Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:32 pm on 16 June 2021.
I'm particularly enjoying this debate. As our good friend Sam Rowlands said, I am a passionate sports fan. He reminded me of my days supporting Newcastle United FC, which I still do. I still have fond memories of the late Gary Speed doing magical things for my club. The Llywydd knows I'm one to promote sporting excellence at every opportunity, whether that is our national football team or whether that is the mighty Connah's Quay Nomads FC of north Wales, for winning the Cymru Premier league again. They will soon be representing Wales on the European stage once more. Llywydd, you will know I am a truly proud club ambassador, so I'm very happy to declare an interest on that. My good friend Huw Irranca-Davies—I agree absolutely with everything he said in his contribution before. But what I will say is that in the north-east of Wales, we are thinking about this Tokyo Olympic Games, because Jade Jones is going for her third gold medal in taekwondo. So, I'm sure we'll wish her all the very best there.
Llywydd, Members across the Chamber rightly have noted that the key to seeing success for Wales on the world and European stage is, of course, grass-roots sport. I am currently putting together a meeting between the FAW, Flintshire council and—I hope—Sport Wales as well, alongside Buckley Town Football Club. My ambition, and the club's ambition, is to get a first-class artificial pitch at the club. I'll be urging everyone at that meeting to join me in getting this facility in place. Because it's not just about football, actually—this is about every sport and activity that can be played on a community shared facility. I want everyone in that meeting to get behind this ambition, and I'll be urging local councillors, in particular, to convince the local council to get behind the vision too. All-weather pitches are vital if the next generation of talent are to be able to train all year round, in whatever sport they wish to do so. I'd be grateful if the Minister could make a note on that in her response—about the importance of artificial pitches, for all sports and real communities to use as a shared facility. Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd.