Fishguard Sports girls' section has really done superbly well in the season just ended and two of their three sides have been coached by 17 year old students from Ysgol Bro Gwaun - and both have played all their own football with neighbours Goodwick United!

Ben Leahy and Zac Davies are sixth form students in the local school and were chosen by 5x60 officer Dan Bellis to help out in school as Young Ambassadors whose remit is to encourage others to take part in a wide range of sports that include football, rugby, hockey and netball but also others like basketball, table tennis or anything else that would stimulate an interest for those who might not otherwise be involved.

Total commitment to Young Ambassadors’ cause

Ben is already a Gold Ambassador after attending a course in Haverfordwest when he was a Silver Ambassador, dealing with areas like coaching skills and leadership on the agenda, whilst Zac is a Silver Ambassador whose enthusiasm and willingness to commit to the cause will surely see him attain Gold status in the near future.

As Young Ambassadors the boys run lunchtime clubs on four days a week, with a rest on Wednesday, where they have upwards of 30 regulars who have football, boys' cricket, badminton and girls' cricket on their respective days, plus two after-school clubs for basketball and girls' football.

They are so committed that a number of the sessions sees them in sole charge - and another duty enjoyed is to visit local primary schools to encourage the Bronze Ambassadors just setting out on their similar roles!

Joined ‘Minty’ in making things work

They started out when some of the girls at Bro Gwaun entered a football festival with Dan Bellis and Eiry Miles, and Fishguard Sports' effervescent chairman Matthew 'Minty' Lamb agreed to be head coach as they started the girls' section and needed help. 

That was almost three years ago and their efforts have led them to having girls playing at under 10s, under 12s and under 14 levels in the Pembrokeshire Girls' League administered by Emily Ardran.
"At first we had only a few girls taking part," Ben told us, "but since then we have gone from strength to strength and we now have some experienced players and some relative newcomers who learn quite a bit from them. It is nice we have done so well but our first aim is to ensure that they have fun as well as competing hard."

 
Dan asked both Ben and Zac if they would help and the two boys, who are good friends with a shared interest in football as players, agreed to start coaching, with Ben in charge of the under 10s, Zac looking after the under 12s and with 'Minty' being involved with the under 14s and generally overseeing the three teams.

Enjoyable training

The teams train once a week on the Astroturf at Fishguard Leisure Centre, with all three sharing the pitch but splitting in to their respective groups.
"We usually start off with a fun warm-up that includes relay races that are good fun but surprisingly competitive," said Zac, "and then we focus on skills like passing, tackling, shooting and defending well as a team.
"Then there are small game situations before we usually finish with full-match play for the remaining time - and then it's a matter of waiting for every second Sunday to come around so that we play our games in a festival-type of format."

League set-up explained

Ben added:
"We play every other side in our age group in matches that last only eight minutes and there are rolling subs so that everyone gets a chance to play. In the under 10s we take on the likes of Tenby, Camrose, Johnston and Narberth, who often have two teams each so there are about eight games during the day.

"Tenby were our main rivals but we beat them by five points after losing only six out of 81 matches, with quite a few draws, and we really celebrated when it was confirmed that we were winners - a great day for the club!"

Double success followed by triple triumph

It proved to be a double success because Zac's team at under 12 level, who also had Kilgetty in their section, also eased home to the silverware by seven points.
"We knew that if we played well on that final day at Camrose we would win the league," Zac  said, "and although our nerves got to us a bit we still won three and drew our other five matches, which was good enough to see us succeeding. In a long season we only dropped about 60 points out of a possible 260 on offer."

The girls were understandably delighted in both squads, especially since in both there was a number of players in their debut season - and Fishguard Sports' Girls completed a unique treble a week later when 'Minty's' team at under 14 also won their section and their triple triumph will be celebrated at a special presentation evening to be held at The Fishguard Bay Hotel on 27th May.

"It will be a great night, not only for the girls but for the parents, who have provided total support - and we are proud of them as well," admitted both Ben and Zac.

Family support – and their start in boys’ football

That both lads should be involved should come as no surprise because they have had every encouragement from their parents, with Ben's parents Nicola and Anthony, plus sister Amy, always there for him, whilst Zac's mum and dad Belinda and Colin, plus sister Elizabeth, do exactly the same.

They both played their junior football at Phoenix Park, although Ben played at Clarbeston Road for three years until he was nine and then joined Goodwick United at under 10 level and played in a good team, including Patrick Hughes and Darren Devonald, that won the league and cup double and came second a few times, as well as losing in the West Wales Cup semi-final.

Zac was a relatively late started but played for a good under 15 team alongside Matthew Devonald, Callum Clark, Sean O'Sullivan and Kieran 'O Connor that won their age-group final by beating Haverfordwest on penalties at Marble Hall, Milford Haven.

And finally . . .

Both are looking forward to playing for the club at senior level but in the meanwhile are looking forward to continuing their particular involvement at Fishguard Sports, hopefully alongside Matthew Lamb, who told us,
"I have been very lucky to have great help from two teenagers who have shown great maturity and total commitment. Ben and Zac are real ambassadors for football and their families can be immensely proud of them, as I am."

We could pay Ben Leahy and Zac Davies no higher tribute and we wish both smashing young coaches continued success in all that they do!