Happy birthday to classy defender Rachel Roberts of Corwen

Happy birthday to Corwen captain and star defender Rachel Roberts – 19 today.

Born on April 24, 2002, Rachel has been an outstanding performer for her current club since she joined at the age of 16.

The late and much-missed Huw “Chick” Jones always sang her praises.

He told me from day one Rachel was a very special player with the talent to go far in the game.

Huw certainly knew his stuff and I look forward to his prediction coming true.

Rachel started playing football for her local team Coedpoeth at the age of 7.

She then moved to Brickfield Rangers from age 9 and stayed there until 13.

Rachel was selected to represent Wales Under-15s at the age of 13.

She had been picked by North Wales for several years and also got selected for her country in the Bob Docherty Tournament, but had to miss out due to injury.

Next on the club front came Corwen and in an amazing 2016-17 season she captained the team to a fantastic quadruple.

They lifted the Manchester Cup, North Wales Coast FA Cup, North Wales Girls League and North Wales Girls Under-16 League Cup.

It was no surprise that Rachel was chosen to lead the side in their first season of women’s football in 2018-19.

She played as a sweeper in that campaign, but has always possessed the quality and versatility to operate anywhere across the defence.

Corwen won promotion from North Wales Women’s League Division Two in their first season and reached the NEWFA and League Cup semi-finals.

In the NEWFA Cup, they eliminated league champions Bethesda Athletic 5-0.

The 2019-20 campaign in Division One was not as successful, but Corwen did manage a couple of good wins over Wrexham and Northop Hall in a season cut drastically short due to coronavirus.

Rachel, like all other North Wales players, was left kicking her heels this season with the entire campaign cancelled because of Covid-19.

She cites her biggest football influences as her family – taid, Barry, and dad, Andy.

The young defender also rates highly her coaches over the years such as Huw “Chick”, Shaun Gould and Ian Evans.

As a player she believes her best assets are her passing, strength, playing out from the back, tackling and knowledge of the game.

Her reading of the game has won her many admirers and no doubt there are many good years to come from his teenage ace.

Rachel is now doing a Sports Coaching degree at Leeds Beckett University and playing for the uni ladies team.

Happy birthday Rachel – have an amazing evening.