articles//city stuff//wales

Wales.  This is where I live.  Welsh...  This is my nationality, so far, so good?  Well, sadly being Welsh isn't that straight forward.  Oh, no, no, no, no, no (like the Churchill dog says).  There are many complicated aspects of being Welsh, many of which I have mentioned in my last piece of coursework, but I wont go into that now...

 For many of us, being Welsh means one thing - we're awful at football, and not bad at rugby.  Ok, I admit it, that was two things, but the rugby doesn't count.  No offence to rugby lovers everywhere, I love watching rugby and I can see its importance to Welsh heritage, but in my opinion football is far more important.

 Wales currently lie 105th in the latest FIFA World Rankings.  To those who don't know a lot about football, that may not sound bad, afterall, Wales is a small country - only a population of 3 million, whilst London alone, houses over 9 million people.  But to those who actually think about it, (you don't have to think that hard), can you name a hundred and five countries?  I've taken Geography for GCSE's and I must admit that I find it difficult to name as many (but what do I now? I'm only 16 afterall)

 So...Wales, an international team who along the years have had great players such as John  Charles, Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Mark Aizlewood, (sorry did I say great?), Dean Saunders and Ryan Giggs can't string a few results together.  But one thing, I do think is important to consider is we have to forget the past, and the 'greats' who've donned the red shirt for Wales.  When I say forget, I mean, pay less attention, and less focus, we should never forget those who have brought joy to so many.  However I believe it is important, that as we have one boot in the new Millennium, that we concentrate on today, and the future...

 Wales have some very promising youngsters emerging: Craig Bellamy, Simon Davies, Jason Koumas, and Carl Robinson.  Mark Delaney is now regarded as an old man in the team.  We shouldn't forget either Robert Earnshaw, our own little jewel here at City, and David Walsh, the current under 21 goalkeeper, (Wrexham), who has earned rave reviews for the struggling youngsters.  Yes, the under 21's results have not only been poor, but have been shameful, but things are improving. and at under 16's level we are drawing with the likes of England.  105th in the World is awful, but will we remember these days when we're regularly qualifying for international competitions?  I hope not, I've suffered enough. already.