Ysgol Bro Teifi pupil Grace Morris and her Wales squad mates will be looking to make a winning start today at the Stara Pazova Stadium in Serbia where the Welsh Dragons launch their challenge for Euro qualification. Writes Andrew Clarke.
Fifteen year old Grace who lives in Llangrannog is one of the youngest members of the Welsh Women’s under 17’s squad who will lock horns with Serbia this afternoon followed later in the week by games against Northern Ireland and Albania for a place in the 2019 Euros in Bulgaria.
Football for Grace though came along quite by accident as it was whilst watching her brother performing for Crannog under 8’s that her initial interest in the round ball game was captured.
“I first started playing due to Dad being one of the coaches at Crannog FC under 8’s and my older brother Brynley was one of the players so instead of standing on the side lines watching I thought I might as well join in and give it a go!”
I stayed with Crannog FC at under 10s and found myself most comfortable in defence and it is a position which I love and which I have continued to play up until today.”
From here Grace moved on to Ffostrasol FC due to a lack of players in her home village and she continued on to the Wanderers under 14s still playing in defence and she and her team were very successful.
She then followed the FAW Player Pathway which saw her train weekly at the Central Wales Performance Centre and from there she was selected for national training camps at under 15’s level and made her Wales debut at St Georges Park in the Home Nations. Grace was presented with her Welsh cap earlier this year.
Five impressive performances for the dragons have seen the talented teen leap frogged up into the under 17’s squad and she currently trains three times a week in Cardiff with Wales and still finds the time to run out for the Ffostrasol under 16’s team and also helps out with the coaching of the girls teams, which she told Sportsline she thoroughly enjoys.
In her spare time this busy young lady enjoys riding her pony Suzy and competes at local show jumping and cross country events and enjoys being out with her around the local bridleways and beaches.
To top it off Grace is involved with a number of team sports at Ysgol Bro Teifi including the hockey and netball teams and the girl’s rugby team, which reached the final of the Welsh Schools competition at the Principality Stadium.
Fitness is ofcourse crucial to maintaining standards and Grace gets plenty of help and encouragement from dad Neal ‘Babw’ Morris one of the current coaches at Cardigan RFC and ofcourse mum Karla.
“ I try to maintain my fitness by doing extra gym, sprint sessions or longer runs with my dogs and my dad is always willing to help me with advice and encouragement where fitness is involved.”
Looking ahead to the action this week and hopefully the first steps on the road to the finals in Bulgaria, Grace says that she is raring to go and relishing the challenges that await her and her squad from some of the best teams in Europe.
“ I am delighted and honoured to have been chosen and I am really looking forward to this fantastic opportunity.
Wales take on group hosts Serbia this afternoon (ko 4pm), Northern Ireland on Thursday afternoon and Albania on Sunday.
#Pob lwc Grace
