Wales midfielder Angharad James has reflected on those who have helped her to where she is now, as she prepares to possibly win 100 caps during this international break.
James is currently on 98 caps, and if she features against Greece on Friday and Slovenia on Tuesday, she will become the ninth Welsh player to reach her century.
While full focus is on Greece tomorrow night, James has looked back on who has helped her reach this milestone appearance.
‘Until this meeting I’ve not really thought much about it. I have my family begging for hundreds of tickets but that’s probably the only time I’ve had to think about it’
‘It’s going to be a very proud moment for me and my family but something I’ve tried to think about is the people who have helped me get to this point’
‘My teachers and my school in Ysgol y Preseli were so important in my journey. My coaches from a young age and players that when I first came into the camp were inspirational and helpful in my progression in the sport’
‘Players like Gwennan Harries and Loren Dykes are still two people now that I look up to and turn to if I need any advice, and two people who have helped me on my journey, and it’s important to recognise that’
When asked if there was anyone in particular that she wanted to acknowledge, it was her high school teacher that sprung to mind.
‘My headteacher at Ysgol y Preseli, Mikey D (Mike Davies), he does a lot for Sgorio and he’s a big football fan’
‘When I was going through school, I had to take a lot of time off because of football to come up here because we didn’t have many opportunities out West, like we do now’
‘So, I had to travel to Swansea and Cardiff on a weekly/monthly basis. But he would never give me any trouble’
‘He’d said to take an extra day off, he was so helpful and he’s so supportive, and he actually texted me this week and it was nice to hear from him’
The soon to be centurion plays the vast majority of her time in the national team in a three-person midfield alongside Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle, players who already have a century of caps under their belts.
The bond between the three is easy to see on the field, but it’s something that has grown over time according to James.
‘I say it’s gotten stronger recently. Through COVID we all had to sit on the same tables, and unfortunately/fortunately we ended up on the same table. Me, Sophie, Laura, and Jess, but we just take the mick out of Jess all the time’
‘We’re just so relaxed and comfortable with each other and we just have to look at each other, we don’t have to say too much, we know what each of us is thinking. We’re really good friends, we’re really close and that bond is really special, and it definitely helps us on the field’
It’s also been a summer of change for the midfielder. She left NWSL side Orlando Pride to join WSL Tottenham, a decision she did not have to think hard about.
‘America was tough. I really enjoyed the league over there and it was a new challenge, and their philosophy is different, their style of play is different’
‘But I always wanted to come back to the UK and the WSL and when Spurs came in it was an easy decision for me. To come back and see my family and be around them was important’
Wales only need four points from the final six available to guarantee themselves a World Cup playoff place, the first in the history of the team.
In the past they’ve had chances to qualify but have fallen at the final hurdle; the loss to England and most recently the two draws against Northern Ireland. James, however, doesn’t believe history will weigh on their shoulders.
‘Those results are something we’ve tried to forget about. It wasn’t the best of times in our careers at that point and they were hard to deal with’
‘But it’s a new era now. We’ve got a new group of players, new staff and it’s a very exciting time to be a part of the group’
‘It’s the most confident I’ve felt going into game nine and game ten in the group, and I’m confident in the group that we can get it done’
Wales take on Greece in Volos tomorrow night, before returning home to take on Slovenia on Tuesday September 6th at the Cardiff City Stadium.
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