Grainger announces Cymru squad and new assistant coach

by Martin Townley (30/3/23)

Above: Cymru head coach Gemma Grainger, who announced her latest squad yesterday. Photo: FAW.

Cymru manager Gemma Grainger yesterday announced her squad for upcoming friendlies against Northern Ireland and Portugal.

Grainger has named 26 players for the two games as Cymru look to build on an unbeaten Pinatar Cup campaign.

Returning to the squad for this camp are Bristol City’s Ffion Morgan and Manchester United’s Chloe Williams, who is currently on loan at Blackburn Rovers. Coventry United’s Ellen Jones (on loan from Leicester City) is named in the squad and will be hoping to win her first cap for Cymru.

Star names like Jess Fishlock and Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle along with Gemma Evans and Angharad James all make the squad. The biggest name missing is forward Kayleigh Green who misses though injury.

Cymru will face Northern Ireland on Thursday 6th April at Cardiff City Stadium before travelling to face Portugal on Tuesday 11th April.

Cymru squad for the April international window matches against Northern Ireland and Portugal:

Laura O’SULLIVAN (Cardiff City Ladies), Olivia CLARK (Bristol City), Safia MIDDLETON-PATEL (Manchester United), Rhiannon ROBERTS (Liverpool), Charlie ESTCOURT (Birmingham City), Hayley LADD (Manchester United), Josie GREEN (Leicester City), Gemma EVANS (Reading), Lily WOODHAM (Reading), Esther MORGAN (Sunderland – on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Sophie INGLE (Chelsea), Anna FILBEY (Crystal Palace), Angharad JAMES (Tottenham Hotspur), Jess FISHLOCK (OL Reign), Ceri HOLLAND (Liverpool), Megan WYNNE (Southampton), Hannah CAIN (Leicester City), Ffion MORGAN (Bristol City), Elise HUGHES (Crystal Palace), Georgia WALTERS (Sheffield United), Carrie JONES (Leicester City), Ella POWELL (Bristol City), Rachel ROWE (Reading), Chloe WILLIAMS (Blackburn Rovers – on loan from Manchester United), Alice GRIFFITHS (Southampton), Ellen JONES (Coventry United – on loan from Leicester City).

Gemma Grainger has appointed Jon Grey to her coaching staff ahead of matches against Northern Ireland and Portugal.

Grey joins the FAW after working at Swansea City, most recently as the U21 Head Coach and Academy Manager. Grey also represented Cymru as a player in the age group systems and has also been involved with the FAW in a part-time coaching capacity in recent years.

The role as Assistant Coach for the senior women’s team has been confirmed on a full-time basis after Grey was part of Gemma Grainger’s coaching staff for last month’s Pinatar Cup.

Speaking about the appointment, Grey said: “I’m delighted and excited to be joining the FAW at such a positive time for Welsh football. I spoke with Gemma about how we can work together, and within five minutes I knew I wanted to get involved. The matches next week will be great preparations for the Nations League, we know we have some big games coming up once the draw is made, and we have to be ready for them.”

Gemma Grainger also expressed her delight at the appointment “I wanted a Welsh coach with a ProLicence, and Jon was great in the environment when he was with us last month. It’s the first time we have a full-time assistant coach just for the senior team, Jon’s a great fit for the role and I can’t wait to work with him in the upcoming matches.”