Latest news with #UNIFY
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pitch-sized mural of Wales star Fishlock unveiled
Jess Fishlock has 154 caps and 45 international goals to her name [Football Association Wales] A mural of Wales' record-breaking goal scorer Jess Fishlock has been unveiled. The tribute, which covers the playing area of a five-a-side football pitch in Splott, Cardiff, celebrates her impact on football, equality and representation. Advertisement It is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was showcased ahead of Wales' debut in Switzerland for Euro 2025 after the team qualified for a first major tournament in their history. The mural is designed by artist Regan Gilflin, and brought to life by UNIFY, the Welsh creative studio behind My City, My Shirt and the Gary Speed mural. Fishlock - who has 162 caps and 47 international goals to her name - has been called a footballing "icon" by Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson. She made history by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record during her team's 2-0 win over Kosovo during the Euro 2025 qualifier. Advertisement Last year the midfielder also accepted an Honorary Fellowship from Aberystwyth University. Fishlock made history last year by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record [Orchard Media] Fishlock, who was born in Cardiff, said she enjoyed sports as a child but her love for football developed at a Mia Hamm soccer camp in the city during the summer holidays. She previously said: "My older sister wanted to go to the camp and my mum said for me to go along with her. "I just loved it and my mum says from that moment I was like, 'I'm not doing anything else, this is what I want to do." She played for Cardiff City Ladies FC from the age of 15 then, at 19 while playing for Wales, Fishlock was approached to move to Holland to play professionally for AZ Alkmaar. Advertisement When the Women's Super League launched in 2011, she returned to the UK and joined Bristol and that year she was named the FAW's Women's Player of the Year. In 2012 she moved to Australia and joined Melbourne Victory before making her move to the US with Seattle Reign FC. She described the levels of the National Women's Soccer League as higher due to the "sheer intensity, physicality and mentality". In 2018 she received an MBE for services to women's football and the LGBT community. Fishlock has spoken openly about her sexuality, saying her experiences growing up made her determined to be a role model in the LGBT community, especially children, after high school was "hell on earth" for her. Advertisement In 2019, she celebrated helping Lyon win the French women's league then, in April 2024, became the first Welsh player to reach 150 caps.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Jess Fishlock mural unveiled in Cardiff for Wales star
A mural of Wales' record-breaking goal scorer Jess Fishlock has been tribute, which covers the playing area of a five-a-side football pitch in Splott, Cardiff, celebrates her impact on football, equality and is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was showcased ahead of Wales' debut in Switzerland for Euro 2025 after the team qualified for a first major tournament in their mural is designed by artist Regan Gilflin, and brought to life by UNIFY, the Welsh creative studio behind My City, My Shirt and the Gary Speed mural. Fishlock - who has 162 caps and 47 international goals to her name - has been called a footballing "icon" by Wales boss Rhian made history by breaking Wales' all-time goal scoring record during her team's 2-0 win over Kosovo during the Euro 2025 year the midfielder also accepted an Honorary Fellowship from Aberystwyth University. Fishlock, who was born in Cardiff, said she enjoyed sports as a child but her love for football developed at a Mia Hamm soccer camp in the city during the summer previously said: "My older sister wanted to go to the camp and my mum said for me to go along with her."I just loved it and my mum says from that moment I was like, 'I'm not doing anything else, this is what I want to do."She played for Cardiff City Ladies FC from the age of 15 then, at 19 while playing for Wales, Fishlock was approached to move to Holland to play professionally for AZ Alkmaar. When the Women's Super League launched in 2011, she returned to the UK and joined Bristol and that year she was named the FAW's Women's Player of the 2012 she moved to Australia and joined Melbourne Victory before making her move to the US with Seattle Reign described the levels of the National Women's Soccer League as higher due to the "sheer intensity, physicality and mentality".In 2018 she received an MBE for services to women's football and the LGBT has spoken openly about her sexuality, saying her experiences growing up made her determined to be a role model in the LGBT community, especially children, after high school was "hell on earth" for 2019, she celebrated helping Lyon win the French women's league then, in April 2024, became the first Welsh player to reach 150 caps.
ITV News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Huge mural unveiled of Wales star Jess Fishlock in Cardiff ahead of Women's Euros
A huge pitch-sized mural of Wales legend Jess Fishlock has been unveiled to celebrate her impact on football, ahead of this summer's Euros tournament in Switzerland. The tribute to Wales' most-capped footballer and top goal-scorer is painted across a pitch in Splott Football Park, in the footballer's home city of Cardiff. It is the first of its kind in Europe for a female footballer and was designed by Cardiff illustrator Regan Gilflin and brought to life by UNIFY, the studio behind the 'My City, My Shirt' and the Gary Speed murals in the capital. Fishlock, who is preparing for this summer's tournament, said: "It's just class. It's almost kind of emotional when you look at something like this being made in your country and in a place where, when I was a kid, playing football, this area in Splott is where we used to play our home games. "I spent years in that area playing football when I was a young girl. For this to have so much meaning, it is a little bit emotional." The Wales squad is training in Portugal ahead of their first game on July 5 against the Netherlands. Rhian Wilkinson's Wales side will then face France and defending champions England in the group stages of what is Wales' first ever major tournament appearance. A Football Association of Wales spokesperson said: "This incredible artwork by Regan Gilflin and UNIFY's Yusuf Ismail and Shawqi Hasson is a powerful tribute to one of Cymru's greatest ever players. As the first pitch mural of a female footballer in Europe, it stands as a landmark for visibility, belonging and pride, showing every child that they have a place in the game. 'The Cymru national team's higher purpose is, 'to play for change. To play to inspire. For Us. For Them. For Her.' Jess Fishlock lives that purpose, honouring the trailblazers who came before her, inspiring today's heroes and empowering future generations."
