Idzi wins Young Player
of the Year Award
Haverfordwest County goalkeeper Lee Idzi has been named as this campaign’s Principality Welsh Premier League Young Player of the Year following a fine season at the New Bridge Meadow where his courage and skill between the sticks has helped the Bluebirds into a creditable seventh spot in the Welsh Premier table
The 21-year old from Merthyr Tydfil was an ever-present for Haverfordwest in the League this season and he was rated as the League's top 'keeper by the other teams’ managers. This follows on from recently being selected by Haverfordwest’s opponents in the Welsh Premier League as the first-choice keeper in the ‘Dream Team’ for the season as a result of receiving the most votes from other players, a real accolade which shows how highly he is rated by opposing players.
Outstanding achievement recognised by manager
It is an outstanding achievement for the Wales semi-professional international, given the number of outstanding stoppers in the Welsh Premier, with Rhyl's Lee Kendall, TNS's Paul Harrison, Port Talbot's Kristian Rogers and ex-GAP Connah's Quay 'keeper Chris Maxwell also in the frame for the Team of the Year.
Llanelli's Ashley Morris, Bangor's Paul Smith, Carmarthen's Neil Thomas and Aberystwyth's Dave Roberts are also hugely talented goalkeepers, in what is arguably the most competitive position in the League.
Haverfordwest's Manager Derek Brazil was quick to mention this on hearing the news and said;
"For Lee to be voted ahead of all the other excellent 'keepers in the League is a major honour for him and the club. This Award is another excellent personal achievement for Lee.
"He's only in his second season at this level and he's kept ten clean sheets. He's really matured and I'm delighted to have him at Haverfordwest," added the former Manchester United and Cardiff City player.
"If Lee continues to progress as he is, he will go further internationally and in his club career. He still needs to work on a couple of things, but if he does keep improving those, he has got every chance. I would be surprised if a League club doesn't come in for him soon."
Late arrival and
Welsh caps
Idzi arrived at the Bridge Meadow Stadium in August 2007, having starred for the Merthyr Tydfil Youth Team that won the Welsh Youth Cup in the 2006/07 season with wins over Cardiff City (2-0 at Treforest), TNS (2-1 at Rhayader) and Cardiff Colts (2-1 at Port Talbot). Ironically, his opportunities were limited at Penydarren Park as his good friend Ashley Morris, who is now the Llanelli incumbent, was the Martyrs’ first choice. Brazil was quick to snap up the then teenager on the day before the new season dawned since he had just lost Lee Kendall to Rhyl and managed to halt a signing-on form which would have taken Lee to play with Penydarren.
Brazil added;
"He had very big boots to fill when he arrived to replace Lee Kendall, who was superb for Haverfordwest during his five years with the club. But he has shown that he is more than capable of filling them, as this season has proved. Everyone can see how far he has come in the last twelve months."
Idzi has featured in all three of Wales' Under 23 semi-professional matches in the International Challenge Trophy, winning caps against Italy (lost 4-2 but he came on at half time and didn’t concede a goal) and Finland (lost 1-0), and he was also in the senior Wales semi-professional squad in the Four Nations last season, winning a further three caps against Scotland (won 1-0), Gibraltar (won 6-1) and England (lost 3-1).
Million miles from
setting out
It all seems a million miles away from his start in the game as a nine year old where he started with Georgetown Boys Club in Merthyr and as well as following dad, Paul Idzi, in between the sticks he also played as striker and banged in more than his share of goals. He played for the Swansea School of Excellence from nine until 15 under the watchful eye of Cliff Morris and admits he was ‘gutted’ when the Swans took him off their books after so much travelling for twice-weekly training and matches on Sunday.
He played for Cheltenham Town Youth for two seasons, a round trip of almost three hours where dad Paul bore the brunt of all the travel but when they changed manager he joined Merthyr and was soon part of a very successful side – but again wasn’t needed after youth days and it was then that he started making the long journey to Haverfordwest!
Pleased with overall performance
He’s been pleased with his overall performances this season and says
“I would pick the TNS match away as the best result because I made several good saves in a scoreless draw – and the away match at Caersws as the worst all-round team display. I have been very lucky to have the likes of Terry Evans, Craig Hanford, Lee Jarman and a few others helping me at the back - and as a team we need to thank Derek Brazil, Mark Evans and Mickie Ellis, plus Rob Summons as chairman. The supporters are great and have also made my dad, who has had the biggest influence on my career, welcome as he comes to all the games.”
