Wales's national football manager heads to Newtown

Wales's national football team manager Rob Page will be in Newtown next week as part of a charity fundraising event.

The Cymru men's team are currently preparing for the Euro 2024 play-offs and Page will be taking a break from training for an event at Newtown Football Club on 7 March in aid of Urdd National Eisteddfod 2024 which is being hosted at Meifod, near Welshpool.

An Evening With Rob Page and Ian Gwyn Hughes will see doors open at 7pm. There are a limited number of tickets available for £10 each and need to be pre-booked via Hywel Lovgreen on 07800 753012.

The event organised by Menter Iaith Maldwyn and the Newtown Appeal Committee for the Urdd National Eisteddfod 2024, with all proceeds going towards the local fundraising target. Eisteddfod yr Urdd is the largest touring youth festival in Europe, with over 100,000 visitors attending each year.

Maldwyn/Montgomeryshire will be the home of the Urdd's National Eisteddfod in 2024, which will be held between 27 May and 1 June. This will be the first time the Urdd Eisteddfod has visited Maldwyn since 1988 and it will be located on the fields of Mathrafal Farm, near Meifod.

Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts at Urdd Gobaith Cymru said: “The Urdd’s relationship with the Football Association of Wales has gone from strength to strength, and it’s wonderful to have their support towards Eisteddfod yr Urdd once again. Rob Page has done fantastic work supporting our communities, and we’re very grateful to him for hosting a charity event that will raise money for the event, support our volunteers, and get everyone excited for Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Maldwyn!”

Rob Page will be joined by former Match of the Day Commentator, and current Head of Public Relations at the Cymru Football Association, Ian Gwyn Hughes. 

The first half of the evening will consist of Ian interviewing Rob about his time as the Cymru Manager, followed by a bilingual football quiz at half time, and then an opportunity during the second half for fans to direct their questions in an open Q&A session.

Rhian Davies, Community Development Officer at Menter Iaith Maldwyn said, “We are very excited to announce that Rob will be joining us here in Newtown for our football evening. Especially at such a crucial time in Welsh football. We may be on the verge of qualifying for our third consecutive Euros competition.

"I’m sure everybody will want to hear his plans for the upcoming games. We are also hoping that Rob will drop by the amazing mural that we commissioned during the 2022 World Cup Campaign, as seen on the wall of Charlies Stores in Newtown for a photo opportunity.

"We are also delighted to have Ian Gwyn Hughes with us as part of the evening. Ian and his team have done wonderful work promoting the Welsh language and changing people’s attitudes towards our language. From using Welsh at international press conferences in the World Cup to popularising songs such as Yma o Hyd and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

"They’ve shown that Cymraeg belongs to us all here in Wales, whether you are a Welsh speaker or not.” 

There will also be a football themed raffle, with the main prize being a signed Cymru shirt from the squad that will be meeting up for the Euro 2024 play-off games against Finland on the 21st March and Estonia or Poland on the 26th of March.