North Wales girls gather on Coronation Street for fun football event – Grassroots North Wales | Championing Local Sport | Dave Jones Sportswriter

Northop Hall Girls display the Welsh flag on Coronation Street. All pictures: FAW

Three grassroots football clubs from North Wales joined others on a visit to one of the world’s most famous streets on Saturday.

The occasion was a special football gathering on the Coronation Street cobbles ahead of Sunday’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 meeting between Cymru and England.

The unprecedented event brought together 48 young female footballers aged 12-16 from National Lottery-supported clubs, showcasing how sustained grassroots investment has created pathways from local pitches to international tournaments.

The timing was historic after Cymru made their debut at a major women’s tournament, whilst England are the defending champions.

The celebration took place at the end of Wales’ Chwarae FOR HER week-long celebration, embodying “unity before rivalry” as both nations prepared for their historic EURO 2025 encounter.

Wales was represented at Saturday’s event by CPD Merched Porthmadog, Northop Hall Girls and Buckley Girls.

Buckley Town FC’s Emma Iball, rejected from boys’ football in 1983, has created opportunities for 250 primary school girls across North Wales. Her transformation of grassroots football earned her FAW Volunteer of the Year in 2020.

CPD Porthmadog girls outside the famous Rovers Return

CPD Merched Porthmadog has grown from nothing in 2016 to 100 registered players, producing Chelsea’s Cadi Rodgers who represents Wales at Under-19 level.

Northop Hall Girls FC, founded in 2008, has become Wales’ third-largest female football club with over 200 players, producing Liverpool’s Mia Parry and Wales international Elise Hughes.

Buckley Town are fast developing their female section, including girls teams and a senior women’s side being formed for the first time this season.

Roy Cropper wouldn’t like this! Buckley Town Girls have a kickabout outside Roy’s Rolls

Meanwhile, four English clubs took part in the event – Chadderton FC, Cadishead Sports JFC, Ashton on Mersey FC and Rochdale AFC Ladies.

The transformation reflects sustained National Lottery investment across both countries. Welsh women’s and girls’ football received £332,972 in 2024/25, helping the FAW double its investment through programmes like Huddle (ages 4-11) and BE.FC (ages 12-16).

In England, the English FA has received over £50 million since 2012, creating over 500,000 opportunities for women and girls. National Lottery players raise £30 million weekly for good causes throughout the UK.

Saturday’s event featured six interactive zones with former England player Jill Scott and former Cymru international Katie Sherwood, alongside Coronation Street actors Jennie McAlpine (Fiz) and Alan Halsall (Tyrone).

The seven clubs represent the grassroots foundation enabling both nations to reach EURO 2025, demonstrating how National Lottery investment has created pathways from community pitches to international success.

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