When the final whistle blew at Ystrad Mynach on Sunday 12 July, Tryzub FC had beaten Caerphilly Athletic Over-35s 6-4. It had been a lively, entertaining game, played in the sort of spirit that makes grassroots football feel generous rather than parochial.
For many of those present, however, the score was unlikely to be the day’s lasting memory. Long before kick-off, children were running around with Welsh and Ukrainian flags. Parents caught up with friends they had not seen for months. Others met for the first time. It did not feel like just another football match. It felt like a community gathering.
A team built from distance and displacement
Only a few months ago, there was no Ukrainian football team in Wales. Today, players travel from North Wales, Swansea, Cardiff and beyond, sometimes driving for hours every Sunday, simply to wear the same shirt. Tryzub FC was created to bring Ukrainians across Wales together. Many had lived in the same country for years without ever meeting. For some, football is one of the few parts of life that still feels familiar: a chance to switch off, laugh, compete and be themselves.
More than 120 people came to Sunday’s match despite the summer heat. Many were not regular football fans. Some had never been to a match before. They came because the team has already become more than a club: a place to speak Ukrainian, make friends, see familiar faces and let children grow up surrounded by their own community while building new friendships with Welsh families. For a few hours, it just felt normal.
A welcome that went beyond football
The football itself did not disappoint. It was competitive, open and full of energy. Yet the wider success of the day owed much to Caerphilly Athletic. From the first conversations, Craig Williams, manager of Caerphilly Athletic’s over-35s, believed the fixture could be much more than a pre-season friendly:
“We wanted to be involved in something special, as a team and as a club. We wanted to create a day where FC Tryzub can forget about all troubles and be comfortable and enjoy themselves.”
Caerphilly Athletic’s young players joined as mascots and ball boys and took part in half-time games, creating a warm, family atmosphere. The event was also supported by Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle, councillors Shayne Cook, Charlotte Bishop, Teresa Parry and Alan Angel, and Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Jamie Pritchard.
The afternoon raised almost £300 towards a Starlink system and communications equipment for Ukrainian defenders; a reminder that while people are rebuilding their lives in Wales, their thoughts remain with those defending Ukraine.
The chant that said everything
One of the club’s volunteers and supporters, Vira, perhaps summed up the day better than anyone. The moment that stayed with her was not a goal. It was hearing Ukrainian supporters chanting from the stands and then watching young Welsh children gradually join in. They did not know every word, but they joined anyway. Vira said:
“That was the moment I realised what football is really about. It brings people together, connects communities and creates friendships where, only yesterday, there were strangers.”
Her words captured something larger than one Sunday afternoon. Over the past four years, Wales has offered many Ukrainians far more than safety. It has offered friendship, kindness and opportunities to rebuild. This match showed that the relationship is no longer simply one of host and guest. It has become a partnership.
The day was covered by ITV Wales and the Caerphilly Observer, highlighting a story of friendship, belonging and communities growing together
Both clubs are already exploring how the partnership can grow, including opportunities for Caerphilly Athletic to support a football club in Ukraine. What began as one friendly match now has the potential to become a lasting friendship between clubs, communities and two countries.
More from Yuliia Bond
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