Newport County AFC: stops facilitating FAW girls centre

The centre supported talented young female players to progress on to FAW South Wales Girls Academy squads and Wales youth and senior national women’s squads. 

Adam Beckett, of Cwmbran, has a 10-year-old daughter, Lilly Beckett, training to be a professional footballer. 

Adam Beckett's daughter Lilly is training to be a professional footballer (Image: Adam Beckett) He has been supporting his daughters' progress while coaching five other girls in the development centre. 

“I was shocked - with the growth of girl football around the country you thought it would be going the opposite way.  

“We are just appalled and concerned. It has definitely knocked them back. The parents and girls do not feel like they have anywhere to turn for their high-level football.

“They are 100% determined and all the ones who got to the level for the Newport district academy development centre want to go on to play for Wales professionally. 

“The team were really committed to it. They turn up in all weathers and all areas over the country. The parents paid a lot of money for equipment, kit, and travel. 

“We are one big community. They have put in a lot of hard work and dedication.” 

Adam coaches Lilly and six other girls to become professionals, and has been appalled at the decision (Image: Adam Beckett) The parents received the news in writing on July 9 and one parent turned to Twitter to share his disappointment in the decision. 

Absolutely poor from @NewportCounty and @FAWales, @NoelMooney13, allowing this to happen to girls football in gwent.. Where now for the many girls who represented Newport county at the pathway centres? Because you're moving your are unable to accommodate them? @swwgl pic.twitter.com/hRIAmlEbwJ

— JRL1 (Goalkeeper) (@Jersierayne) July 9, 2024

Luke Lewis, father of 11-year-old Jersie-Rayne Lewis, said: “She was shocked and gutted. She is quite mature for her age, but she is obviously upset - she really hopes she can continue to play with her friends. 

“Her goal is to play for Wales. She is a goalkeeper, and she is very good. The opportunities we have been given at the moment, it is hard for her to travel to Swansea and get to Newport.  

He expressed his disapproval of the timing of the announcement after the dates for the girls to try out at other places. 

In the letter they also announced that the Newport County ADF Academy will be moving location. 

Lilly Beckett hopes to become a professional footballer (Image: Adam Beckett) A Newport County spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, due to a lack of available training facilities in the Newport area we were unable to continue running the sessions on behalf of the Football Association of Wales. 

“We informed the FAW in May that they would have to take over the sessions themselves again. 

“The lack of training facilities in the area is not just an issue for girls’ football as we are also currently struggling to find enough facilities to satisfy our own boys programme that is compulsory through our membership of the EFL. 

“A large proportion of our Academy sessions, for example, are taking place outside of Newport at USW in Treforest, while we have also had to withdraw boys’ sessions for our pre-academy.’’