Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:06 pm on 29 June 2022.
Can I thank Jack Sargeant for giving me a minute in this debate? I'm very pleased to see Wales qualify for the world cup finals, but footballers start playing when they're in primary school, usually in their school and the local club. Without those teachers who freely give their time and those who coach and run junior football teams, there would not be a successful national side. Every weekend throughout Wales, there are junior football matches being played. Players have to be taken to fixtures, someone has to referee these fixtures, and someone has to act as trainer in case of injury. Many will stop playing when they reach 16 or 18, some will progress to the local leagues, and very few to professional clubs and even fewer to playing for Wales. All the players start this journey in the same place. I have previously asked for more 3G and 4G pitches to make playing football in wet weather possible. Too often, during winter, several weeks of football is lost due to pitches being unplayable. I end with a big 'thank you' to those who make junior football happen, so that the next Gareth Bale and Joe Rodon get the chance to start their journey to become international footballers.