By Hannah Blackwell
Wales have named Angharad James as captain on a permanent basis ahead of their Women’s Euro 2025 play-off tie with Slovakia.
Seattle Reign midfielder James succeeds Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle, who stepped down in April after nine years in the job.
The 122-times capped James has previously taken the armband three times in Euro 2025 qualifying as head coach Rhian Wilkinson rotated the role.
James, 30, said: “Representing your country is the greatest honour a player can have, and now to be appointed captain is an extremely proud moment for me and my family.
“Sophie Ingle is an incredible leader, and I’ve learned so much from her dedication and leadership as captain over the past nine years. Her legacy will be felt for years to come.”
Wilkinson, who has named Hayley Ladd and Ceri Holland as vice-captains, said: “Angharad has been a consistent performer for this team for so many years.“Her passion and commitment to her country is evident and while she’s not necessarily the most vocal leader, she’s always demanding and offering advice to her teammates when she steps out on the field.”
BREAKING NEWS
Angharad James has been appointed as the new Wales captain. Her vice-captains will be Hayley Ladd and Ceri Holland.
James said that this was “an extremely proud moment” for her and her family, but also stressed this is a squad full of leaders.@YClwbPelDroed pic.twitter.com/BRjkslQnh5
— Siôn Misra (@sionmisra) October 4, 2024
Wales play the first leg of their Euro play-off semi-final in Slovakia on October 25, with the return game at Cardiff City Stadium four days later.
Play-off final matches will be held between November 27 and December 3.
A special ceremony awarding legacy caps to all the women who played for Wales between 1973 and 1993 will be held on Friday evening at St Fagans Museum of Welsh History.
Ninety-four women represented their country during that period, but as the team wasn’t affiliated to the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the players didn’t receive Welsh caps.
The event, hosted by S4C and the Football Association of Wales (FAW), will coincide with a documentary telling the story of women’s football in Wales for the first time, Yr Hawl i Chwarae (The Right to Play).
The documentary will be broadcast on S4C platforms on 22 October.
A special ceremony awarding official caps to all the women who played for Wales between 1973 and 1993 will be held on Friday 4 October at @AmgueddfaCymru https://t.co/ZXlJO4w8gg
— She Kicks – women’s football magazine (@SheKicksMag) October 3, 2024
The evening will be broadcast live, online on the FAW’s social media platforms and its streaming website, RedWall+.
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said: “After working hard over the last 18 months collecting contact information about the former players from the 70s and 80s, the evening will be a very special one to celebrate the women who started the story of our national team.
“Over 40 former players will receive their caps as part of the celebrations, and for those who can’t attend, caps will be sent out as far as Canada and Australia where some of our former players are now living.”
Through the support of former player Michele Adams MBE and historian John Carrier amongst others, 94 players have been identified from the era, and contact details have been obtained for 70 of those players. Now the FAW is launching a public call of action to help find the remaining 24 contact details for players or their family to help celebrate their successes.
If you have contact details for a player or family member of those listed below, please contact press@faw.cymru.
Missing player list
Pat Griffiths, Linda James, Ann Rice, Julie Yale, June Houldey, Barbara Jones, Christine Ross, Karen Atkins, Jean McCarthy, Wendy Wood, Jacqueline Butt, Nikki Groves, Suzy Faul, Jill Anson, Chris Coyle, Gill Bellis, Paula Cleeve, Val Williams, G Day, Delyth Wyn Jones, Jackie Weir (nee Jones), Annette Jones, T Heaton, Caroline Brunt.