Fonds GB 0210 FAW - Football Association of Wales records

The Football Association of Wales was founded in 1876 by a group of businessmen who wished to organise an international match between Wales and Scotland. It has since been responsible for Welsh football at all levels. It created the Welsh Cup Competition in 1877-1878. The F.A.W.'s principal officers are the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Its first president was Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. Its most notable secretary was Ted Robbins, who served in that role from 1910 to 1945. In addition to responsibility for Wales's international football and the cup competition, the F.A.W. exercises control over the regional football associations which began to emerge in the years after its creation. These associations came to elect members to the F.A.W. Council, the association's governing body. Various committees answer to it, most noteably the Finance, Referees, International, Amateur and Youth International committees and, from 1978, the Executive committee. A Selection Committee sat prior to international matches, and there was a Commission and an Emergency Committee to deal with local associations and disciplinary matters. The Council considers subjects such as international matches, sanctioned competitions, refereeing, discipline, meetings, and correspondence. The F.A.W. also holds annual general meetings and an annual meeting to consider the rules of the association. It also participates in meetings of the four British Football Associations, the International Football Association Board and FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and in meetings with the Football Leagues of England, Scotland, and Ireland.