Budget struggle for homeless team

The Welsh Dragons train in Swansea and are captained by goalkeeper Gareth Jones

The Welsh homeless football team who are due to head to the annual Homeless World Cup in Italy say they are making the trip on a shoe-string budget.

The week-long tournament in Milan, which starts on 6 September, will see 48 international teams competing.

Wales team manager Keri Harris said funding from the Welsh Assembly Government paid for the flights and everything else came from fundraising.

The Football Association of Wales said it gave support.

The Welsh Dragon's captain and goalkeeper Gareth Jones, 26, said playing and training had helped him turn his life around.

Mr Jones, who is also known as Bonesy, came out of prison and went in to a hostel because he had nowhere else to go.

"I was at the lowest of the low," he said.

I was really low before I met all these guys and now I am full of confidence Gareth 'Bonesy' Jones

"I had nowhere to live. I had a five-year-old boy I needed to provide for.

"But this has got me off cannabis, it's got me off drink. It's something I've worked for and I'm so proud of myself for doing that.

"I was really low before I met all these guys and now I am full of confidence."

'Little spark'

Mr Harris said the training sessions in Swansea had already improved the squad's fitness as well as their self-esteem.

"What we are aiming to do is create a little spark in these people so that when they come back from Milan and they have experienced being seen as a professional footballer, they want to change their lives," he said.

Everything other than the flights for the trip have been paid for by fundraising events organised by Street Football Wales.

The Welsh Dragons received £1,500 from the Welsh Assembly Government

Mr Harris said car boot sales and concerts had raised £2,000 for their costs but it had been "a struggle".

He said it was "brilliant" that the Football Association of Wales (FAW) provided the team with a new kit each year and would also be providing items including pendants, water bottles and key rings for the tournament in Milan.

But in comparison to similar organisations in other countries, the Welsh Dragons would be competing with teams backed by much more substantial resources, said Mr Harris.

"It is a constant battle for us in Wales and we get very little support financially," he said.

The England team is funded by the Premier League, Unite union and the Football Association.

Richard Brown, the manager of the England homeless world cup team said they received £12,000 to co-ordinate the team this year.

The FAW said it had supported the Welsh Dragons for many years and it was providing the current team with assistance.

However a spokesman would not say whether they provided financial or equipment and kit assistance, or both.

"We do the best we can for them," he said.

A spokeswoman for the assembly government said it had given the team a grant of £1,500 to go towards travel expenses and their kit.

The Welsh Dragons will feature in Sport Wales on Friday at 1900 BST on BBC2 Wales.

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