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C 
ongratulations and many happyreturns!125 years ago, in 1886, representativesof the football associations of England,Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelandrecognised the need to standardise thebasic rules of football.Today, at this meeting in Newport, theInternational Football Association Board(IFAB) celebrates its 125
th
anniversary,which marks another milestone in thehistory of international football. Ever sinceits establishment in the 19
th
century, theIFAB has played a vital role in the world offootball. As the guardian of the Laws ofthe Game and the body responsible for anyamendments to the laws, the IFAB makesa signi
fi
cant contribution to the universalnature of our game. We at FIFA are proudto be part of the IFAB and to accept the responsibilitythat this role entails.The universal nature and simplicity of the gamemeans that we must ensure that football is playedunder the same rules all around the world.I have no doubt whatsoever that we will continueto work with the same level of commitment andprofessionalism to further develop our game’s values,and today I congratulate the IFAB on reaching thishistoric milestone.FIFA is proud and delighted to be able to share thismomentous occasion with the founding associationsof the IFAB.Joseph S. Blatter
 
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The International Football Association Board, Beaumaris, Wales1956 IFAB meeting in Llandudno, Wales
 
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he FAW was formed in Wrexhamin February 1876 by a group ofbusinessmen. Their aim was to see ateam formed to play against Scotland,thus emulating the matches that hadbegun between the Scots and the Englishsome four years earlier. One of the earlypioneers, and the
fi
rst secretary, wasLlewelyn Kenrick, a solicitor and keenmember of Shropshire Wanderers andlater Druids, Wales’ oldest club side. It wasKenrick who was charged with publicisingthe need for players to come forward tobe considered for selection. The matchwith Scotland eventually took place inGlasgow in March 1876, with the Scotswinning 4-0.
Association football remained verymuch a North Wales sport for the
fi
rst tenyears or so of the FAW’s existence. In 1877-78, the Welsh Cup was introduced, initiallyas a means to look at players with an eyeon forthcoming internationals. 
Football
fi
nally began to take holdin South Wales in the 1890s. The southhad always been a rugby stronghold butwith the in
fl
ux of workers to the coal
fi
elds
The Football Association of Wales
and ports at this time, the “gospel” of football wasbrought by those arriving from Yorkshire, Lancashireand Scotland.
Between 1895 and 1920, one Welshman didmore to popularise the game of football than anyoneelse. His name was Billy Meredith. Perhaps the
fi
rst“superstar” of his day, Meredith was a tall, slenderwinger who found fame with both Manchester clubs,winning a record number of Welsh caps at the time(48), as well as a hatful of club honours.Wales reached the World Cup
fi
nals for the
fi
rstand to date only time in Sweden in 1958 when theteam reached the quarter-
fi
nals. The side of the late1950s boasted John Charles, who was possibly themost gifted British player of his generation and wenton to become a legend with Juventus in Italy.Modern-day competitive international matchesare played in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium orthe new Cardiff City Stadium. The headquarters ofthe FAW are also in Cardiff, having previously been inWrexham from 1876 to 1986. The Chief Executive isJonathan Ford.The League of Wales (now Welsh Football PremierLeague) was launched in 1992-93. The League’s aimis to build a strong, competitive environment in whichclubs and players can
fl
ourish and help to safeguardthe future of the “home-grown” game in Wales.
1. Former Welshinternational John Charles2. Phil Pritchard, President of theFootball Association of Wales
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