Wales manager hikes Snowdon on her own at dawn to deliver historic announcement
Wales manager hikes Snowdon on her own at dawn to deliver historic announcement
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson just decided she was going to head up herself on that very morning.
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson climbed the mountain to deliver her press conference
(Image: FAW )
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson scaled Yr Wyddfa on her own ahead of the squad announcement for Euro 2025.
With the European Championships just over two weeks away, Wilkinson announced her 23-player collective from Eryri National Park, and more specifically - the summit of the highest peak. The press, along with the FAW media team, Rhiannon Roberts and Olivia Clark took the train to the top, but Wales boss Wilkinson decided she would go one better and climb the mountain herself at the crack of dawn.
For everyone else, it was a 7.30am departure from Llanberis train station, a one hour journey in total, ready for the announcement at 9am from Hafod Eryri - the epic viewpoint atop the mountain.
For Wilkinson though, she was already there at 7.15am, book in hand and welcomed by a truly glorious north Walian morning - and it took her only 90 minutes.
Having visited Eryri National Park on multiple occasions as a child, she has fond memories of the area, which reminds her of her late father. Her parents spent their honeymoon there and a ceremony was held at Yr Wyddfa following his passing.
For Wales, the location of the announcement was a symbolisation of the recent ascent of Welsh women's football, making it to their first ever major tournament.
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Wilkinson's solo journey may have presented an opportunity to truly reflect on the recent success of the team, shortly before the media storm began. However, with such a busy schedule, it was a welcome change of pace in the chaos, so she put on a political podcast and got moving.
The Wales squad announcement was made in a unique way.
(Image: FAW )
It was a stunning day in the national park.
(Image: FAW )
"I actually debated whether I was going to listen to something," she began.
"I feel ready. I'm excited, but not over-excited. I know I'll be nervous, I know the team will be nervous, but I'm not overwhelmed by it.
"With this walk, I knew it was going to be special but I didn't realise how many people were going to be here. I think it's fantastic.
"I just caught up on things because it's been a really heavy week. We had a training camp last week, this week. I had a Senedd event on Tuesday. On Monday we were finalising gameplans.
"My days have been so long. It's just been nice, more than anything, to just walk on my own and not think about the the tournament.
"Just listening to political podcasts and catching up on the news, because I've been out of it! The same stuff and unfortunately... Trump!"
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Angharad James will skipper her country in Switzerland, and is one of four centurions named, alongside Jess Fishlock, Hayley Ladd and Sophie Ingle.
Ingle makes her return after missing the entire season with a serious knee injury, which she sustained while playing for Chelsea in a pre-season friendly last September.
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