Overview

When Dragons Dare to Dream charts the amazing progress of the Welsh football team through the Euro 2016 finals, the first major finals for the national team since 1958. It was a dream come true just to get there, and nobody could have predicted just what dizzy heights they would eventually reach! 32 colour photographs.

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9781784613563

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Having read this highly enjoyable book I began wondering what made it different from all the other retrospective books on the Euro finals. Then I realised that it hadnt seemed like reading a book. It had rather felt as if I had spent an afternoon in a corner of my favourite bar listening to Welsh soccer fans discussing the Great Adventure. This book, a sequel to The Dragon Roars Again, is like a breath of fresh air in that it doesnt preach, pontificate or patronise. It is a book for the fans written by a fan. There is no division between fans and players. Indeed, among the contributors are some of the players themselves, with contributions by Neil Taylor, Joe Ledley, Chris Gunter, Jonny Williams, Gareth Bale and manager Chris Coleman. Author Jamie Thomas doesnt forget the backroom staff. The Welsh FAs public relations team played a blinder out in France. There was no them and us, fans and players/administrators. It was all one big team. And all this contributed hugely to the hwyl. Indeed, Thomas states that without the unsung heroes meticulous planning at team headquarters at Dinard, the lads would not have performed so successfully on the pitch. Although all the various games are chronicled and analysed, this is mainly a celebration of Wales and its team. Having looked back on the long wait of 58 years for a place in a major international championship, the author goes on to the various venues. Here and there he gives us a question and answer reprise of his interviews, including his questioning of Mark Evans of the FAW on the wisdom of choosing Dinard as Waless Chez Moi. Then its on to the playing venues: Bordeaux, Lens, Toulouse, Paris, Lille and Lyon. These chapters are colourful and exuberant, with Thomas recreating the local atmosphere and the action in every game. Indeed, so vivid are his descriptions that I could swear, having read them, that I had been there myself. The closing chapter ends with a variety of quotations from Neil Taylor, mainly involving the wonderful Joe Ledley. And between Taylor and the author we have the perfect summing up. Taylor expresses his regret following the defeat against Portugal. Not because Wales lost but rather because it was all over. I was left with just one question. Why?! Oh, why wasnt I there?! Lyn Ebenezer It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council

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