PHOTOS:
Lloyd Hughes
Lloyd with goal-scoring team mates Gwion Howell and Laurie Haworth
Lloyd as part of the Haverfordwest County youth team
When the Welsh Academies’ football team recently marched out at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium for their international match against their counterparts from the Republic of Ireland, no one could have been more proud than 17 year old Lloyd Hughes.
Lloyd was not only making his international debut for Wales but the match was being played on home territory since he is a valued member of the Haverfordwest County squad that is doing so well in the McWhirter Youth League.
Magic moments
“Being given my No 7 shirt before the match by coach Mark Pike was a real highlight, said Lloyd, “and after the team talk I had a few butterflies as we waited to go out onto the pitch.
“The local supporters soon let me know they were there as we marched out alongside the Republic of Ireland boys, and I will always remember the moments when our national anthem was played.”
Sadly, there was to be no perfect ending because Wales lost 1-0 to a penalty when they perhaps deserved a draw – but there was consolation for Lloyd in the fact that soon afterwards he learned he had been selected to pick up his second cap just a few days later against the same opponents in Port Talbot, when the teams drew 1-all.
Early start at The Clicketts
It must all seem a long time since Lloyd started out in football as an eager five year old in Tenby, when his father took him along to The Clicketts.
“Angie Nicholls was coaching the under sevens and it wasn’t long before I was in the team – and stayed with her as coach until we reached under 12 level and Kevin Ferney took over for the next few years.
“We had a very good team at Tenby and we won lots of trophies, with Clarbeston Road as our main rivals. For a while I played a year ahead and just enjoyed being part of the squad at The Clicketts.
County play – and a short spell at Carew
“I also played in the county set-up with Spencer Williams, who I still play alongside for Haverfordwest,” said Lloyd, “and there was always plenty of travel to training and games all over South Wales.
“As a naturally left-footed player I was often involved on that side of midfield but to be honest,” admitted Lloyd, “I prefer playing out on the right because I like cutting inside defenders and taking shots at a much better angle.”
Tenby didn’t have an under 16 team and so Lloyd joined Carew, where he was coached by Barrie Lewis and Adam Hughes and at the same time started playing with the Swansea City Academy.
Young Swans’ involvement – and recognition by his town
“At first I just went for one match on trial but I was kept on for the season and we played against the likes of Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Yeovil Town, but I was expected to train three times a week, as well all the travelling to matches.
“I also had lots of school work to try and keep up with because I eventually want to go to university so it all got a bit too much and I stopped at the end of the season.
“But I really enjoyed my involvement and I was proud when the mayor of Tenby invited me into his office and presented me with a town plaque, which I still have on my bedroom wall.”
Young Bluebirds with Batty
It was around this time that Lloyd was invited to the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium by youth team manager Steve Batty and was soon settled into the squad, despite being a year younger than most of the other players, but his appearances were limited by a knee ligament injury.
He also has a niggling groin injury this campaign but has learned to nurse it along so that he can play regularly alongside studying PE and Biology in the sixth form at Greenhill School, eventually hoping to study sports science at Loughborough or Cardiff Metropolitan.
With Haverfordwest County he has been a regular and shown his versatility by not only playing wide in midfield but also slotting in a more central role and even at fill back.
Welsh recognition a thrill
As well as his representative honours with the Welsh Academies he was also in the running for a Welsh Schools’ cap after captaining the team against Australia in a trial match at Ystrad Mynach, where they lost 3-0. He was then selected for the final trial but was ill and unable to attend, and wasn’t included for the big match.
And so it was a delight when he learned that he was in the running for his academies’ cap and after a trial received an e-mail confirming that he was in the starting line-up at No 7.
“I joined the rest of the squad for training at Dragon Park, Newport, where the facilities like ice baths, were amazing and prior to the match met up with the rest at a hotel in Port Talbot before going down on the team bus to Haverfordwest, had a meal at the golf club and then drove to the Conygar Stadium for the match.
“We were allowed to keep our shirts, shorts and socks after the second game at Port Talbot and we are hoping to eventually have our caps, which will be the biggest highlight of all.”
And finally . . .
So now Lloyd is back focussing on his play at Haverfordwest County and played an influential role in their latest 1-0 win over high-flying Merthyr Town. He recently received his first-ever call up to the senior squad against Goytre and although he wasn’t called upon he enjoyed the experience and is looking for further calls from Wayne Jones.
Steve Batty is very pleased with his young charge and told us,
“Lloyd is a very good trainer at the Tuesday and Thursday sessions, and loves taking on players, as well as tackling strongly and filling in gaps in defence with his good reading of the game. He has a powerful left foot and is a great asset to our team.”
High praise from someone who is an outstanding assessor of players!
Outside of his football, Lloyd also enjoys tennis and golf but it is football that takes up his time as he supplements the club training with his own sessions at Tenby Leisure Centre, followed by creating ice-baths at home to aid recovery.
He clearly is a dedicated young man who knows where he wants to go and is ready to put in the effort to achieve his goals (no pun intended!) and we are confident that we are sure to hear more in the future about Haverfordwest County and Welsh Academies’ international Lloyd Hughes!