Last night saw the inaugural An Evening with Her Game Too Cymru event take place at the Rummer Tavern pub, the capital city's newest Cardiff City FC pub, and guests in attendance were treated to some exclusive news.
Hosted by Her Game Too Director, Roopa Vyas, the panel consisted of the campaign's Cardiff City ambassador Brittany Laing, the Women's Football Collective's Charlotte Galloway, Her Game Too Champion and Cardiff City Women's full-back Ffion Price and none other than Cardiff City and Cymru legend, Robert Earnshaw.
The guests were drawn in by stories from the current and former Cardiff City players as well as real issues that still exist today, in society and in football, related to sexism.
When talking about his story of growing up in Zambia with a football-playing mother, Robert believes in hindsight, the influence of seeing his mother play football despite being discouraged from playing when she was younger was immense on his career choice. We heard of how, when living in Caerphilly, Robert played for youth team GE Wales in Treforest, and by a turn of fate, he ended up signing a youth team contract with Cardiff City. He also heard from Ffion and other women on the panel that the stories aren't quite as straightforward as his to go on to play football, and wants to do more to change that.
We are thrilled to announce that Robert Earnshaw, has joined Her Game Too as our newest Champion!
With a career that has left an indelible mark on the world of football, Earnshaw's commitment to the beautiful game now extends beyond the pitch. As a Her Game Too Champion, he will leverage his influence to spread the message of equality and inclusion to his devoted fanbase. Robert's passion for the game is matched only by his dedication to combating issues which exist in football, and we are excited to have him on board to help educate and inspire change. Together, we are committed to ensuring that football is a place where every voice is heard, and every fan, regardless of gender, feels a sense of belonging. Welcome to the team, Robert Earnshaw!
Cardiff City Her Game Too ambassador and season ticket holder Brittany expressed her delighted with the news.
"We're so thrilled to have Rob Earnshaw on board as our newest Her Game Too Champion. As football fans and members of the campaign, we try so hard to raise awareness and influence change but having the support of a Cardiff City and Wales legend such as Earnie really amplifies our message and will make more people take note of the work we are doing. We're so excited to have him on board and are so grateful for his support".
Diolch Earnie!
CHWEDL DINAS CAERDYDD A CYMRU YN ADDEWID I GEFNOGI HER GAME TOO CYMRU
Neithiwr gwelwyd digwyddiad cyntaf 'Noson gyda Her Game Too Cymru' yn cael ei gynnal yn nhafarn y Rummer Tavern, tafarn fwyaf newydd Dinas Caerdydd yn y brifddinas, a chafodd y gwesteion oedd yn bresennol fwynhau newyddion unigryw.
Roedd y panel dan ofal Cyfarwyddwr Her Game Too, Roopa Vyas, ac roedd y panel yn cynnwys llysgennad Dinas Caerdydd, Brittany Laing, Charlotte Galloway o'r 'Women's Football Collective', Her Game Too Champion a chefnwr Merched Dinas Caerdydd Ffion Price a neb llai, arwr Dinas Caerdydd a Chymru, Robert Earnshaw.
Denwyd y gwesteion gan straeon gan chwaraewyr presennol a chyn-chwaraewyr Dinas Caerdydd yn ogystal â materion go iawn sy'n dal i fodoli heddiw, mewn cymdeithas ac mewn pêl-droed, yn ymwneud â rhywiaeth.
Wrth sôn am ei stori o dyfu i fyny yn Zambia gyda mam sy’n chwarae pêl-droed, mae Robert yn credu wrth edrych yn ôl, roedd dylanwad gweld ei fam yn chwarae pêl-droed er gwaethaf cael ei digalonni i beidio â chwarae pan oedd hi’n iau yn aruthrol ar ei ddewis gyrfa. Clywsom am sut, pan oedd yn byw yng Nghaerffili, y chwaraeodd Robert i dîm ieuenctid GE Wales yn Nhrefforest, a thrwy dro ar ôl tro, arwyddodd gontract tîm ieuenctid gyda Dinas Caerdydd yn y pen draw. Clywodd hefyd gan Ffion a merched eraill ar y panel nad yw eu straeon cweit mor syml ag yntau i fynd ymlaen i chwarae pêl-droed, ac mae eisiau gwneud mwy i newid hynny.
Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi bod Robert Earnshaw wedi ymuno â Her Game Too fel ein Pencampwr mwyaf newydd.
Gyda gyrfa sydd wedi gadael marc annileadwy ar y byd pêl-droed, mae ymrwymiad Earnshaw i’r gêm hyfryd bellach yn ymestyn y tu hwnt i’r cae. Fel Hyrwyddwr Her Game Too, bydd yn trosoledd ei ddylanwad i ledaenu'r neges o gydraddoldeb a chynhwysiant i'w gefnogwyr selog. Dim ond ei ymroddiad i frwydro yn erbyn materion sy'n bodoli mewn pêl-droed sy'n cyd-fynd ag angerdd Robert am y gêm, ac rydym yn gyffrous i'w gael i helpu i addysgu ac ysbrydoli newid. Gyda’n gilydd, rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod pêl-droed yn fan lle mae pob llais yn cael ei glywed, a phob cefnogwr, waeth beth fo’i ryw, yn teimlo ymdeimlad o berthyn. Croeso i'r tîm, Robert Earnshaw!
Mynegodd Llysgennad Dinas Caerdydd Her Game Too a deiliad tocyn tymor Brittany ei bod wrth ei bodd â'r newyddion.
"Rydym wrth ein bodd yn cael Rob Earnshaw fel ein Pencampwr Her Game Too diweddaraf. Fel cefnogwyr pêl-droed ac aelodau'r ymgyrch, rydym yn ymdrechu mor galed i godi ymwybyddiaeth a dylanwadu ar newid ond mae cael cefnogaeth un o arwyr Caerdydd a Chymru. fel Earnie yn ymhelaethu ar ein neges a bydd yn gwneud i fwy o bobl gymryd sylw o'r gwaith yr ydym yn ei wneud. Rydym mor gyffrous i'w gael yn rhan ohono ac rydym mor ddiolchgar am ei gefnogaeth."
Diolch Earnie!