NORTH WALES has long been an area where top footballers are born and bred and many of those have gone on to represent the national team.

The likes of Wrexham’s Robbie Savage, Mancot’s Gary Speed and Ruabon’s Mark Hughes have all starred in the red strip of Wales in years gone by.

At Euro 2016, Neil Taylor (Ruthin), Owain Fôn Williams (Penygroes), David Vaughan (Abergele), Danny Ward (Wrexham) and Wayne Hennessey (Beaumaris) were the North Wales representatives in Chris Coleman’s side which created history.

That team, of course, defied the odd to reach the semi-finals of the tournament held in France, beating Slovakia, Russia, Northern Ireland and Belgium along the way.

And, this time around as Wales play in Baku, Azerbaijan and Rome, Italy at Euro 2020, two of those faces are in the squad once more chosen by interim manager Robert Page.

Long-serving Wales number one Hennessey, who is from the town of Beaumaris on Anglesey, will again be the starting goalkeeper.

The 34-year-old shot-stopper, who has been with Crystal Palace since 2014 at club level, made his full international debut for Wales in a 2-2 draw with New Zealand back in 2007 and is now just a few caps shy of becoming the second player to reach 100 caps for Wales (after Chris Gunter who recently achieved the feat).

Fellow goalkeeper Ward is also in the squad for a second tournament running.

The 27-year-old is a Wrexham AFC academy product but has been a bit-part player at clubs throughout his career ever since, despite being a seemingly reliable keeper. He is currently with Premier League side Leicester City.

North Wales Chronicle:

CAPTION: Harry Wilson in action for Wales against Slovakia in a Euro 2020 qualifier. PIC: Darren Staples/PA.

Corwen’s own Harry Wilson (above) is also in the squad for Euro 2020, having well and truly burst on to the international scene in recent years.

The winger became the youngest-ever player to represent Wales when he came on to face Belgium back in 2013, aged just 16 - but was not selected for Euro 2016.

Impressive loan spells with Hull City, Derby County, Bournemouth and most recently Cardiff City have followed for the Liverpool FC man since then though and he has now become a regular part of the Wales side.

Bodelwyddan-born Dylan Levitt is another new North Wales face to the Euro 2020 squad. The 20-year-old Manchester United midfielder spent the 20/21 season on loan at Croatian side NK Istra 1961 and has earned 8 Wales caps ahead of the tournament.

The final player from North Wales in the squad is talented Liverpool FC full-back Neco Williams (below) who hails from Cefn Mawr, near Wrexham.

North Wales Chronicle:

CAPTION: Neco Williams (right) has made more appearances for Wales than Liverpool in 2021 (Nick Potts/PA).

The 20-year-old made his Wales debut v Finland on September 3 of last year and then scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Bulgaria just three days later.

He has become a regular starter in the Wales side under Page and will no doubt play an important role at the Euros.

Another one in the Euro 2020 squad who has ties to North Wales is powerful forward Kieffer Moore, who qualifies to play for Wales through his maternal grandfather who hailed from Llanrug in Gwynedd.

Wales will open their Euro 2020 campaign against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday (2pm). They will then go on to face Turkey and Italy in what should be a very tough but nevertheless entertaining Group A.