Micky's Pembrokeshire
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Ace goalkeeper Nicholas certainly is a sporting all-rounder
We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk have been very proud to highlight some very promising all-round young sportsmen and to that list now we can certainly add the name of another talented youngster in Nicholas Jones.
Nicholas (11) is a goalkeeper with the Swansea City junior set-up but is also a useful all-rounder at Burton Cricket Club and with the Pembrokeshire Under 11s team, has reduced his handicap from 45 to 27 at Haverfordwest Golf Club, won the county under 11 tennis tournament at Haverfordwest – and played rugby until he had to give it up because of so many other sporting commitments alongside his school work!
Fine saves – and few goals conceded
On the football front, he helped Pembrokeshire get to the semi-finals of the 2011 Tom Yeoman Schools’ Football Finals at Wrexham, ably looked after by Angie Nicholls and Mark Hicks. He played particularly well in the final group game where he made several fine saves against Rhondda Cynon Taf. The only goals he conceded on the day were those in the semi-final defeat to Newport.
Nicholas has been a goal keeper since the age of 6 – he just went in goal one day and 'liked it'. He has been a valued member of Camrose Football Club for the last five years in a team that has only lost twice in all that time - playing with his county colleagues such as Curtis Hicks, Daniel Llewellyn and Travis O'Connor.
Hard work pays off
This talented young keeper had been with Cardiff City Development under the watchful eye of coach Dave Raison since the age of eight and had several trials for their Academy alongside Max Brindley, Travis O’Connor and Matthew Delaney but not quite making the grade. Nicholas is nothing other than determined, however, and following a recommendation from a local Swansea 'scout' (Mark Hicks) he switched allegiance at the start of this season to 'try his hand' with Swansea. Following a few weeks’ training with their Centre of Excellence Goal Keeping School, and a successful match debut, he was invited to complete a six-week triallist period.
This resulted in further training twice a week and six matches, including trips to Swindon, Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers to date. During that time the team has only lost once and Nicholas has managed to keep three clean sheets. He considers his best game so far to be at Bournemouth, during which he kept one of those clean sheets and in doing so got a cut lip and a bruised chin for his troubles when he had to make a fantastically brave double save.
Good news from dad!
His efforts have now been rewarded with a Centre of Excellence contract until the end of the season with mum Mary and dad Phil finding out before him. Nicholas had gone to Swansea training with Alaric Jones (another Pembs success at Swansea) with Alaric's dad Tony and they had got drenched due to some appalling weather. They rushed off at the end of training before the coaching staff could talk to Nicholas to tell him of their decision. So they phoned the house whilst Nicholas was 'in transit' and passed on the good news. Nicholas appeared surprised when Phil shook his hand as he entered the house but his face turned into a beaming smile when he was congratulated on becoming a Swansea City player!
Cricketing all-rounder
As well as his football, Nicholas is also a useful cricket-all-rounder with Burton Cricket Club, where he is well-coached by Neville Davies. Two of his three seasons there have also seen him play regularly for the Pembrokeshire county team for his age group, which is coached by Andrew Williams and Lyn Rees.
In cricket he helped Burton reach the final of the 2011 Under 11 County Cricket tournament with a match-winning performance with both bat and ball in the semi-final win against Neyland, although Narberth proved too strong in the final.
His best performance for Pembrokeshire County Cricket was on tour this summer in Ipswich in a defeat against Northumberland, where he took 3-26 off seven overs and an attacking 34 not out in reply.
And finally . . .
Not content with that little lot, Nicholas loves golf and plays two or three times weekly in the summer months. He has received excellent coaching from Matthew Rees, who takes him out to the floodlit driving range at Freystrop as an added bonus.
He has worked determinedly to get where he is and he knows that this hard work must continue in his football. His school are very proud of him and his Head Master, Mr Mike Davies at Ysgol y Preseli, hopes he can follow in the footsteps of another Preseli pupil, namely Joe Allen, who is fast making a name for himself in the Barclays Premiership. Nicholas also has the total support of Mary and Phil, plus older brother Nathan (16) as he continues his attempts to reach the top. There are inevitably pit-falls galore but PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only wish Nicholas Jones every success because he deserves to do well!
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