English translation of a blog post by Glyn Griffiths, a contributor to BBC Cymru’s Ar y Marc website:
I apologise for any errors in this translation. I am a Welsh learner myself and have attempted to portray Glyn’s sentiments to the best of my ability. I thought it was important that this blogpost reaches a wide an audience as possible as its criticisms are aimed at a lot of people, including many who don’t speak Welsh.
Original available here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/arymarc/2010/11/cefnogi_cymru.shtml
Supporting Wales
There was an official announcement by the Football Association last week confirming that the Millennium Stadium would host the game, but this only brought complaints by a group of fans who believe that, in their opinion, the game should take place at Cardiff City Stadium. Why on earth should we need play the game in a limited-sized stadium, when so many Welsh people are looking forward for an opportunity to support their country in a match which could indicate the start of a bright new future for Wales?
It is true that the Welsh hopes of finishing second, (not to mention that on top of the group) are unrealistic now, but by next March, a new manager will lead us, and if every player is fit, there should be a pretty strong squad and the game would provide an indication of what can be expected under the care of the successor to John Toshack.
Unfortunately, it appears that there is a group of some Wales fans who consider themselves elite – the kind of person who has been portrayed as one of Harry Enfield sketch long time ago – ‘I can not help realizing that Iseem to be much more important than you! ‘, yes, some privileged few who have had their self-anointed (or possibly by St. David’s) right to support Wales, and consequently, appear as if they were looking down their noses at the rest of us, who are not so fortunate to have the opportunity to follow Wales across the World to watch each game.
The elite are fortunate to be in a position of being able to do this! I like many others, would also like to do the same thing, if my situation was different! “Best Welshman, Welshman away from home” (a translated idiom) perhaps, especially those families who are willing to travel to Azerbajan, Albania or even Abu Dhabi it were necessary!
It is high time we realize that fans come from different social backgrounds and different cultures – including those who are lucky enough to be able to travel, and those who can see Wales at home, but can not travel to Cardiff Friday night or mid-week either.
The most important thing is to ensure that supporters will turn up to games, wherever they are playing and show unity as Welsh people, and put an end to the stupidity and selfishness by doing the same thing that we have learnt to do over the years – living in hope!
I think he has a point to some extent, but as Tommie mentions in reply to Glyn’s article, it is Glyn who considers his footballing highlight over the last decade to be England’s victory over Greece! – http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/arymarc/2010/01/y_degawd_a_fu.shtml
Maybe he just wants to ensure he gets a ticket to watch his beloved England!
Phil, I will reply in English, I actually listened to Glyn Sat Am and I don’t think it was said that way, yes he was having a go, my own brother called me elitist when discussing the membership, my feelings are , when someone we know shouts off about Man u, L/pool City etc and never go to games, the 80s lads will call them part timers, I think my feelings the same with Wales, I know we all have to start somewhere, Glyn is in a privileged position, I don’t feel elitist I’m proud to follow Wales I don’t do it to be better than someone , also when people who don’t go regularly hassle me for ticket info etc, I always help them, some of us wanted the England match in a smaller venue because possibly naively we thought we had a better chance of beating them, Glyn’s highlight of the last decade was watching England vs. Greece not his own country, so Glyn can shove his opinion up his a**
Did he give any indication as to why he can’t follow Wales away or make it to a match on a Wednesday or Friday night?
No, but to fair he has a good point about Wednesdays and Fridays. Pain in the arse for supporters in north Wales.
Fridays have started in this campaign cut the crap, like i said , London , Leeds Manchester, Liverpool, Reading not a problem for welsh football fans.
Until the last decade or so all qualifying games were played on Wednesday nights, therefore a Friday evening is not the end of the world. Some os us who are ‘lucky enough to travel away ‘ can only do this by sacrificing summer holidays etc. We can’t all have everything.
We all have different priorities.
Some people prefer moaning to getting off their back sides and sorting things out
It’s farmers mart day in Rhayader on Friday’s so allow an extra hour for the journey, you will be stuck behind an ifor williams trailer! here to help.
What a load of claptrap from Glyn! I wanted us to play at the CofC Stadium to give us a better chance of beating England! Far better to have a stadium full of Wales fans than have away fans dotted around the home sections because part timers will happily sell their tickets to the highest bidder, just like last time at the millenium! With the dire start to the campaign, the game was always going to be moved as the FAW see it as a massive payday! It will however hand over some of our home advantage as there will be more England fans present than there would have been elsewhere!