Morgan is an ace goal-grabber

Morgan Thomas is a very talented young footballer from Haverfordwest who is certainly making a name for himself as a goal scorer for the Camrose under 13 team which completed a unique treble this season.

 

Morgan scored 66 goals in 16 matches as Camrose won the double of local league and cup winners as well as becoming the first team from Pembrokeshire to win the West Wales Cup for their age group as they fended off the strong challenge of Swansea club Landore Colts in the final at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli.

 

They beat the Colts by 2-0 with a stunning performance that saw defender Curtis Hicks put them ahead and then Morgan adding the second with a typical attacking run and pile-driver of a shot that the Colts’ keeper could only parry into his own net. It nicely rounded off an excellent individual performance where Morgan tore the opposition defence apart with his pace, eye for goal and his ability to create space for others.

 

 

At 13 years of age, Morgan is football mad after starting out kicking the ball around in the garden at home and eventually joined Camrose, where he played in the ‘B’ team to start but then scored goals aplenty so that coach Phil Jones promoted him into the ‘A’ side and the goal glut has continued there.

 

Camrose won the league and cup double last season and Morgan grabbed 49 goals but although that is an impressive tally he has done even better this season as Camrose have swept all before them with a team of many talents.

 

 

Their hardest match came in the Pembrokeshire Cup Final against Clarbeston Road at Marble Hall, where they won 2-1 after beating the same team 15-0 earlier in the season. Morgan had scored six goals in the semi-final against Herbrandston but sadly sustained an early injury and had to go off at half time in the final.

 

His pace was clearly missed, as were the midfield skills of Morgan’s pal Matthew Delaney, who sadly broke his leg a few days before the final. Morgan wore Matthew’s No 7 shirt in the final, instead of his usual No 10 – and the team dedicated their 2-1 success to Matthew, which was a nice touch.

 

 

If the win at Stebonheath was one of the highlights of this campaign then being part of the County Academy team that won the FAW Cup for their age group at Newtown last campaign was certainly another. Morgan scored a goal in the final that took play into extra time and then penalties – before the county youngsters outscored the opposition. He is also playing for the Haverfordwest County Academy under 13s and 14s this campaign.

 

There were a few scouts, including from Swansea City and Cardiff City, there and Morgan was invited for trials with Cardiff at their Treforest base before being asked to play in some pre-season friendlies for them.

He scored in the game against Hereford and started to attend their training sessions but the demands of three 200-mile round trips for training each week, plus the travel to matches, was one that was too demanding, especially with school work needing to be considered as well.

 

 

Ask Morgan about support and he would say that he is lucky to have his family giving him total support, with dad Mike a former centre and wing with Haverfordwest RFC and mum Julie doing some running in school – so there is natural pace in his genes. Sister Melissa (6) also loves football and the family often travel en bloc to watch Morgan play. The other major influences on his playing so far has been Phil Jones, who has nurtured Morgan’s skills at Camrose, which is appreciated by Morgan and his parents, plus Angie Nicholls with the county set-up.

 

 

Outside of his passion for football, Morgan also plays full back for the STP School team for his age group and is county champion in the 100 metres. He also ran for the relay team a year above his age category in the Welsh Finals at Brecon and they came a creditable third place. Cricket is another option because he is related to the Inward family of Martyn, Tina, Chris and Steve at Llangwm, and they can be very persuasive!

 

 

Ask Morgan about ambitions and he would be quick to say that he would love to be a professional player when he gets older. His favourite team is Manchester United, followed by Swansea City, and his top players are Lionel Messi and Michu. He knows that there is a lot of hard work, and a little luck, if he is to achieve his aim and takes another step on the ladder soon after being invited to train with the South Wales Football Academy next month, initially in Port Talbot and then in Newport.

 

There is no doubt that young Morgan is an outstanding footballer for his age group and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish him every success in his future goal-scoring exploits!