When Haverfordwest County beat Caernarvon Town by 3-1 in a European qualifier at The Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium, no-one was more delighted than Jacob Owen because he was playing for The Bluebirds at right back and played really well until he was eventually replaced after 88 minutes of total commitment and skill aplenty before he was replaced for the last five minutes or so by another young local in Iori Humphreys.The generous applause he received from the huge crowd showed how much he has been taken into their hearts by the home supporters at such a young age.
Because Jacob is only 20 years of age but the talented young footballer from near St Clears, is the latest local player to come off the conveyor belt of talent at the Haverfordwest Academy to claim a regular back-four slot in the Bluebirds’ Welsh Premier League squad.
Jacob has established that regular place at right back and played so consistently well that he has started almost every match - no mean feat when the current squad is regarded as the strongest for a number of years by many of the regular supporters, this pundit included, as it sits comfortably in third place behind New Saints and Penybont.
He has followed other locals like Ricky Watts, Gregg Walters, Alaric Jones and Ben Fawcett in the club’s squad, and he says all of them have given him great support, as have other defenders in Lee Jenkins, Luke Tabone and Rhys Abbruzzese, plus goalkeeper Zac Jones.
Delighted to be back at The Bridge Meadow
After the first half of the season being played at Richmond Park, Carmarthen, The Bluebirds have since been on the superb new 3G pitch at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium.
“The first game, against Aberystwyth was an amazing experience,” Jacob said, “because there was a crowd of almost 1,500 and I put in a few good crosses as we won 1-0.”
The next game, against Briton Ferry/Llansawel was even better because although The Bluebirds didn’t start well, they won 5-1 and again Jacob helped set up a few goals with his over-lapping on the right and crosses into the box. One in particular was worth a mention because he looked sure to be squeezed out but somehow stretched forward in front of the covering defender - and the ball was in the net, right in front of the Bluebirds’ delighted supporters!
Made welcome at the Academy – and soon forced his way into the senior side
Jacob joined Haverfordwest County’s Academy squad in the Cymru Development Premier League at the start of the 2023/2024 campaign and The Young Bluebirds gained a 3-1 win over Pontardawe and he must have impressed because a week later saw him selected for the club’s senior side in their Welsh Premier League match against table-toppers New Saints - and he’s been involved in Tony Pennock’s squad ever since.
At the time of writing Jacob has slotted into the right back position after making his full debut, rather than on the bench, against Aberystwyth at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium in a 3-0 victory where local pundits agreed he had settled in well.
Jacob then had two games back on the bench against Colwyn Bay and Ammanford before he was again in the starting line up against a tough Connors Quay Nomads’ outfit - and again he was on the winning side in a 2-1 score line - and in that season he made nine appearances for the firsts and another ten for the Academy team in their matches along the M4 corridor.
Early start to his football career – with terrific family support
Jacob had taken up football as a six year old playing for the Haverfordwest Junior Bluebirds with Trevor Morgans as coach and before he was eight he had been scouted by Swansea City’s John Beale and Gary Richards (now the excellent assistant manager with Haverfordwest County)
“Luckily, I was able to share lifts with the likes of Macs Page, Evan Watts and Ifan Knott, all of whom are now doing really well in sport, with Macs at the Scarlets and Evan with Wales Under 21s, Swansea City and currently on loan with Galway.
My parents and grandparents were fully supportive and they have also done the same superb job with my younger Luc (18), who was also at the Swans academy and is now involved at Haverfordwest first team and with Whitland in cricket.
Jacob loves his cricket at Whitland and used to play rugby at Llangwm
On the subject of cricket, Jacob also plays the summer sport for Whitland Cricket Club after starting out with Hook when he was about eight years old. He also played for the county throughout the age groups and captained them at under 15 and 16 levels alongside talented players like Joe Phillips, Owen Phelps, Lewis Miller and Seth Willington.“I joined Whitland because our family moved nearby and we were all made very welcome from the outset- and I was soon making my first team debut and have sine gained a regular place in the first team, as has my younger brother Luc.
“As a batsman I have so far had top scores of 101 not out and 94 not out - and my bowling off-spin on the odd occasion with some success.
“I am already looking forward to the next season because after the hard work and tension of the football season it is a great way to relax for an afternoon, with aa sit on the balcony after and enjoying a couple of beers with my team mates.”
Jacob also played rugby for Llangwm Juniors until he was 11, mainly as a winger but sometimes at outside half.
“We reached three age-group finals on the County Finals Day and after winning it one year we went on to win at Parc y Scarlets in the regional final with the likes of Harry Fuller and Iestyn Comey leading the way.’’
Played for The Swans – but then went to college
But football was always Jacob’s first love and he was with Swansea City until 16 when Covid hit,
“It is a highly thought of independent college with a great reputation in football so I was delighted to take it on as a new challenge, even though it meant I had to turn down that second spell at Blackpool.
International football recognition – for England!
“I passed A Levels in Economics, Business Studies, and PE (of course!) and after attending a series of trials I was selected for the English Schools’ teams in both my years there, captaining the team in my second year and proud of my English Schools’ caps, which I keep at home.
“One of the games was against the Australian Schools and we actually played Wales at St George’s Park, with one of my current team mates, Harry John, playing against us!
“From there, I went straight to Haverfordwest County and I feel it is the best decision I have ever made because I have been made so welcome – and the standard we play in is the best in Wales.”
And finally . . .
“I am also working at an accountancy apprenticeship at Llewellin Davies, with Colin John, who is held in huge esteem as a coach at Whitland Cricket Club and across the county as he also sponsors junior cricket via the company. Colin is an excellent boss and very supportive; he gives me plenty of flexibility for me to be able to train twice-weekly at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium and for leaving early for away games on Friday afternoons.’’“Tony Pennock is a great manager: ‘firm but fair’ as the cliche goes and I can only improve my overall play under his coaching team’s excellent guidance.”
It seems the appreciation is mutual because club manager Tony Pennock told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk:
“Jacob is one of our youngsters who has done exceptionally well and I’m hoping he’ll have a long career with us. He’s very much part of my plans, going forward.”
High praise indeed from someone not given to dishing out unnecessary comments and having seen Jacob Owen play recently at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium we can only say that he is certainly one to watch for the future – and we PembrokeshireSport.co.uk are going to do just that with regard to this talented young local footballer!