Sarah’s flying the flag for Wales
Sarah Frohwein in action at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World. Former player and now Homeless World Cup referee. Credit: Anita Milas
Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh flag, was flying high for a second year running at the Women’s Homeless World Cup Final at Seoul 2024 – not held aloft by the players on the pitch but on the jersey of the person in the middle of it all. After Welsh referee Natalie Handley took charge of the event in Sacramento 2023, her colleague Sarah Frohwein refereed the Homeless World Cup women’s final last year.
“That was nerve-wracking,” Sarah admitted as she walked off the pitch at the end of the match, “but I had the other female referees there supporting me which was incredible. It was nice to follow in the footsteps of Natalie, doing what she did in Sacramento, and have an all-female referee final here.”
Alongside Sarah as chief ‘whistler’, Natalie took the role as second referee while Minju Jeong and Soo Young (known as Bella), two local officials, ran the lines.“I had so much trust in them because throughout the tournament they’ve shown just how good they are – and they were all excellent this afternoon”.
Sarah alongside her fellow referees at the Women’s Homeless World Cup Final in Seoul. Credit: Anita Milas
“As main referee for this game, I could choose who I want to referee with me,” Sarah explained, “so I chose those who I would feel confident working alongside.
“The most ‘training’ we had was probably the game on day one when I refereed alongside Soo Young – she was amazing. Natalie was happy to be fourth official, to let the local referees have their moment, then after we found out the finalists – with Romania in their first final – we didn’t know what the dynamics would be so I decided I needed Natalie’s experience as second referee.”
With Mexico crowned winners, albeit put to the test by a gutsy Romanian side, Sarah was delighted with the run of play.
“Everyone was amazing. My flags-people and I had full-on eye contact the whole time and there was good communication back and forth – we all just clicked.
“There was no indecision or questioning,” she added. “If the officials said it was in, or a foul, that was it. The players all listened to me, they played on and got on with it.”
Getting on with it is a phrase writ large in Sarah’s story – and she’ll be packing that no-nonsense attitude in her kit bag along with her whistle when she returns to Oslo this summer for the 2025 event. The contents of her kit bag will look a bit different to the shirts and shorts she travelled with eight years ago, however!
“In 2017, I was playing as goalie with Street Football Wales,” she relates. “I’d become involved with them due to having mental health problems and suffering from PTSD after miscarriages. I was in a rough place, taking medication which didn’t sit right with me, when one of the physios suggested I take up an activity.”
Sarah at the Oslo 2017 Homeless World Cup where she played in goal and represented Wales
As a youngster, Sarah had played football for Neath Port Talbot women’s team, up until the birth of her first child after which it was difficult to commit to weekend games. That’s when she was introduced to Street Football Wales.
“I’d never played four-a-side games before, always eleven-a-side, but street soccer was fun and a bit more laid back even though the pace was so much faster. “I’d always been goalkeeper, though – goalies are always a bit mad, and that’s me! I always saw the bruises of saving a goal as a sort of medal of honour!
“At Street Football Wales it was so nice to be training alongside people who had similar issues, who were also struggling with their mental health, and it stopped me feeling isolated,” she explains.
“Not everyone can understand what you’re going through but there I was with people saying ‘Don’t worry, we’re all the same, let’s go with it’”.
Four months later, Sarah found herself keeping goal for her country in Oslo where, “We won the shield, that was crazy!
Sarah at the Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup
“As players only have one chance to play in a HWC tournament I thought that was my involvement over but, in the build-up to the tournament going to Cardiff in 2019, the coach asked if I’d like to do a referee course, so I decided to give it a go.
“Thinking back to when I was 19, when I was playing, I thought no-one likes referees, why would I want to be a ref? They were the ‘meanies’ and I wouldn’t switch sides!”
Leading the course, however, was experienced Welsh referee Natalie Handley which, Sarah says, gave her the confidence to believe she too could officiate. The training turned out to be a positive football experience and Sarah qualified to take charge of games in Cardiff.
“It was quite daunting, but I thought if they had faith in me, I could do it,” she says. “Then I was lucky enough to get to Sacramento and that boosted my confidence, especially assisting Natalie in the women’s final. To get to come to Korea was great and then to be offered the women’s final was amazing.”
Since returning from Korea, Sarah has continued her involvement with Street Football Wales. In March 2025, she became a trustee with the organization, further cementing her commitment to the cause. She has also been actively participating in tournaments with Street Football Wales, helping to promote the sport and its impact on people’s lives.
Beyond football, Sarah has also undergone a significant career shift. She recently transitioned from her role as a Peer Mentor to Activities Coordinator at Adferiad, an organization that supports individuals dealing with mental health and substance abuse challenges. This change allows her to use her skills to help even more people, reinforcing the positive impact that football and support networks can have on mental well-being.
Next on Sarah’s list is sharing her skills and experience by training other women to be referees, trying to get more females involved in officiating.
“Like we did here with Isha,” Sarah says, referencing the female captain of Team India, also a qualified referee, who officiated at the Sweden v Norway game, the first HWC player ever to take on both roles at a tournament.
“She did amazingly well and it was great to be able to get her involved in that way. We need more of that.”
Stay tuned and keep an eye on the flagpoles in Oslo – chances are there will be even more Y Ddraig Goch flying proudly in the breeze!
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