Support our Nation today - please donate here
Sport

Wales team rallied around Neco Williams after death of grandfather

23 Nov 2022 2 minute read
Wales manager Rob Page with Neco Williams after during the USA game. Photo Martin Rickett PA Images

Bronwen Weatherby

The Wales team have described how they rallied around “brave” and “strong” teammate Neco Williams after the death of his grandfather.

The defender received the news fewer than 24 hours before the nation’s opening World Cup match against the USA on Monday.

Williams, 21, dedicated the 1-1 draw to his grandfather, and in an emotional tweet later said he had gone from “crying all day to start in a World Cup”.

The Nottingham Forest full-back said it had been “extremely tough” but he had got through it with support from Wales teammates and family.

Courage

At a press conference in Qatar, Fulham winger Harry Wilson said: “I think Neco showed great courage and bravery to play the game.

“Everybody knows to lose a family member is never easy and for that to happen on the eve of his first ever World Cup game…

“To put in a performance like that as well. I thought he was fantastic.

“The lads got around him and tried to make him feel as comfortable as possible.

“He had a lot of emotion after receiving the news less than 24 hours before but I thought his performance was great.”

Cardiff City winger Rubin Colwill, who took questions in Welsh, said: “We just all gathered around him to support him through it.

“But he’s a strong boy, so I believe he will be OK.”

After the game on Monday, Wales manager Rob Page paid tribute to Williams, calling him a “very talented” and “aggressive” player.

Wales will next play Iran on Friday at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.