City in Focus: Ffion Price's learning experience
The Bluebirds competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League this month, taking part in the competition for the second time in the Club’s history.
Facing Lithuanian champions FC Gintra and Shelbourne from the Republic of Ireland, City put in two battling performances in narrow defeats.
Wing-back Ffion Price got her first taste of European football, having started in both games and has now set her sights on returning to the competition.
“Next year, I want Cardiff City to be playing in the Champions League again, Ffion began. “It’s a big Club that means a lot to me and it’s come on so much since a decade ago, when the Club were playing in the Champions League last.
“With the size of the Club, the players and the quality we have in the squad, we have to make sure that we’re competing in Europe every year now.”
Ffion joined the Bluebirds in 2020 from Pontypridd United, signing for the Club she grew up supporting.
Since then, the wing-back has an Adran Premier title and two FAW Women’s Cup winners medals to her name.
After signing semi-professional terms with the Club this summer, a UEFA Women’s Champions League debut followed.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” Ffion continued. “Honestly, words can’t describe playing for Cardiff City in Lithuania in front of my dad, my brother and everyone else that travelled. It was an honour and a moment I’ll never forget.
“We learned so much as a squad from the experience. We have a young squad and a lot of young talent, but even our most experienced players, they learned a lot from playing in the Champions League, which we can put into our games in the Adran Premier.
“We competed in both games, but at the top level, if you have chances, you have to finish them. Gintra and Shelbourne were able to do that and it’s something we have to learn from. We’ve gained a lot from the two games and we know how we can improve going forward.”
City are back in league action this Sunday against Cardiff Metropolitan University at Cyncoed Campus (2pm KO).
The Bluebirds will begin their bid to retain the Adran Premier title, having secured top spot at the end of last season.
Ffion concluded: “Now that we’ve had a taste of what playing in the Champions League is like, we want to be there again next year. We’re even hungrier now.
“We’re fully prepared for this season. We started our pre-season very early and hit the ground running against some top opposition.
“Everything we’ve accumulated and learned over the last few months, both from the pre-season games and playing in the Champions League, we’ll be looking to take that into the Adran Premier this year.”
