page revision date : 30th November 2009
Elliot’s on the ball for Wales
Elliot Scotcher has achieved the ultimate footballing accolade for his age group as the talented young central midfielder from Tenby has captained Wales in international matches this season.
Elliot has pulled on the coveted red shirt six times so far this campaign and travelled to Switzerland where Wales played both the host country and Belgium – and has followed up with games against Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, followed by two games in France where they lost 6-0 and 5-1 against the best junior team in Europe but Elliot had good games in both.
He was selected for Wales by Osian Roberts, the team manager from North Wales, after being involved in the South Wales set-up for some time, and at the time of writing was already looking forward to representing Wales against England in the traditional Victory Shield match which is to be televised on Sky Sports. It was a very proud moment for Osian when he ran out for the Welsh games, especially in Switzerland as he stood for the national anthems knowing that his parents were there to support him.
Family matters
Dad is Gavin Scotcher, the well-known former Tenby United outside half in rugby, who also played football for Tenby as a goal scorer until he sustained a nasty leg injury which caused him to retire from the game – but is now coaching the Tenby under 16s’ football team. He was also there to cheer Elliot on in both games in France. Mum Tracey loves running and is currently gearing up for the Cardiff half marathon whilst younger sister Polly (12) is also a Welsh international – in gymnastics.
Ask Elliot about major influences in his sporting life and he would quickly nominate his parents, plus his agent, Mark Germaine, from Cardiff. Also a great help has been Mr Matthew Davies, his games teacher at Greenhill School in Tenby, whom he describes as a ‘gent’ and when he was at Cardiff City for five years he had every encouragement from Fred Smith, as Elliot attended training sessions with the young Bluebirds twice every week in the capital city and Gavin taxied him there without fail. He had been spotted by Dave Reason from Cardiff City and was part of their Development Centre in Carmarthen for five years but sadly was released from there recently – but with Mark Germaine is looking at interest from Wolves, Ipswich and Liverpool, amongst other teams.
Low handicap golfer
Outside of his football, Elliot is also a useful golfer with a handicap of six and he plays alongside Gavin at Trefloyne Golf Club, the lovely parkland course in Tenby. Both he and Gavin are very competitive but it is Scotcher senior who normally wins because he plays off a handicap of just three! Elliot has already won a few monthly medals, however, as well as the JOP Cup.
First sporting love
But football has always been Elliot’s first sporting love and he started playing for Tenby Juniors when he was very young, as well as being an avid Arsenal fan and visiting the Emirates whenever he has the chance. He played for Tenby until he was ten and then moved into the Cardiff City fold until recently. During his time with Cardiff City he has played for them against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, with defeats again the first three but a great win over the Gunners!
Elliot was naturally disappointed to be released from Cardiff but is pleased that several other clubs are showing an interest in his midfield skills, where he is a good reader of the game, strong in the tackle, a good distributor of the ball and able to score goals. He is also very fit and can run all day, which is another asset that has marked him out as a very good player. But above all else he is a modest and likeable young man from a good family and with all this in his favour PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is confident that we will hear a great deal more of this talented young footballer in the forthcoming years as he continues his long-held ambition to be a professional football player!
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