Penblwydd hapus Lois Catrin Regan!

As a teenager she was arguably one of the most promising young players Wales has ever produced.

Today Lois Catrin Regan celebrates her 24th birthday.

Although over recent seasons injury has deprived her of some prime football years, she remains involved in the game as a coach and still harbours hopes of a playing return.

Hailing from the Caernarfon area, Lois is currently part of the management team at CPDM Bangor 1876, which also includes Aron Griffith and Andrew ‘Lefty’ Wright.

The team finished third last season, their first in the North Wales Women’s League.

Born on July 30, 1998, Lois began to show her football potential from a very young age.

From 2003-09, she was a member of Deiniolen (Boys) Football Club, then came three highly successful years at Llewod Llanrug.

She was also a member of Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug, Welsh Schools Cup winning sides of 2011 and 2012.

The lightning quick forward won the North Wales Coast FA Community Player of the Year (girl) and was automatically entered as a finalist in the National Women’s Football Trust awards in October 2012 in Cardiff.

Lois impressed in numerous competitions and shone in the Skem Athletic Tournament Merseyside in 2013, where Llanrug played Manchester City in the semi-final.

After Lois won Player of the Tournament she was asked to attend football trials for Manchester City aged 14/15 which she attended and was told that if she lived nearer they would not hesitate to sign her up.

The family decided they would not pursue this road due to the travelling and potential impact on Lois’ education.

In 2013-14, Lois was part of the famous Caernarfon team which landed the quadruple of Under-16 Girls Welsh Cup, North Wales Coast Cup, North Wales League title and League Cup. She scored in the 2-0 Welsh Cup Final victory over Llanyrafon.

Her talents were now becoming widely noticed and she was snapped up by Reading FC’s John Madejski’s Academy.

Lois returned to the Welsh Premier League with Cwmbran Celtic and Cardiff Metropolitan, where she played in the 2016-17 Uefa Champions League.

Such was Lois’ talent as a quicksilver striker, she was selected for Wales Under-16’s as a 13-year-old and the U-17’s aged 14.

Appearances for Wales U18 and U19 in prestigious Uefa tournaments followed.

Between U16 to U19, she made in excess of 30 international appearances.

Injuries have since halted Lois’ progress and after what continues a long battle on the treatment table, everyone who knows her is hoping she can eventually return to action.

Whatever happens, she has achieved more in a football career than thousands of other hopefuls could ever wish for.

Penblwydd hapus Lois. 🎂🎂🍾🍾🍨🍧