeing them, and it makes us think, if they can do it, then so can we.

"It's really exciting to see, the girls love it too, and it's really helped them feel more confident," she said.

Seren, is in Year 13, and helps coach the younger football teams alongside Poppy.

"Over the last two years, we've seen a lot more of the younger girls showing an interest in playing football and turn up to practice.

"They are being inspired to play in the team, in school and outside, and they are improving week on week - it's great to see."

If Wales beat Bosnia-Herzegovina, they will go to Switzerland on 11 October, and if they win that game, an inter-continental play-off in February will be the next hurdle with the team one step closer to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in July 2023, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand.