The role of the Football Association of Wales’ media team in promoting Jayne Ludlow’s side

24th January 2019 Callum Ellis Conference, Women and Sport Conference, Women's Football 0
Jayne Ludlow with Owain Harries. Image by Callum Ellis

by Callum Ellis

THE Wales Women’s team have come a considerably long way in a short space of time under the guidance of manager Jayne Ludlow.

Following the appointment of the former Arsenal Ladies midfielder in 2014, Ludlow has revolutionised the women’s team and provided it with a bright future.

A crowd of more than 5,000 packed out Rodney Parade in August 2018 as Ludlow’s side came within touching distance of qualifying for their first major tournament.

Phil Neville’s Lionesses eventually condemned Wales to a 3-0 defeat in Newport, but the World Cup qualifying campaign laid the foundations for a new era of women’s football in Wales.

The football on the pitch has been replicated by the tireless efforts of the Football Association of Wales’ media team off it.

Media Executive Owain Harries ahead of Wales’ World Cup qualifier against England. [Image: Will Cheshire]
A collaborative effort between media executives, including Owain Harries, has provided the women’s team with a vast amount of coverage.

Harries, who was appointed in the role in January 2018, works alongside Ludlow and her team during their time on international duty.

Speaking at the Women and Sport Conference at the University of South Wales’ Sport Park earlier this month, Harries said: “We try and push the women’s content out as much as we can.

“When we do our reporting and any social media coverage, we ensure that what we do for the men’s senior team, is identical for the women’s senior team. That’s the way it should be.”

Harries acknowledges the challenges of providing the team with exposure, but says the FAW are making strides by promoting the women’s content on the same platforms as the men’s.

“We are aware that the reach of the men’s stuff goes a lot further. With the women’s stuff, we have to be a bit cleverer with the content in terms of squad announcements.

“Sometimes we’ve asked kids to do the videos and put them in different venues to get a bit awareness of them.

He added: “All of the content goes on the same channel as the men’s senior team so we try and leverage the current popularity of that team, onto Jayne’s team.”

(Featured image: Will Cheshire)

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