New documentary celebrates the fight for women's football in Wales

As Wales' women take another step towards making history by getting through to the Euro 2025 qualifying play-off final, a special TV programme on S4C showcases the remarkable history of women's football in Wales.

Yr Hawl i Chwarae (The Right to Play) chronicles how Welsh women were banned from playing football for more than half a century.

The hour-long programme features interviews with those affected by the ban and highlights the efforts of individuals who fought for recognition.

Prominent figures in the sport, including Michelle Adams (Wales 1973-1994), Karen Jones (Wales 1976-1996), and Professor Laura McAllister, Deputy Chair of the UEFA Women's Football Committee (Wales 1994-2001), discuss the extensive lobbying efforts made to the Football Association for change.

The ban had a lasting impact on the women's game in Wales, even years after it was lifted.

'We have to keep fighting'

In the programme, star Welsh player Jess Fishlock shares her experience of having to leave Wales to pursue her dreams of playing football.

She said: "I just fell in love with the game, hoping that at some point there would be a league or a team I could play in. But the truth was, I had to leave because there really wasn't anything in Wales that would have allowed me to achieve what I did when I left."

As the first player in Welsh history to earn 150 caps and hold the record for the most goals scored for Wales, Fishlock underscores the importance of remembering the past.

"You have to understand the history because it will help you understand why things are the way they are. We have to keep fighting. I feel like I've said that my whole Wales career. I've played for Wales for over 15 years, and I'm still fighting for change."

Paying tribute to key figures

Using archive clips and personal stories, Yr Hawl i Chwarae spans decades - from the half-century ban to the national team's official recognition by the Welsh Football Association in 1992 and the recent successes of the game.

Presented by Ffion Eluned Owen, the programme pays tribute to those who were instrumental in securing the right for girls and women to play football while also featuring key figures in the sport's current success, including Cymru Team Manager Rhian Wilkinson, versatile player Jess Fishlock, and sisters Mared Griffiths (Wales and Manchester United) and Cadi Griffiths (Wales under 15).

In 2022, Wales came close to qualifying for the World Cup, drawing an impressive crowd of 15,000 fans for the match against Bosnia.

Special celebration

The highlight of the programme is a special celebration in October when official caps were finally presented to all women who played football for Wales between 1973 and 1992.

During this time, 94 women represented Wales, but none received caps as the team was not yet under the Welsh Football Association's governance.

Commentator and former player Gwennan Harries said: "There were obstacles when they weren't playing, but not half as much compared to today. It's lovely to see them being celebrated and receiving the recognition they fully deserve."

Receiving her cap after nearly five decades, Shelley Walters, who played for Wales from 1975 to 1982, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. After 49 years, it's finally here, and nobody can take it from me now."

Watch it now

Yr Hawl i Chwarae is a Whisper Films production for S4C. It is available to watch now on S4C Clic.