Wales defender is a big hit at Bangor 1876 soccer school

Former Wales captain James Collins has been in the north this week to run a half-term football camp at Bangor University’s Treborth Playing Fields, reports Jonathan Ervine for Grassroots North Wales.

The event was attended by more than 100 local children aged between 5-14 years old.

Despite the stormy weather, everything went superbly, with the organisers being able to make use of both indoor and outdoor facilities on the Thursday and Friday.

The team of coaches present included Bangor 1876 director of football Iwan Williams.

Williams said: “It’s fantastic to have someone of James’s profile up in North Wales and especially at our home ground.”

He added the former West Ham and Aston Villa defender now “knows a lot about Bangor 1876”.

Iwan also said the football camp was “brilliant despite the weather”, and added “the children never moaned and it was hard to get them to come inside to stay dry”.

Prior to the event, Collins described North Wales as “a hotbed of football” and talked of his delight at having the opportunity to work with pro-licence coach Iwan Williams as he strives towards his own coaching badges.

The Newport-born 36-year-old expressed his delight at how his football academy’s first ever event in North Wales went and praised the facilities at Treborth.

He said: “I really enjoyed being here” and extend my thanks to the children and parents for their support; also to Bangor 1876 for helping to promote the camp.”

The 51-times capped Wales defender added he is very keen to organise a similar event at the same venue in the near future.