Wales manager Gemma Grainger celebrates grassroots football after tough 18 months

The Wales Women football team manager has stressed how important grassroots football is for the next generation of players.

Speaking at the 14th annual McDonald’s and FAW Grassroots football awards, Gemma Grainger said a celebration of the grassroots game reminded her of how she first fell in love with football.

The ceremony celebrates and rewards amazing people, clubs and organisations that are driving grassroots in Wales.

After a tough 18 months due to the pandemic, the awards returned with McDonald's as sponsors.

Gemma started her career as a community children's football coach and said the awards reminded her of that time.

She said: "I have been coaching for 21 years and the first ten years of my coaching career was as a grassroots coach with a bag of balls in the boot of the car coaching over 40 hours a week.

"That's where I learned everything I needed to about speaking to people, how to motivate them and how to make the game fun so people can be themselves."

As Covid restrictions are eased, demand for football games in Wales has been on the rise, with more children across the country joining local teams.

Gemma added: "Being at the awards reminded me how I feel in love with the game, first of all as a player and as a coach.

"It has reminded me of the responsibility we have at a national team level, as players and as coaches.

"For me as a female role model it has been brilliant to celebrate the heroes and people who are really growing the game.

"The last 18 months has been tough on everybody, and awards like these to celebrate everyone's achievements is an absolute honour."