 | Young Guns Blog by John Jones |
page updated: Fri, 22 Apr 22 : 05:40 : refresh for updates
To read all last season blog posts scroll through posts on the young guns page
Marcus Dackers (Salford City - on loan at Chester FC) born 2003, Midfielder.
An academy player and then a scholar with Brighton, Marcus completed his time at the club at the end of last season. He was quickly signed by Salford as they added him to their development squad. He has not only played in the development team for his new club but has also done well enough to earn some time with the first team. He in fact made his debut when introduced off the bench for the final minutes of his first game in that circumstance. He remained in the matchday squad for the next four league matches and his introduction into a match was for a bit longer in the second round FA Cup game. Earlier in the season Marcus was loaned out for a short period at Stalybridge Celtic and caught the eye for some of his performances. He has been loaned out to Chester FC for the second half of the season and has certainly pleased their fans by scoring quite a few goals. Marcus has played for Wales teams at U-15 and U-16 levels as well as being involved in the 2017 Cymru Cup games as a schoolboy. He has gone on to represent the nation at U-17 and U-19 levels as well.
Rio Dyer (Hull City) born 2003, Midfielder.
As a member of the Swansea academy, Rio made one substitute appearances for their U-18 team. He then moved to Hull to become a first year scholar at the start of last season. He played in well over half of the U-18 team games last season and in almost half in this one. He has been away from the club when loaned out to Cinderford Town in March and has also played in a few of his parent club’s U-23 team games. Rio comes to the end of his time as a scholar soon and a decision will be made what the next step in his career will be. Last season, Rio collected his first Wales cap when making a substitute appearance for the U-18 team in a friendly against England.
Jamie Egan (Bristol Rovers - on loan at Hereford F.C.) born 2004, Defender.
Jamie is in his second season at Rovers, having moved to the club to begin his time as a scholar before the start of last season. Prior to that he was affiliated with Irish club Cabinteely. He has played regularly for the Rovers U-18 team since joining the club, until he was loaned out to Hereford in January. He has demonstrated his ability to perform well in men’s football as he has been a regular starter in the Bull’s team in the period he has been with them. His hope now will be that he will be selected to continue his development at his parent club. Though at that time based in Ireland, Jamie was recruited to play for the Wales U-16 team in the spring of 2019 and then was a member of an U-17 training camp squad assembled early in the 2019/20 season.
Josh Farrell (Granada CF) born 2003, Forward.
Unfortunately, I cannot provide any club information about Josh other than he is a player with Granada, whose first team are members of La Liga. He was first selected for Wales as a member of the 2019/20 U-17 squad that was scheduled to play the eventually cancelled elite round European Championship games. This season, he was selected as a member of the U-19 squad for the preliminary qualification games but was unavailable and had to withdraw before they were played.
Siyabonga Ligendza (Cardiff City) born 2003, Forward.
A first year professional with the Bluebirds, Siyabonga has been missing from all Cardiff teams throughout the season until his reappearance for the U-23 team in very recent weeks. I cannot offer an explanation as to why, except for a possible injury situation. Hopefully he will now be able to progress his career in the positive manner it had been previously trending. As an academy player and then a scholar with the club he performed well enough to be offered his present contract last summer. As a schoolboy, Siyabonga was a member of the Wales 2018/19 Victory Shield squad.
Louis Lloyd (Shrewsbury Town) born 2003, Forward.
An academy member at Connah’s Quay until Shrewsbury recruited him to become a scholar at their club for the start of last season, Louis has done well in his time in youth football. He has played regularly for the U-18 team, providing a decent scoring return for the side. Last season, he was given an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of first team football when selected on the bench for a Papa John’s Trophy game.
Dylan Perkins (Swansea City) born 2003, Midfielder.
Dylan was a member of the Swansea academy and then signed a two year scholar contract with the club prior to the start of last season. He has played a few times for their U-18 team in the last two seasons and will be awaiting a decision as to where his future in football lies after the summer. Dylan played in the 2017 Cymru Cup games.
Danny Wassell (Sheffield Wednesday) born 2003, Midfielder.
In his second season as a scholar with Wednesday, Danny was missing from their U-18 team line-up for the first three months of the season as he recovered from quite a serious injury issue. Since his return, he has regularly been in the squad and has played in most of the games as he attempts to show the coaching staff, he has the quality to flourish in the next stage of development football and earn a contract to remain at the club next season. Danny has not played for any Wales teams but was included in the U-17 squad selected for a training camp conducted at the start of the 2019/20 season.
Jay Williams (Fulham) born 2003, Defender.
As Jay’s time as a member of the Newport County academy was nearing its completion, Fulham negotiated his transfer to them. He began his time as a scholar at the London club at the start of the 2019/20 season but played relatively few times for their U-18 team over the two subsequent seasons. Injury issues were at least a part contributor as a reason for his absences and the club retained him as a member of their U-23 squad this season. He has again only played in a few games as the U-23 team were confirmed as champions of the second division of the category one league well before the end of the season. Jay played for the Wales schoolboy team in the 2018/19 Victory Shield competition and has continued to play for the national sides. In 2019/20, it was the U-17’s, last season the U-18’s and this season he was in the U-19 squad that competed in the European Championship qualification games.
page posted Fri, 22 Apr 22 : 05:40 : refresh for updates
[ photo embedded from FAW cymru ]
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