Football success for Coleg Cambria student

A uniformed public service student at Coleg Cambria has returned to college after representing Wales in both Welsh Colleges U18 and a Welsh School Boys U18.

A talented footballer, Harri Lucas-Jones was invited, after being spotted playing for Coleg Cambria Yale by Welsh manager Marc Lloyd Williams, to a North Wales football trial at Coleg Llandrillo last October.

He was lucky enough to be picked to represent North Wales vs South Wales in a trial game in Newtown, mid Wales.

Harri came through this game with flying colours and as a result received an invite to attend a Welsh squad training camp at RAF St Athan in Cardiff with other players from both north and south Wales.

The talented footballer was recently selected for Welsh College Boys U18 – where he travelled to Rome for the Roma Caput Mundi Football Tournament vs Italy, Romania and England along with Conor Harwood from Coleg Cambria Deeside.

Although Wales lost all three games, Harri who played in all three, described it as “an honour and an experience I will never forget”.

Following on from the Italian tournament Harri was then selected to represent Wales at U18 Schoolboys in the annual Centenary Shield, a competition held between Wales, England, Scotland, N Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

Wales’s first game was the Republic of Ireland at Cefn Druids, the club Harri plays for at reserve and U19 level. Wales lost 2-1 in a close game.

The next game was N.Ireland away and Harri flew out from Birmingham to Dublin before a coach trip over the border to Armagh City where Wales drew the game 1-1, a game shown live on a satellite tv sports channel.

The third game for Wales was v England at home at the impressive Cardiff Met University, and again shown live on tv with Wales winning the game 1-0, but unfortunately Harri picked up a second yellow card in the 96th minute and was sent off.

Despite not being available due to his suspension for the final game v Scotland in Dumfries, Harri was invited along with the squad to make the trip. Team/Squad togetherness being cited as one of the reasons. Wales won the game 3-2 and finished the competition as runners up behind R.O.I. Wales’s best finish for many many years.

Harri who enjoys travelling with his football said: “I’ve made many friends through this whole experience and along with my teammates I have received my Welsh schoolboys cap at a lavish ceremony in South Wales last month.

“I was presented with my Welsh colleges Cap at a ceremony at Dragon Park (home of the FAW) in Newport on May 20th.”

Darryl Cumberlidge, coach for Coleg Cambria Yale’s football team added: “We are very proud of Harri’s achievements to represent both Welsh School boys and Welsh Colleges.

“It will give our new intake of players in September a huge incentive, knowing they have opportunities to represent their country in such prestigious competitions.

“Harri has worked hard at his game over the last two years and deserves all the recognition he has received.”