Page 13 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No10 2020/21

A 26-player squad was selected for a February
training camp at the Vale Resort as Wales'
preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women's World
Cup Qualifying Round get underway.
The camp , which took place from Monday
15th - Saturday 20th Feb, featured an almost full
strength Wales squad with captain Sophie Ingle,
most capped international Jessica Fishlock and
Hayley Ladd amongst the players involved. The only
player unavailable was Megan Wynne, who is at the
final stages of her recovery from an ACL injury.
The camp was the first time the squad came
together since the departure of Jayne Ludlow as
national team manager. An interim coaching group,
led by FAW Technical Director David Adams, took
charge of the squad as the recruitment process for a new manager progresses. Adams was
assisted by Men's U18s manager Matty Jones and the recently retired centurion Loren Dykes
for the duration of the camp.
The week marked the start of preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
qualifying campaign, which is due to start in September (draw date 30th April). Friendly
matches prior to the start of the campaign will be announced in due course.
"I'm very excited to be involved for this camp along with the rest of the coaching team,"
said David Adams ahead of the camp. "We plan to keep it an elite and enjoyable environment
for the players, working on targets for each individual as they start to look ahead to the
upcoming world cup campaign."
"I'm privileged to be asked to work with these girls on the upcoming camp, they are
such a talented group of players with a good mix of youth and experience. It's a great learning
opportunity for me and I hope I can make a positive impact in the short time we have
together," added Loren Dykes.
"From the outside looking in the team has always had a togetherness and
professionalism that is such a positive for the game in Wales," said Matty Jones. "I hope this
camp will give the players the opportunity to grow even further and I look forward to the
opportunity to learn more myself in a new environment."
Wales training camp squad:
Laura O'Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Claire Skinner (Swansea City), Olivia Clark (Coventry
United), Poppy Soper (Plymouth Argyle), Rhiannon Roberts (Liverpool), Gemma Evans
(Bristol City), Maria Francis-Jones (Cardiff City Ladies), Charlie Estcourt (London Bees),
Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Josie Green (Tottenham Hotspur), Nadia Lawrence
(Cardiff City Ladies), Elise Hughes (Blackburn Rovers *), Anna Filbey (Celtic *), Sophie Ingle
(Chelsea), Angharad James (Reading FC Women), Jessica Fishlock (Reading FC Women *),
Carrie Jones (Manchester United), Kylie
Nolan (Cardiff City Ladies), Chloe Williams
(Manchester United), Kayleigh Green
(Brighton & Hove Albion), Natasha
Harding (Reading FC Women), Rachel
Rowe (Reading FC Women), Helen Ward
(Watford), Lily Woodham (Reading FC
Women), Georgia Walters (Blackburn
Rovers), Ffion Morgan (Crystal Palace).
Photos by Will Cheshire
Issue no. 10 - 4 March 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk