As we welcome the early days of 2025, Welsh football followers have an anticipation of what lies ahead for the remainder of the year. Greatly enthused by the results of the autumn Nations League campaign, expectations are significantly raised as we look forward to the World Cup qualification matches that will dominate most of the attention. Undoubtedly, the inability to participate in the 2024 Euros was a disappointment in the wake of the successes that had preceded it. Attendance in the 2026 global event would most certainly temper those feelings and produce scenes of joyful celebration. Having had the six decades plus wait between participations, the London buses philosophy of seeing one roll after the other will certainly be a justified expectancy in the minds of many. Is such a scenario possible? My view is an optimistic one in this respect. I believe that the squad contains enough quality and is allied with being directed by an extremely capable coaching staff to guide them in their quest. However, although I would much prefer the alternative, I think that it will be a difficult task, and as fans we will have to endure precarious circumstances at times. We shall wait and see if I am correct in providing a confident prediction.

As the new year greets us, we leave the festivities of the season behind us. Hopefully it was an enjoyable time for all of you with pleasant memories to reflect upon. There are some young Welsh players who have had reason for some celebration recently, by taking positive steps in their careers. Swansea City midfielder Ben Lloyd (2005) will have obviously been delighted to have made his first team debut, when introduced off the bench for the final minutes of a recent Championship match. Considered an excellent prospect since schoolboy days by those who follow the Swans’ development teams, the club seemed in agreement and signed him to a long term professional contract soon after his seventeenth birthday. He has remained in the matchday first team squad in subsequent matches and will surely be doing his utmost to gain an opportunity to enter the field of play again. Ben has regularly represented Wales throughout the age group teams, up to U-19 level. He has also had a couple of occasions on the bench for the U-21’s and will be an important member of that squad as they embark on another cycle of qualification matches later in the year. There was also reason for elated feelings for Swansea City goalkeeper Evan Watts (2004) and defender Sebastian Dabrowski (2005) as they were awarded contract extensions. Sidelined by injury for three years during the mid teenage period Evan has undoubtedly exhibited tremendous dedication and determination to re-establish his competency and continue his journey in becoming a professional footballer. A Welsh international for the U-15’s and U-16’s, he has added to his cap collection with the U-21’s over the past two seasons and remains eligible for the team for two further ones. Sebastian, who has played for Wales at U-17 level, also suffered injury frustration last season as the situation prevented him from being available for most of the U-21 games that were played. Returning to fitness, he has appeared in all but a couple of this season’s matches and must have impressed the coaching staff sufficiently to recommend extending his contract for two more seasons beyond this one. Midfielder Jacob Cook (2006) is another Swansea player involved in contract details, with the club announcing his elevation to full professional status. A decade long association with the club has witnessed the progression through the academy teams to earn a scholar contract at the start of last season. With extensive U-18 team experience gained when still a schoolboy, he was a permanent fixture for them last season, only absent from one of the almost three dozen games played. This season, Jacob has played more frequently for the U-21’s than the U-18’s and so will be well acclimatized to being a member of the senior development team next season. Featuring for Wales teams has also been a regular occurrence for Jacob since initially doing so for the U-15’s. In the 2022/23 season he made over a double-digit number of appearances for the successful U-17 team that qualified for the European finals. Mitchell Bates (2004) has been an ever-present feature in the Swansea U-21 team’s midfield this season, continuing a trend of appearing in almost all the games in the last one.  A former associate of the Swansea academy teams, Mitchell moved on and joined Briton Ferry Llansawel. He was establishing a regular place in their Cymru South team when Swansea negotiated a return to the club in January 2023. Having accredited himself well in the Swansea U-21 team, captaining the side, his focus will now change back to first team football challenges with the news of his loan assignment with National League South side Truro City. It is a logical next step in his development and his aim will not only be to gain valuable experience but also display prowess in his new surrounds, providing performances that convince his capability of success in loftier circumstances in future.

When a person’s birthdate is December 27th, the day after Christmas, although nationally recognized as Boxing Day, tends to be a somewhat nondescript occasion. For Bournemouth defender Archie Harris (2004) December 26th, 2024, will be very meaningful. It was the day he was selected to be a member of the first team Premier League squad. With an association to the club since the age of eleven, Archie has progressed through the various development stages, earning a full professional contract in the summer of 2023. Last season he was able to amass first team experience at National League South level when assisting Poole Town and Torquay United for a combined total of ten games. With the Bournemouth squad a little depleted through unavailability came the need for it to be bolstered by development players and all were credited to be deserving of the recognition by the manager, having displayed their worthiness in training. Archie remained in the squad for a further game last week. Though there may be uncertainty about when the next opportunity will be, his appetite for doing so will undoubtedly be whetted and provide plenty of incentive to keep performances at their peak.

A brief mention acknowledging West Brom midfielder Oliver Bostock’s (2007) appearance on the bench for a Championship match last week. Previously discussed regarding his misfortune of a pre-season injury, it is the first of what can be anticipated as many more first team involvements for him. It seems a strong possibility that there will be a first team debut before long and candidature for senior Wales team contributions in the coming seasons.

[ photo embedded from FAW cymru ]