Six Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students help bring home the Centenary Shield for Wales

Six Grŵp Llandrillo Menai rising stars played a pivotal role in the 2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield international football competition.

A 3-1 win against the Republic of Ireland on 23 April saw the Welsh Schools Under 18s team achieve a grand slam – winning all of their fixtures and lifting the Shield for Wales for the third time in five years.

A huge well done to Sam Parry (Level 3 Sport) from Coleg Llandrillo; Cai Roberts (Level 3 Sport), and Deian Andrews (Engineering and Construction), from Coleg Menai; and Charlie Griffith (Level 3 Sport), Osian Morris (Level 3 Engineering) and Owen Roberts (Level 3 Sport) from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

All six of the Grŵp Llandrillo Menai Football Academy students played in the final match of the competition against the Republic of Ireland at Llandudno Football Club, winning the Centenary Shield for Wales.

“I’m buzzing that we won,” said Sam Parry, who has scored 41 senior goals for Llandudno FC’s reserve/development U19 side this season.

The road to the Shield wasn’t without its challenges – the final fixture against Ireland was originally supposed to be the Welsh team’s first match of the competition, but it was postponed due to high winds.

The team rallied and went on to net success against Scotland and Northern Ireland, making it a hat-trick with their final outing on home turf.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students scored two of the team’s three goals in the last game of the competition. In the first 11 minutes, Charlie Griffith powered Wales into the lead with the first goal of the match, ollowed by Owen Roberts, who got the chance for glory with a goal near the end of the second half, edging the Welsh side ahead again after an equalizer from Ireland.

“It felt good,” said Charlie on scoring the first goal.

Over the previous months, the six students trained hard for their matches. They travelled to Scotland and Northern Ireland for their away games, often putting in last minute training after a long journey.

“It’s been tough,” said Charlie. “It was all worth it in the end though to hold up the Shield,” he added.

“Being able to train three times a week with the Football Academy has really helped me in my football career,” said Sam. “We get to play a game every Wednesday and we also get to use the gym facilities at the college, which is great.”

The team’s manager and Coleg Menai tutor and football coach, Marc Lloyd Williams said: “It’s a remarkable achievement by all of the students. To have a third of the squad from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai is a testament to the pathway we provide within the Grŵp for students to combine their education with elite sport.

“I can’t thank all the lads enough for all their effort and the dedication they have shown over the season. They’ve shown up to every training session, home or away, and also kept up with their studies in college.

“To win the Centenary Shield for the third time in five years is unbelievable. Having played for the squad myself many moons ago, it’s just fantastic.

“The Republic of Ireland were the best side we’ve played today in the tournament, so I have huge respect for them.”

MESSAGE FROM THE GROUP….

The Grŵp’s Sport Academies give students the chance to fulfil their sporting potential whilst also achieving academic success. You can choose to play football or rugby alongside any vocational course. This means that you don’t have to choose between getting qualifications and playing and training in a sport that you love – you can do both!

Our academies also provide you with opportunities to be selected to play at regional and national level, so you can realise your full potential.

Interested in a career in sports? Visit our website and discover the range of courses the Grŵp offers: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-outdoor-education

Love to play at one of our Sports Academies and combine your studies with opportunities to play at regional and national levels? Find out more here: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/college-life/student-
life/gym-sports-academies

CYMRAEG

Chwaraeodd chwe seren ifanc o Grŵp Llandrillo Menai ran allweddol yng nghystadleuaeth bêl-droed ryngwladol Tarian y Canmlwyddiant (SAFIB) 2026 . Gyda buddugoliaeth o 3-1 yn erbyn Gweriniaeth Iwerddon ar 23 Ebrill, enillodd tîm dan 18 Ysgolion Cymru’r grand slam – a chodi’r Darian dros Gymru am y trydydd tro mewn pum mlynedd wedi iddynt ennill pob gêm.

Llongyfarchiadau mawr i Sam Parry (Lefel 3 mewn Chwaraeon) o Goleg Llandrillo; Cai Roberts (Lefel 3 mewn Chwaraeon), a Deian Andrews (Peirianneg ac Adeiladu), o Goleg Menai; a Charlie Griffith (Lefel 3 mewn Chwaraeon), Osian Morris (Lefel 3 mewn Peirianneg) ac Owen Roberts (Lefel 3 mewn Chwaraeon) o Goleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Chwaraeodd pob un o’r chwe myfyriwr o Academi Bêl-droed Grŵp Llandrillo Menai yng ngêm olaf y gystadleuaeth yn erbyn Gweriniaeth Iwerddon yng Nghlwb Pêl-droed Llandudno, gan ennill Tarian y Canmlwyddiant i Gymru.

