PE teacher who is a former Wales international has special treat lined up for pupils this week

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A former Cymru international and current PE teacher will be bringing a class of pupils from Anglesey on Tuesday to support Wales.

Katie Davies – known as Williams when she played for Cymru – will be travelling down with 30 children from Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi.

The staff and children will be making the four and a half hour bus journey from Anglesey to watch Cymru in their final UEFA Euro 2025 qualifier versus Kosovo.

Katie said: “The kids are so excited they can’t wait to come and see the players! I’ve wanted to bring the kids down for a long time, they love football and I want to fuel their enthusiasm and show them what they can achieve with hard work.”

Katie Davies got her first call up for Cymru on her 18th birthday and debuted for her country in 2004. She played a part in Cymru’s 3-2 win over Portugal in the Algarve Cup.

Best known as a defender, she went on to be in the team for seven years where she was capped 20 times.

She started her career aged 14 at Bangor City, where she most notably won the Welsh Cup and later went on to play for Liverpool.

Having played alongside the likes of Sophie Ingle and Jess Fishlock and now watching the team on the cusp of major tournament qualifications, Katie said: “I think it’s so exciting and I’m so happy and proud of where they are now and hope they can take that final step to get the rewards they deserve.”

She recalled the passion and pride she felt putting on the Welsh shirt. Having been a part of the set up at a time when women’s football was less visible, emphasised to her how important it is for children to have female role models.

“I remember having men as my role models but to have strong female athletes/footballers just shows that it can be achieved and there is a pathway to make a career out of being good at a sport, which is amazing.

“The progression in the game is incredible. I hear the kids talking in school about the game at the weekend or naming players – realising that they are talking about the women’s game is just brilliant! Of course there is always more progress to be made but it is moving in the right direction.”

Cymru face Kosovo this Tuesday 16 July at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (KO 18:00). If you are inspired to make the trip there is still time to secure your tickets.

Check out https://faw.cymru/ for more details

KATIE DAVIES (WILLIAMS)

Born on May 24, 1984, Katie is a former Wales defender who won 20 full caps for her country between 2004-10..

Strong in the tackle and with excellent ball skills, she joined Bangor City at the age of 14 and was part of the all-conquering squad of the early millennium which won the Welsh Cup and played in Europe before later joining Tranmere Rovers and Blackburn Rovers.

She spent the 2008 off-season in the American W-League with the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners but suffered a damaged cruciate ligament.

Between 2009-11, Davies played for WSL club Liverpool. She returned to Caernarfon Town in her later career.

Married to Huw since 2016, Katie is now a mother-of-two.

Back in 2021, Katie was named in the All-Time North Wales Women’s Dream Team based on a poll of 30 top female players from the north past and present.