Wales lift o70s World Cup 2024 Trophy in Cardiff

The Wales Veterans' Football Association proudly hosted the 70+ & 75+ World Cup Tournament 2024 in Cardiff from the 20th - 23rd August, and both the o70s and o75s made their respective finals...

Cardiff University Fields in Llanrumney was the perfect setting for teams from USA, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Australia, and of course the hosts, to reach a new milestone for veterans football in the principality....with the competition gaining extensive media coverage and attracting a sizable, partisan crowd...just reward for the considerable amount of work that went on behind the scenes to make the event a success!

Wales o70s recorded 4 wins and a draw from 6 group games against some really strong, mobile and skilful teams with a contingent of former professionals and ex-internationals, including an Aussie who had represented his country at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Wales topped their group and progressed into a semi-final showdown with England, where a satisfying 2-0 win, took them into the final. So after 8 hours of football in 4 days, Wales, deservedly, defeated the USA, to lift the o70s World Cup trophy, to the delight of the watching hordes.

Alan Meacham, the man between the sticks for Wales summed up his cup final experience “Our Cup final opponents, USA, scored freely on their way to the final with a team built around former NASL players....but, then again, we had the best defence in the tournament, and although the US forwards were pacey and did stretch us a couple of times we pressed and harassed them so much that we did not allow them to settle into any pattern of play. As often happens in football though, we conceded against the run of play, but showed great character and energy to equalise midway through the second half and the game ended all-square!” He continued ‘”So it’s penalties and i'm facing former Dallas Tornado striker Freddy Garcia... as he strikes the ball firmly to my right, 'bingo' I get a strong hand to it and keep it out!!!...and we go on to win the shoot-out 4-2”

Managers, Alun Huish and Jon Ross enthused, “we knew that if all the squad played their part and we could keep our key players fit, we had a strong chance of lifting the trophy.”

The o75s had a faultless passage to the final, winning 7 out of 7 and scoring freely with striker, Billy Arnold, bagging four hat-tricks on the way. In the final they faced their toughest test, England, who had defeated the Wales 'Cymru' team comfortably in their first group game! The hosts fell 3-0 behind to their ruthless opponents after some sloppy defending, and with 15 minutes remaining a last throw of the dice saw the appearance of talisman, Arnold, albeit debilitated. This gave his team hope and urged on by the sizable, partisan crowd, they gained parity to take the game to penalties. England however, lifted the trophy after a faultless shoot-out, but the Wales team and their colleagues in the 'Cymru' squad can be very proud of their efforts.

Wales o75s supremo’s, Mullen and Bowker, were crestfallen saying “it’s devastating to fall at the final hurdle, but with five players struggling with injury, the lads were magnificent and we are immensely proud of our achievement.”

Celebrations continued long into the night at a Gala Dinner held at the Mercure Hotel attended by over 500 people, where the trophy was presented by goalkeeping royalty, Neville Southall MBE, to cap a memorable week indeed!! Preparations are underway for Wales to defend the trophy in Tokyo next year!

Congratulations to the following players who were selected by managers, Alun Huish and Jon Ross for the 70+ team...
Alan Meacham GK
Phil Williams Defender/GK
Handley Brustad Defender
John Jordan Defender
Phil Gibb Defender
Paul Young Defender
Paul Williams Defender
Phil Tovey Defender
Dave Abbott Defender/Midfield
Glyn Jones Defender/Midfield
Gerry Jones Midfield
Tony Boucher Midfield
John Rowlands Midfield
Nigel Gallagher Midfield
Howard Peterson Midfield/Striker
Paul Diaper Midfield/Striker
Mick Algieri Midfield/Striker
Terry Compton Midfield/Striker
Peter Laffan Midfield/Striker
Ian Dickinson Striker
Peter Morgan Striker
Geoff Miller Striker

...and congratulations to the following players who were selected by managers, Tim Bowker and Jimmy Mullen for the 75+ team...
Jim Gilligan Goalkeeper
Tom Collinson Goalkeeper
Bob Nelson Defender
John Gallivan Defender
Steve Davies Defender
Mark Entwistle Defender
Mike Williams Midfield
Peter Evason Midfield
Joe Quarini Midfield
Francis Hudd Midfield
Keith Hughes Midfield
Billy Arnold Attacker
Mike Soroko Attacker
Bryn Powell Attacker

...and to the following players who were selected by manager Dave Eveleigh for the 75+ Cymru team, including the oldest player in the tournament, Keith Beardsmore at 81 years young...
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Hedley Austin Goalkeeper
Gareth Thomas Defender
Alan Seago Defender
Lyn Williams Defender
Alun Smart Defender
Rob Steven Defender
Dave Collinge Defender
Steve Hold Midfield
Ryland Wallace Midfield
Dennis Murphy Midfield
Dave Mayer Midfield
Frank Lennon Forward
Jeff Dudley Forward

www.2024worldcup.wales[/b]