“Dw i wrth fy modd ein bod ni wedi ennill,” meddai Sam.

Cafwyd ambell her ar y daith i godi’r Darian – y gêm olaf yn erbyn Gweriniaeth Iwerddon oedd gêm gyntaf y gystadleuaeth i’r tîm o Gymru i fod, ond cafodd ei gohirio oherwydd gwyntoedd cryfion.

Ond ni effeithiodd hyn ddim ar y tîm, ac aethant ymlaen i guro’r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, gan ddod yn fuddugol am y trydydd tro yn y gêm olaf oedd yn cael ei chwarae gartref.

Sgoriodd myfyrwyr o Grŵp Llandrillo Menai ddwy o dair gôl y tîm yng ngêm olaf y gystadleuaeth.

Daeth gôl gyntaf y gêm gan Charlie Griffith yn yr un ar ddeg munud cyntaf, gan roi Cymru ar y blaen. Yna cafodd Owen Roberts gyfle i sgorio tua diwedd yr ail hanner, gan roi’r tîm o Gymru ar y blaen eto ar ôl gôl gyfartal gan Iwerddon.

“Roedd yn teimlo’n dda,” meddai Charlie am sgorio’r gôl gyntaf.

Roedd y chwe myfyriwr wedi hyfforddi’n galed ar gyfer y gemau dros y misoedd diwethaf. Teithion nhw i’r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon ar gyfer y gemau oddi cartref, ac yn aml roedden nhw’n cael sesiwn hyfforddi munud olaf ar ôl taith hir.

“Mae wedi bod yn anodd,” meddai Charlie. “Ond mae’r holl waith caled wedi talu ar ei ganfed i gael codi’r Darian,” ychwanegodd.

“Mae gallu hyfforddi tair gwaith yr wythnos gyda’r Academi wedi fy helpu yn fy ngyrfa bêl-droed”, meddai Sam. “Rydyn ni’n cael chwarae gêm bob dydd Mercher ac rydyn ni hefyd yn cael defnyddio cyfleusterau’r gampfa yn y coleg, sy’n wych.”

Meddai Marc Lloyd Williams, Rheolwr y tîm a Thiwtor a Hyfforddwr Pêl-droed yng Ngholeg Menai:

“Mae’n gyflawniad arbennig gan yr holl fyfyrwyr. Mae’r ffaith bod traean o’r y garfan yn dod o Grŵp Llandrillo Menai yn dyst i’r llwybr rydyn ni’n ei ddarparu yn y Grŵp i fyfyrwyr gyfuno eu haddysg â chwaraeon elît.

“Fedra i ddim diolch digon i’r hogiau am eu holl ymdrech ac ymroddiad dros y tymor. Maen nhw wedi dod i bob sesiwn hyfforddi, gartref neu oddi cartref, ac wedi dal i fyny â’u hastudiaethau yn y coleg hefyd.

“Mae ennill Tarian y Canmlwyddiant am y trydydd tro mewn pum mlynedd yn anghredadwy. Ar ôl chwarae i’r garfan fy hun flynyddoedd maith yn ôl, mae’n wych.

“Gweriniaeth Iwerddon oedd y tîm gorau i ni chwarae yn ei erbyn yn y twrnamaint, felly mae gen i barch mawr iddyn nhw.”

• Mae Academïau Chwaraeon y Grŵp yn rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr gyflawni eu potensial ym maes chwaraeon a llwyddo’n academaidd. Gallwch ddewis chwarae pêl-droed neu rygbi ochr yn ochr ag unrhyw gwrs galwedigaethol. Golyga hyn y gallwch ennill cymwysterau a pharhau i hyfforddi a datblygu ym maes chwaraeon yr un pryd!
  

• Mae’r academïau hefyd yn darparu cyfleoedd i chi gael eich dewis i chwarae ar lefel ranbarthol a chenedlaethol, er mwyn cyflawni eich potensial yn llawn.
  

• Oes gennych chi ddiddordeb mewn gyrfa ym maes chwaraeon? Ewch i’n gwefan i weld yr amrywiaeth o gyrsiau y mae’r Grŵp yn eu cynnig: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/cy/courses/sport-and-outdoor-education
  

• A hoffech chi chwarae yn un o’r Academïau Chwaraeon a chyfuno’ch astudiaethau â chyfleoedd i chwarae ar lefelau rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol? Darllenwch ragor yma: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/cy/college-life/student-life/gym-sports-academies