"I welcomed the chance to play football for RCT schools, it offers new challenges, to work with different coaches and meet new friends from nearby schools."
With the 18/19 nomination window now open, we caught up with one of our current highly successful U11 Boys squad, Jac Thomas, who shares his experiences of playing County Schoolboy football for RCTSFA.
Jac plays for his club football for Cardiff City, having formerly played for his local club, Treherbert Boys and Girls Club in the Rhondda.
Q1. Please tell us about your journey as a footballer so far and what role has Schools football played in your development?
“I started playing football in Treherbert Boys and Girls club when I was 4. I played for them until I was 8 years old. I was spotted by a Cardiff City scout in a tournament in Maerdy when I was 5. From here I went into a Cardiff City ADC (Advanced Development Centre) at Treforest, where I first met Gary Wilmot, who is now also my coach at RCT. I was there for 6 weeks before we were invited to play the Cardiff City academy team and after playing them I was invited to play for Cardiff City at the age of 5. I still played for TB&G’s Club until I signed a contract with Cardiff City which meant that at the age of 9 I could only play Schools Football as well Cardiff. I am currently in the academy under 11’s team.
Because my school does not play much football, I welcomed the chance to play football for RCT schools. It meant I would have more time playing football, new challenges, work with different coaches and meet new friends from nearby schools. It gives me a chance to play locally with boys from my school and area. “
Q2. What has been the top 3 highlights of your time with RCTSFA?
1. Qualifying for the Tom Yeoman Cup (Welsh finals) last year in my first year playing for RCT schools.
2. This year winning all 4 games against a tough Cardiff and Vale Schools team and coming away with maximum points.
3. To qualify this year for the Welsh finals with a game in hand.
Q3. To any young schoolboy footballers reading this piece, what is your most important piece of advice in relation to their football development?
“I would say practice, practice, practice to get better. Always try your best in every training session and match. As a left footed player, working on my right foot has given me more confidence and has improved my game.”
Q4. What other opportunities has the WSFA schoolboy pathway allowed you to enjoy?
“Schoolboy football has allowed me to make lots of new friends with players that don’t go to my school or live in my area. The boys I play with are a great bunch and I enjoy playing with them. Playing and beating teams like Cardiff and Bridgend has given our team the confidence and belief that we are as good as any other team from across Wales. We are really looking forward to playing against the best teams in Wales in the final of the Welsh Cup.”
Q5. Finally, what are your main ambitions and targets in an RCTSFA shirt, and longer term in your football career beyond your time with us?
“This year our target is to win the Welsh Cup Final in April and to prove ourselves to be the best county for the next few years. My dream is to play for the Wales regional team and then to play football for my Country.
Long term my ambition is to become a professional football and have a career doing something that I love. I want to be the best I can be.”
Thank you to Jac for his thoughts on playing County football and we wish him well in his time with us at RCTSFA and indeed in his future career.
The RCTSFA nominations window for our 18/19 Boys and Girls squads is now open, information has been sent to all Primary Schools in RCT
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