Fishlock and Coleman inducted into Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
Jess Fishlock and Chris Coleman headlined a football-themed night at the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame's Cardiff gala, held in the FAW's 150th anniversary year.
Jess Fishlock and Chris Coleman have been inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame at a football-themed gala at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, dedicated to the Football Association of Wales’ 150th anniversary year.
Fishlock, 39, is Wales’ most-capped player and first centurion, with 166 caps and 48 goals before retiring from international football last year. Her final bow came at Euro 2025, Wales’ first ever appearance at a major finals. Still playing for Seattle Reign in the closing weeks of a 25-year club career, she received only the second dispensation from the Hall’s retired-only rule, after boxer Joe Calzaghe. Unable to attend Thursday’s gala, she sent a video message calling the honour “huge”; the award was presented by former Wales international Laura McAllister.
Coleman was recognised ten years on from leading Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, the country’s first major tournament in 58 years. Appointed in 2012, he took the side from 117th to eighth in the FIFA rankings.
Also inducted were dual-sport international and broadcaster Nia Jones, and referee Mervyn ‘Sandy’ Griffiths posthumously — he officiated at three World Cups and took charge of an FA Cup final — alongside six players from the 1976 European Championship quarter-final side: Dai Davies, Leighton James and Joey Jones posthumously, and Brian Flynn, Alan Curtis and Mickey Thomas in attendance. Ian Gwyn Hughes received the Peter Corrigan Welsh Sports Media award, and the FAW itself took the ‘Rhodri’ award.
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