Euro 2025: Boss Rhian Wilkinson says Wales are ‘culturally behind’ with women’s football
Wilkinson said she would like to see more families embrace women’s sports and believes there is still a perception that women’s sports are inferior to men’s sports.
“I hate this male versus female debate and I’ve discussed it at length with Craig (Bellamy, Wales men’s team manager),” she said.
“I am a supporter of his as much as he is a supporter of mine, there is no need to compare. We are Welsh, we are proud to be Welsh and we are proud of Welsh sport. Your Welsh women’s team is Come support them on the world stage.
“Get rid of all the other stories in your head. It’s time to stand up and support our female and male athletes equally.”
“It really bothers me every time I feel like we’re showing young people, boys and girls, that there are more and less, and that there are gender differences.
“Because I can see the next generation, don’t think they don’t notice that their parents only take them to the men’s game because it’s more rewarding.
“I’m not talking about financial worth, which I think is where people get confused. I’m saying you show and prove that men are more worthy by showing up or how you talk about it at home.”
Wilkinson said menswear boss Bellamy was a great advocate.
“For the men’s team, I invited some of them to come and speak to the group, which meant a lot,” she said. “Why don’t we try to exaggerate and lift each other up?
“I think Craig epitomizes that. He never mentioned he was a father, wife or mother. He was just a proud Welshman and women have the opportunity to put the sport on the world stage.”
Wilkinson said players like Wales’ most capped player and record goalscorer Jessie Fishlock are “hugely underrated even at home”, adding she hoped for Wales’ first major final Showing up can create more opportunities for girls at the grassroots level and leave a lasting legacy.
“I think my most important message is that we can’t continue to accept that it’s difficult for our young girls to have the same opportunities,” she said.
“I hope this Euros campaign continues to highlight these incredible women, ambassadors of the sport, giving them the platform they deserve and that this message starts to resonate more and more – not only In our city, but also in amazing countries throughout the world.
“Because there are so many beautiful little areas in Wales there are real challenges, not only to have a women’s team, but also to compete for those young women’s teams.
“That’s the challenge, it requires continued investment and continued growth.”
