Wales’ Rhiannon Roberts speaks glowingly about Wrexham growth
WREXHAM, WALES - 26th MARCH 2023 - Wrexham celebrate the opener during Wrexham AFC Women vs Connah's Quay Nomads in the final game of the Genero Adran North at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
Cymru defender Rhiannon Roberts has spoken highly about Wrexham and on the prospect of playing international games at the Racecourse.
Roberts was a guest of honour for Wrexham’s final Adran North fixture against Connah’s Quay, and spoke glowingly about her experience.
“It was unbelievable. I’ve always been a Wrexham fan, I used to go when I was little with my uncle and I took him the other day and he had a great time.
“I met the manager and everyone in the director’s box, but it was great! I spoke to Ryan and Rob on the pitch after the celebrations and they’re incredible guys and they know exactly what’s going on around the club.”
There have been numerous calls for both Cymru’s men’s and women’s teams to play at the Racecourse, and Roberts bought up that prospect to the Hollywood owners.
“I spoke to them about playing women’s international games there and they said about the UEFA criteria. I mentioned the floodlights and they said it’s being sorted. They’re fully aware of everything going on.
“They’re not just investing their money; they’re investing their time and it’s brilliant to see because the club has got so much history.”
Wrexham lifted the trophy in front of over 9,500 fans, and Roberts stated that it was an achievement the club and the players thoroughly deserved.
“Having that many fans in that game was absolutely fantastic. The girls have deserved it, they’ve put a real shift in all season, and they’ve not lost a game all season.
“To finish it off in that style, the celebration on the pitch, being able to play at the Racecourse, it’s incredible.”
On the pitch, Cymru are preparing for friendlies against Northern Ireland and Portugal.
Thursday night sees the Green and White Army travel across the Irish Sea, and Cymru has a score to settle against Northern Ireland.
Norn Iron pipped Cymru to the post and qualified for Euro 2022 based on the away goals in the head-to-head games between the two. Those matches still play on the mind of the players involved, like Roberts.
“It’s in the back of our minds. It was a little bit bitter, they went to the European Championships, which they deserved, they had a really good campaign.
“But for us, it’s just about putting things right again. It’s another opportunity to play someone in and around us and hopefully get some goals.
“You don’t forget games like that and that will push us on to start the game well and we know what we’re expecting from them.
Cymru have not played a competitive fixture since their playoff final heartbreak in Switzerland and will not have one until September when the Nations League begins.
While the gap is long, Roberts says there are advantages of having a long period between games.
“After the Switzerland game it was a bit of a hangover camp, it was absolutely heart-breaking for us, and I know people stepped off that pitch and after were like, I just want a refresh and start a brand-new campaign now.
“But this gap gives us time to get ourselves together again and start a new journey together, and it’s already started. It doesn’t start when the Nations League begins, the new journey has already begun.”
Cymru face Northern Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday April 6th, with kick off at 19:15.
