Wales manager Gemma Grainger has outlined her plans for the Welsh national team and domestic football.
The Football Association of Wales earlier today unveiled Gemma Grainger as the new manager of the Women’s national team.
One of her tasks will be to make for a pathway from the Welsh domestic game to the senior team
Football in Wales is going through a restructure and that will come into effect this summer with both new divisions of the North and South being created, both of which will come under the FAW umbrella.
Commenting on the relationship between the domestic game and the national team, she said: “It is so important. From a national team perspective it’s a balance of providing the players with the right opportunities.
“For the players playing in Wales, it’s about making sure they’ve got the right program to support development to then deliver it at the national team level.
“So for me, it’s a balance of both, for the players it’s about playing in the right environment for them to make sure they can develop that can essentially make them perform. The restructure is something I’m aware of and the conversations that I’ve been having have been really positive. I think for me to understand that and play a part in that is going to be really important.
This season, Sgorio have been able to provide highlights of select Welsh Premier Women’s League fixtures and broadcasted the Women’s South Wales Derby in September.
Asked whether she will attend a WPWL game to scout any potential call-ups to her squad, she said: “Yeah absolutely, it’s one of the top priorities on my list to come out and see the players.
“I see my role as being out two, three times a week. Once I’ve got the April camp complete in a few weeks, it’ll be part of my work. I really want to be strategic that in seeing players and making sure my visibility is high, so I can see the players because watching them in games is a big part of my role.”
She may not be a name familiar to some Welsh fans but she has vast experience and youth international level, as well as working at club level for Leeds and Middlesborough.
Grainger replaces Jayne Ludlow who left her post as manager in January.
Ludlow has left hard shoes to fill following her six-year stint overseeing all age ranges of the women’s national team, from youth level to the seniors.
“The only thing that played into my thought process was how we build on the foundations that Jayne left”, Grainger said.
“One of the things that attracted me to this role was first of all the ambition of the Association and second of all the players within the team.
“Looking at the potential, there have been some fantastic foundations built over the recent years.
“For me, the most exciting thing about this role is building on that and looking at what the next chapter can be with that goal of qualification to a major tournament.”
Unlike Ludlow, Grainger will work solely as the senior manager, meaning she will not have to juggle as many responsibilities as her predecessor.
Grainger began her coaching career 20 years ago working with her hometown team, Middleborough, as a community coach.
She later joined the English FA, where she enjoyed 11 successful years working across several teams from youth to senior football.
During her time with England, she played a major role in the development of some of the Lionesses’ best players.
Nikkita Parris, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson are all players that have worked under Grainger in various England youth international team.
She linked back up with Parris whilst working with the senior squad under Welshman Mark Sampson.
Her experience working with younger players will be crucial given the amount of exciting young players in the current Wales squad.
The likes of Lily Woodham, Carrie Jones, Esther Morgan, and Elise Hughes are the next generation of players that can replace their more senior teammates in the coming years.
Ultimately, it’s about us looking at where the potential gaps are”, she said. “The margins are so fine at this level.
“It’s about trusting in that process, looking at where we are currently and moving forward, whether that’s from a physical or technical point of view.
“I’m really confident that in the April camp we can start to put some of those things in place.”
Her first action as Wales manager will be preparing her backroom staff and squad ahead of next month’s friendlies against Canada and Denmark.
“Three weeks today we’re playing Canada. The first priority is making sure the staff is right for the April camp.
“Following the April camp, I’ll be going through the process to make sure we get that right going forward.”
This won’t be the first time the 38-year-old has worked with some members of the Wales squad, having worked alongside Tash Harding and Rhiannon Roberts at university level previously.
“It was 10 years ago but I do remember it, she said. “Their levels of professionalism and pride and the fact they’re all in is a trait I remember about those two players, in particular.”
Grainger may have been born in England but she isn’t letting that get in the way of her immersing herself in Welsh culture.
“The anthem has been a part of my evening routine for the last few nights It’s so important that I live and breathe this role.
“It’s one of the things that attracted me to the role I see the passion.”
“Bore da is something that I’m learning and diolch, these are my two new favourite words, I’m sure the players will be putting me through my paces with the anthem.”
Following next month’s friendlies Wales will learn who is in their qualification group for the 2023 World Cup.
Cymru narrowly missed out on a place at the past two international tournaments.
Playing in Australia and New Zealand would be the icing on the cake for Wales’ senior players whose time at the top may be approaching an end.
The World Cup could be the last chance for the likes of Harding, Jess Fishlock and Helen Ward – who have been instrumental in the development of women’s football in Wales – to play in a major tournament.
Granger is looking forward to helping those players reach the pinnacle of international football.
“It excites me massively. One of the biggest priorities for me is making sure I understand the players. We all have the same goal.
“Over the next four years we will have a plan in place and the priority will be qualification for a major tournament.
“It’s not going to be easy but it shouldn’t be to qualify for a tournament. Everything we put in place will be done so to achieve that.”
(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)
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