Iconic comedy linesman joins BBC Cymru Fyw team for Euro 2016
BBC Wales has confirmed that one of Wales’ best-known football experts, Wali Tomos, will be joining its Welsh-language online service, BBC Cymru Fyw, for Euro 2016 - news that’s sure to give the nation a boost as the tournament nears.
Published: 3 June 2016
BBC Wales has confirmed that one of Wales’ best-known football experts, Wali Tomos, will be joining its Welsh-language online service, BBC Cymru Fyw, for Euro 2016 - news that’s sure to give the nation a boost as the tournament nears.
The popular comedy linesman is one of the immortal characters that featured in the successful S4C series C’mon Midffîld, which first appeared as a sitcom on BBC Radio Cymru.
With the help of actor and writer Mei Jones, Wali will publish his first blog on Monday 6 June before making several 'Tic-tacs Wali Tomos' videos in the run-up to Wales’ group matches. Alongside some other characters from the series, Wali will also contribute his insightful comments for BBC Cymru Fyw’s live stream during the games.
Signing for BBC Cymru Fyw’s team, Mei Jones said: “Watching Wales live in any sport is pure torture for me, as they tend to lose every time I’m there to witness the occasion! And that’s why it’ll be Wali Tomos watching Wales’ matches for Cymru Fyw.”
As well as his career with Bryncoch United on C’mon Midffîld, Mei himself has experience as an international footballer. As a school pupil he was selected to play for the Wales under-18s squad.
“The most important game I ever played in was against England on Hull City’s old ground,” said Mei. “The final score was 2-1 to them, although it was 1-1 while I was on the field!”
Despite not going on to play football professionally, thanks to C’mon Midffîld, Mei has plenty of great memories about the highlights of his career on the field - including a match with the ‘gentle giant’ himself, John Charles.
“The most important goal I ever scored was for Bryncoch against Pobol y Cwm’s Cwmderi on Nantlle Vale’s pitch during the Urdd Eisteddfod,” said Mei. “I scored (well, Wali scored) the seventh goal of the match to win the game, in front of a crowd of around 5,000 people. But the greatest honour I ever had on the pitch was playing against John Charles. It was a charity game during Rag Week in Aberystwyth. JC was quite old by then, and none of us would dare tackle him!”
During Euro 2016, BBC Cymru Fyw will also be inviting supporters to send in selfies with celebs (making sure it is safe and legal to do so), whether they are in France or closer to home. This can be done via Twitter using #CymruFyw or @BBCCymruFyw, or by emailing cymrufyw@bbc.co.uk.
All the latest news from France will also be available via the BBC Cymru Fyw website bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw and on the BBC Cymru Fyw app.
MCR
Welsh-language version
WALI TOMOS YN YMUNO Â THÎM BBC CYMRU FYW AR GYFER EURO 2016
Cadarnhaodd BBC Cymru y bydd un o arbenigwyr pêl-droed amlycaf Cymru, Wali Tomos, yn ymuno â thîm BBC Cymru Fyw ar gyfer Euro 2016 - newyddion sy’n sicr o fod yn hwb i’r genedl ar drothwy’r bencampwriaeth.
Fel llumanwr poblogaidd y bydd y rhan fwyaf yn cofio Wali - fe oedd un o’r cymeriadau anfarwol tu ôl i dîm Bryncoch yng nghyfres gomedi lwyddiannus S4C, C’mon Midffîld - cyfres a ddechreuodd ar BBC Radio Cymru.
Bydd Wali, gyda chymorth yr actor a’r awdur Mei Jones, yn cyhoeddi ei flog cyntaf ddydd Llun, Mehefin 6, cyn paratoi nifer o fideos Tic-tacs Wali Tomos cyn gemau grŵp Cymru. Yn ogystal ag ambell i gymeriad arbennig arall o’r gyfres, bydd Wali hefyd yn cyfrannu sylwadau ar lif byw BBC Cymru Fyw yn ystod y gemau.
Wrth arwyddo ar gyfer BBC Cymru Fyw, dywedodd Mei Jones: “Mae gwylio Cymru’n fyw mewn unrhyw gamp yn artaith pur i mi, gan eu bod yn dueddol o golli bob tro rydw i’n dyst i’r achlysur! Felly dyna pam mai Wali Tomos fydd yn gwylio gemau Cymru ar gyfer Cymru Fyw.”
Yn ogystal â’i yrfa gyda thîm Bryncoch a C’mon Midffîld, mae gan Mei gefndir fel pêl-droediwr rhyngwladol ei hun. Tra’n ddisgybl ysgol cafodd ei ddewis i chwarae i garfan dan-18 Cymru.
“Y gêm bwysicaf a chwaraeais i erioed oedd yn erbyn y Saeson ar hen gae Hull City,” meddai Mei. “Colli o ddwy i un fu’r hanes, er mai un yr un oedd y sgôr pan o’n i ar y cae!”
Er nad aeth ymlaen i fod yn chwaraewr proffesiynol, diolch i C’mon Midffîld mae gan Mei ddigon o atgofion difyr am uchafbwyntiau ei yrfa ar y cae - gan gynnwys gêm yn erbyn y ‘cawr tyner’ ei hun, John Charles.
“Y gôl bwysica’ a sgoriais i erioed oedd honno i Fryncoch yn erbyn Cwmderi ar gae Dyffryn Nantlle yn ystod Eisteddfod yr Urdd,” meddai Mei. “Y fi (wel, Wali) sgoriodd y seithfed gôl i ennill y gêm, o flaen torf o ryw bum mil o bobl. Ond yr anrhydedd mwyaf a gefais ar gae pêl-droed oedd ‘chwarae’ yn erbyn John Charles. Gêm elusen oedd hi yn ystod wythnos Rag yn Aberystwyth. Roedd J.C. mewn gwth o oedran erbyn hynny, a feiddiodd yr un ohonom ei daclo!”
Yn ogystal â hyn, mae Cymru Fyw yn gwahodd cefnogwyr i anfon hunluniau, neu selfies, o’u hunain gydag enwogion yn ystod y bencampwriaeth. Gall hynny fod allan yn Ffrainc, neu’n agosach at adref. Gellir gwneud hynny drwy Twitter gan ddefnyddio #CymruFyw neu @BBCCymruFyw, neu ebostio cymrufyw@bbc.co.uk (dylid gofalu ei bod yn ddiogel a chyfreithlon i wneud hynny).
Bydd yr holl newyddion a’r diweddaraf o Ffrainc ar gael ar flaenau eich bysedd ar y wefan bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw ac ap BBC Cymru Fyw.
MCR
