Looking back at the country’s sporting history, Legends of Welsh Sport tells the story of former Arsenal and Wales player Jayne Ludlow.
Growing up in Blaenrhondda, Jayne Ludlow lived and breathed football, joining her father every Saturday as he managed the local team. She played at a time when girls didn’t have their own leagues or teams and after playing for Treherbert Boys until the age of 11, she was stopped from playing competitively. With no route for young girls to play football, Jayne took up athletics where she became a rising star in the triple jump. A member of the British Athletics squad, she was aiming for glory in track and field until the opportunity came up to play for Barry Town. She quit athletics and joined the most forward-thinking women’s team in Wales – a decision that catapulted her to the top.
Success at Barry attracted the attention of one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Arsenal. She joined them in 2000 and went on to lift 26 trophies and score 211 goals in a 13-year career at the club (her goal scoring record 2nd only to Thierry Henry in the club’s history books). As captain she also became the first British woman to lift the Champions League trophy in 2007 when her team also won the FA Cup, League Cup and League title – the first to clinch the fabled quadruple.
In 2014, she became the national coach for Wales at a time when the side was under funded with a lack of infrastructure. Current Wales internationals Natasha Harding and Helen Ward, who played under Ludlow, discuss how she revitalised the squad, changing their mindset and bringing a sense of professionalism and confidence previously missing, ultimately leading them through two qualifying campaigns where they narrowly missed out on their first ever major tournament.
Featuring footage from throughout Jayne’s playing and managerial career, the programme also includes additional interviews with her parents, as well as former players and coaches including Laura McAllister and former Arsenal Women’s coach Vic Akers.
LEGENDS OF WELSH SPORT: JAYNE LUDLOW
Monday, 4 April
BBC One Wales, 8pm
The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer around the UK after broadcast on BBC One Wales.
