Coming Together As One

Siân Ames, Llandudno, Wales

Goal Click have teamed up with EE to tell the stories of UK grassroots teams born out of adversity - that have overcome hate with hope, with the aim of making the beautiful game more inclusive for all. Because there is a place in football for everyone. 

Siân Ames plays for North Wales Dragons, a Llandudno-based grassroots club prioritising a playing environment that is based on inclusivity rather than ability. The women’s team was founded in 2019 and now numbers 24 players aged 18-60. The Dragons actively support LGBTQI+, anti-sexist and anti-ageist initiatives. The club have also been supporters of Show Racism The Red Card, and partnered with the anti-sexism campaign Her Game Too, which features on the club’s training kit, jumpers, and shorts. 

Inspired? To find your place in football, in Wales, head here.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us your football journey up until now? 

My name is Siân Ames, I come from a small village in North Wales called Meliden and I currently work in hospitality. I was one of the first members of the North Wales Dragons women's team and also team captain.

I first got involved in football whilst I was at primary school and played all through high school. I stopped playing when I was 15 - I did not try to pursue it and ended up losing interest. I did not play again until I joined the Dragons 15 years later. 

My journey with the Dragons first started in January 2020 where I saw a tweet about a North Wales team looking to put a women's team together. We got off to a bit of a rocky start as Covid put a stop to our first meeting but during the pandemic we were still determined to build our team. 

Fast forward over a year later and we finally managed to get together to play football. Since then, the team has grown and we have around 16 women that train together. 

A role model for me has always been David Beckham, as I grew up watching him play for Manchester United. I think if women's football was as well supported 15 years ago as it is today and I had a female role model in football back then, then I might have stuck with it. Women's football has come a long way in that time and there are a lot more opportunities for women to get involved.

What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning with the photos?

You can see my teammates, the women that make up the North Wales Dragons. One of the women is a close friend of mine, who I know lacks confidence. After months of me trying to persuade her to come and play, she finally built up the courage and said yes. She is now enjoying meeting new people and has found her confidence.

I tried to capture the fun that we have at training and game days. The photos were taken at a sports pitch in Bangor in North Wales. Some were from a Thursday night training session, others were from a tournament hosted by the Dragons.

The other teams involved in the tournament were Mochdre Lionesses, North Wales Police Ladies and Llangefni Town Ladies. Even though we came in fourth place on the day, it was great to develop ourselves as a team and to us it has always been about having fun. We have had a great relationship with the Mochdre Lionesses ever since we met them a few months ago. If we ever fall short of players, they are always happy to pull on a Dragons shirt and play for us. 

What are the opportunities for women's and non-binary players to participate in your community?

There is always an opportunity for women and non-binary players to participate in our community as we allow an open access culture. Our aim is to be totally inclusive and to welcome all who wish to enjoy the benefit of recreational community football.

What impact has North Wales Dragons had on you? Why is it so important to have an inclusive space to play?

Playing for North Wales Dragons has had a very positive impact on my life. Even just meeting up for an hour a week has a positive effect on both mine and my teammates' mental well-being.

It feels great to be a part of a team that is not all about having the best players. It is important to us to have an inclusive space to play because we are not all about ability, we welcome everyone even if they have never kicked a ball before.

What do you think the future looks like for you and football in your community? Why might the future be hopeful? What would you like to change? 

The future looks very bright for football in our community. We are engaging with many recreational women's teams who are looking to create their own impact. We have created a partnership with our local university with a view on developing their civic mission and engagement. Over the last few weeks this has progressed well, especially with having held our first ever invitational tournament at the university in July 2022. 

My ambition for the future is to receive coaching so we can progress as a team and build our confidence on the pitch.

I would like to change the perception that women cannot play football. I am proud of myself and my teammates who are constantly improving and continuing to find confidence. Facilities are another thing I would like to change. In the past month we have changed our training venue four times, due to lack of space or oversubscribed space. There is a need to develop more affordable and suitable playing facilities.

How important is it for male allies to fight sexist abuse?

It is very important for male allies to fight sexist abuse. Being part of the Dragons, the men's team support the Her Game Too campaign, not only verbally but by carrying the logo on their shorts and training tops. This gives me confidence that the Dragons are not just a men's or a women's team but a team that comes together as one when it comes to sexist abuse.

Series edited by Emma Walley.