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Football
Cardiff City ('The Bluebirds') plays at
Ninian Park, a mile or so from the city centre. The team is currently in
the Second Division. The Vetch Field is the home of Swansea City, a team
that plays in Division Three. Wrexham, another Third Division side,
plays at the Racecourse Ground. Football has a healthy following
everywhere. For Welsh teams there are leagues like the League of Wales
or the regional Welsh League (in the south) and Cymru Alliance (in the
north).
Football Greats
Billy Meredith, who played his last
game in 1924, kicks off the list of Welsh footballing greats. Football
historians reckon that he was one of the very best. Goalkeeper Jack
Kelsey won best goalie award in the 1958 World Cup. John Charles, the
'Gentle Giant', played for Leeds and Juventus, and is still revered in
Italy. John Toshack played for Liverpool and then went on to manage Real
Madrid. In the 1980s and 90s, Mark Hughes of Manchester United and Ian
Rush of Liverpool were at their peak. Today, Manchester United's Ryan
Giggs is one of Britain's top stars.
FA Cup
Cardiff's new Millennium Stadium was
never intended just for rugby. Already, many major sporting events have
taken place in this magnificent 72,000-seat stadium. In 2002 it landed
the big one. On Saturday 4th May the FA Cup Final was played here and on
11th August the Stadium will play host to the FA Community Shield. Other
major soccer events to be held in Wales include the Wales International
Soccer Tournament that takes place in Aberystwyth from 21st to 27th
July.
www.tourism.wales.gov.uk |
