Wales o60s win Four Nations!

The Wales Veterans' Football Association accepted an invitation to take part in the 'inaugural' o60s Four nations Tournament in Newcastle, County Down, and returned home victorious...writes manager, Jon Parkinson.........

After a year-long journey which started on the coach back from a frustrating o60s Tri-Nations tournament in 2023. Wales lost to both England and Northern Ireland but in all honesty the results didn’t match the football played or the comradery that was building within the squad. Eventually (after he calmed down) manager, Parkinson realised he, and the management team, needed to plan more strategically for the next one. Subsequently Parkinson, gathered an initial squad of 40 o60s players and asked them to ‘buy-in to the plan', which they did. Lots of training sessions, friendly games, some forward thinking and a slight tactical shift over the next 12 months allowed the final squad of 21 to be selected. (Huge thanks to all of the initial 40, without you it wouldn’t have been possible)...and they set off for Northern Ireland with confidence.

Friday 22nd March 2024
In the early hours, Wales o60s players and management flew out of Bristol to Belfast and on to Newcastle, County Down. That same afternoon they took on tournament favourites Northern Ireland on a windswept Donnard Park, buoyed by the fact that in the earlier kick off, Denmark had grabbed a late equaliser against England to draw 2-2. Wales were quickly out of the traps and dominated the first half, they had the wind but more importantly they had the belief in what they were doing and went in at half time 3-0 to the good. It started with a very well taken goal from well outside the box, Huish spotted the keeper off his line and fired into the top corner with pinpoint precision. Mele then finished off a well-worked move with a neat finish at the far post, then Vaughan, who had been a constant menace down the Welsh left, also got his just reward.

NI came at Wales after the break and used the gale-force wind to their advantage and put them under pressure, but captain, Medwin and keeper Jones marshalled the defence well. Unfortunately, an under-hit back pass from Huish was intercepted and NI grabbed a goal back. Wales didn’t allow that to derail them, and a flowing breakaway ended in a tremendous finish from an acute angle by Mele his second and Wales their fourth. Manager Jon Parkinson tapped into his talented subs bench to continue the great performance and that was tested when Dave Murray’s knee jerk reaction to handle to ball (on its way into the top corner) earned him a red card and NI a penalty. NI scored the penalty, but the Wales defence and keeper looked resolute and their attack dangerous on the counter and so the game ended with a well-deserved Wales victory.

Saturday 23rd March
Wales took on England in the early kick off had clearly conserved some energy against Denmark and upped their game considerably from the day before. Wales had a slightly changed system, (Manager Jon Parkinson would later regret his decision to change the system) but still had the quality players on the pitch to trouble the opposition. Again, they had the wind in the first half and took the game to England, Barry Marshall forced a tremendous save from the England keeper. A tactical change and several near misses followed but completely against the run of play, England broke away, earned a dubious corner and reacted the best from a knock down to neatly poke home. Wales continued to press and bullied England, causing an increased number of attempts to slow the game down and time waste. The ‘dark arts’ were being mastered by England to their credit and they went in at the break 1-0 to the good. Wales came out strongly in the second half, England set their stall out and struck several shots from distance. John Jones was more than a match for them in very stormy and difficult conditions and Wales started to play the structured football they are known for. The talented bench was used again, which only strengthened the push for the equaliser. However, despite 8 second half corners and numerous dangerous attacks Wales failed to score, albeit they struck the woodwork numerous times and the England keeper continued to perform heroics. England put their bodies on the line to keep Wales out and at times did manage to break at speed with the wind but again Cameron Medwin and his defence repelled them every time. After the highs of Friday, it was a disappointing result but not performance. Manager Jon Parkinson let the players know that they didn’t deserve to lose and that England were battered and bruised in raising their game to compete with them. NI beat Denmark 4-0 to make it very interesting Sunday, with several permutations possible. Wales, NI and Denmark then enjoyed some refreshments and light-hearted ‘team bonding’ at a local hostelry, with Wales taking the singing title hands down.

Sunday 24th March
In the early kick off, Wales took on Denmark, who to their credit had not been involved in such a hard-fought scenario before at this age group. Three games in less than 48 hours is a tough ask at any age, let alone at over 60. The conditions were much calmer and Wales were confident that they could perform at the same high level they had previously, with the knowledge that only a convincing win could put the pressure on NI and England later. Denmark played some technically fluent football at a sedate tempo, which Wales nearly got sucked into. A momentary loss of composure from the side-lines generated the phrase ‘If you don’t up the tempo I’ll sub the lot of you’. Wales always looked in control and went in at the break 1-0 with a goal from Staddon after nice work by White. As they had done all season and all weekend, when asked Wales put their foot on the gas in the second half and scored four goals without reply through Huish, Mele (2) and Seago.

NI and England arrived knowing that in the final game an England victory by any margin would be enough for them take the trophy. However, NI looked confident and regenerated by their 4-0 victory against Denmark. They had seen the epic battle between England and Wales and sensed it had taken a lot out of England and that a convincing victory for them would potentially be enough for them to take the trophy. With Wales on 6 points and a goal difference of +6, NI needed 3 points and an increase of +5 to their goal difference. NI took that seriously and raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half. The game ebbed and flowed, England grabbed a penalty in the second half to peg it back to 2-1 but both teams started to slow and cancelled each other out. The game finished 2-1 to NI meaning Wales ran out deserved winners, scoring more and conceding less than all competing teams. NI finished second, England third and Denmark fourth.

Congratulations to the following players...
John Jones - Barry Town (GK)
Howard Sully (GK) - Newport
Cameron Medwin - Swansea
Steve Thomas – Newport
Paul Staddon - Newport
Alun Huish - Barry Town
Mike Bobbett - Barry Town
Kevin Brown - Barry Town
Dave Griffiths - Newport
Gary Vaughn - Newport
Jon Ross - Newport
Pepe Mele Pontyclun
Dave Griffiths - Newport
Barry Marshall - Barry Town
Steve Dalton - Barry Town
Paul Ottway - Swansea
Rob Seago - Swansea
Adam Clarke - Swansea
Peter Francombe - Barry Town
Elvis Ballysingh - Pontyclun
Jeff White - Pontyclun

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The Wales Veterans' Football Association welcomed an Oxfordshire County squad to the Ocean Park Arena, Cardiff for an o60s international match ...and in the end, Wales ran out deserved winners ....writes a pitch-side reporter....

Wales dominated possession but lacked any real fluency, and inevitably, when the visitors took the lead, it was against the run of play! In fact, the goal was very much avoidable as the visiting striker was assisted several times on his pilgrimage towards Shangri-la! Wales equalised through a fine Griffiths header and Huish put them ahead, crashing home from close-in...but several other opportunities were created and spurned. Wales extended their lead with a fine Vaughan strike, and Staddon completed the scoring with a clever header with the keeper AWOL.

After the match manager, Jon Parkinson, said “the squad continues it's build-up to the Home Nations tournament in Northern Ireland, and although not a 'vintage' display, there were some pleasing performances and some well taken goals, but we must be more ruthless in front front of goal, to have any realistic chance of lifting the trophy in March.”