Guess who's back....????
Posted by Wales - 16/04/2009
Wales are delighted to announce that the Welsh Dragons are back for Milan 2009!!
As many of you will know, Wales have had a tough time of it where Street Football is concerned - with very little financial support to enable the Welsh Dragons to participate in the Homeless World Cup. We have been the poor relative of the other Home Nations for many years!
After the Street Soccer project ended (again) due to lack of funding in April 2008 it looked like the end of the road and during the final matchday in April, on hearing the news that the project was to end, the overall reaction from everyone was one of shock, disbelief and disappointment. However despite feeling let down and abandoned there was an underlying air of determination from all involved that somehow this project WOULD return and that the close friendships and support networks that were built would not be broken.
Fast forward to September April 2009, and to proof of what can be achieved with passion and dedication. A determined group of people who work in homelessness services have met up regularly in the last 12 months. They have done so outside of work hours and have formed a new project as a board of trustees to a new voluntary organisation - a project which launched in March 2009 - STREET FOOTBALL WALES (SFW).
SFW is now approaching it's third monthly league match day and never has there been more support from the people who can make a difference - we have already secured some funding from the Welsh Assembly Government (with two Assembly Members attending the first match day) and there are SO MANY exciting and promising developments in the pipeline!
The project was also featured on the BBC Wales "Sports Wales" programme - an excellent film which really delivered the crucial messages and highlighted the dire fuding situation in which Wales has found itself in comparison to the rest of the UK.
So... I guess all that's left to say now is that we can't wait to..... SEE YOU IN MILAN!!!!
