North Wales footballer Yasmin Williams makes military history

CPD Bethel footballer Yasmin Williams has defied the odds by making history in her military career.

The 17-year-old from Bangor recently became the first woman ever to pass out for the Welsh Guards.

And the good news continues to flow for the teenager as she passed her driving test on Tuesday.

After developing her football talents through the junior sides at Bangor, Yasmin joined Bethel Under-16s where she won the North Wales Girls League Cup in May 2018.

She moved up to the seniors last season and was a key player in the squad which finished joint North Wales Women’s League Division One champions.

Yasmin is still with the club and plays when her military commitments allow.

Away from football, however, she had always held strong ambitions to make her mark in the military.

Since early 2019, women have been able to apply for roles with the Welsh Guards’ regiment.

And last month Yasmin became the very first female to pass selection through the infantry.

She joined on July 14, 2019 and passed out on February 21.

Her passing out parade was both a proud and emotional occasion for Yasmin and her family.

The following day on social media, Yasmin said: “I couldn’t actually believe the day had finally come.

“These past seven months have been the hardest of my life, every single day contained hard work, challenging me mentally and physically but I wouldn’t change it for the world as it has me the person that I am today.

“I’m so proud of myself for achieving the title of GDSM as it has not come easily. I’m so happy with myself that I made it to yesterday, the day where I finally passed out of training, it made all the hard work worth it.”

After leaving Ysgol Tryfan, Yasmin signed up to the Military Preparation College for Training (MPCT) in Bangor and spent a year there.

It was while at MPCT she decided to apply for the Welsh Guards.

She was initially rejected and told the infantry were not taking on any women at the time.

A few months passed and on discovering they were now accepting females, she applied, got a selection date and passed out of the Infantry Training Centre with the Welsh Guards last month.

Her mother Zoe said: “She was told it would be too hard for her and that she should join a different regiment, but she had always wanted to become a guardsman and nothing was going to stop her.

“I am the proudest mam in the world right now. My beautiful daughter passed out on the 21st February 2020.

“At the young age of 17, Yasmin Williams is the first female (along with Rhian Morgan) to pass out as a Welsh Guard.

“Well done Yasmin. Me and dad love you so much and we can’t wait to see what the future will bring for you.

“You are amazing in every way and you have made history.”