From the publisher:
An optimistic Llion Carbis looks ahead to our fixtures in Dublin and Sophia with his Nations League Update; and who can blame him after we collected 6 points in our opening two fixtures. The performances may not have been the best, but the way in which we stuck about our task was incredibly encouraging. Another 6 points anyone?
But before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s the small matter of a friendly with the World’s 4th best team (if the FIFA Rankings are to be believed) at Wembley. Will both teams use it as a warm up for their Nations League fixtures, or will they try to win at all costs? Welsh victories over England are few and far between – 1984 was the last one. Darren Jones goes even further back in time and discovers The Victory Internationals, a run of internationals that include two Welsh wins, but guess what, they aren’t recognised as full internationals! Grab a copy of Issue 19 to find out more.
If you are like me, you’re probably itching for a Wales away trip; but given Covid-19, the closest we’re going to get to one is Perry Morgan’s tale of Bulgaria away in 2007/08 – Halmstad, Burgas and Dean Saunders. Of course, nothing’s straight forward, and there’s a detour via Sweden to catch the Wales U21s on the way.
Issue 19’s Classic International is Dave Bowen – the only player ever to captain Wales in a World Cup Finals; and if that wasn’t enough to boast about, he later went on to become Wales’ longest serving manager too. Throw in the fact that he achieved the impossible while managing Northampton Town and he had one hell of a footballing career.
Dave Collins dons his mask, develops Euro-Vision and accepts a unique opportunity to sample the Champions League under Covid-19 conditions as Connah’s Quay come to Cardiff and attempt to overcome FC Sarajevo.
Here’s a contentious one. Now one of my least favourite things are the terms ‘South Wales’ or ‘North Wales’ with a capital ‘N’ and ‘S’; as far as I’m concerned it’s just ‘Wales’. So when David Rees suggested writing about a Welsh International Regional XI I had to give it some consideration. Given the go ahead, Dave’s risen to the challenge and put together a decent Wales XI from players born in the south east. He’s thrown down the gauntlet – anyone come up with a better XI from a different area? If you can, get in touch.
Dic Mortimer reaches Part 4 of the Hat-Trick Chronicles; and to coincide with our Wembley friendly, it includes an England hat-trick against us…scored in just 11 minutes. What’s the odds of history repeating itself on October 8th?
In his regular column, Buzz Boncath takes us back 7 years as Get With The Programme features Wales v Finland from 16th November 2013. Who remembers the final score from that early evening kick-off on an autumn Saturday at the Cardiff City stadium?
Maesteg-born and High Wycombe-based graphic designer, Jamie Pike, reveals his love of his country as he completes the Wales Fan Profile.
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