Wales Support Home Internationals

13 January 2011 06:58
Wales would welcome a return to the annual Home Internationals and 2013 is a good time to start. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) have come out in support of reviving the Home International tournament. FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford has confirmed provisional talks have taken place with a view to resurrecting the defunct championship, which was a regular fixture on the football calendar until 1984. On Tuesday the FA said they were looking into arranging a series of friendlies with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations in two years' time. The FAy were not looking to return to an annual competition but the FAW would welcome playing the tournament on a one-off basis. Wales are competing in the new Carling Nations Cup with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland this year and Ford would be pleased to see England involved in the friendlies in 2013. Ford said: "I can confirm some provisional discussions have taken place but they are just discussions at the moment with regard to what the remit of the 2013 tournament could be. I can certainly suggest, on behalf of the Football Association of Wales, that if England did come back into the fold for a competition we would delighted to take part ourselves. I don't know the exact details of how it would work but what we are talking about at this moment would be a one-off. It is the FA's 150th anniversary and it is very much a celebratory tournament in that respect. But I remember those matches as a kid. They are fantastic and take friendlies to a different level. They would be competitive matches, not friendlies. For the fans, what a great opportunity it would be to see those come back." Ford was speaking at a press conference to announce Vauxhall as the FAW's new lead sponsor. The FAW have agreed a deal with the car manufacturer until the end of the 2014 World Cup campaign. Vauxhall announced a similar deal with the FA yesterday and further agreements with Northern Ireland and Scotland are thought to be in the offing. The company's managing director Duncan Aldred admits there would be a good commercial incentive to see the home internationals return. Aldred said: "Any reigniting of home internationals would be very good for the teams, very good for the fans and, obviously, very good for Vauxhall now as lead sponsor. And to see it repeated on a regular basis is something we would be very supportive of." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net

Source: FOOTYMAD