Our I8-year old striker JOHN PHILLIPS grew up in the Cynon Valley and like the rest of his family, was a Cardiff City supporter who regularly attended games and was attached to the Bluebirds as a schoolboy
player for five years until 2002.
He said "I used to watch them and did not think I would one day be playing in the same side as Jeff Eckhardt"
John was born in Aberdare and still lives in nearby Aberaman where for several years former Stereophonic Stuart Cable was almost a neighbour. Like Stuart, and the band's lead singer Kelly Jones, John attended Blaengwawr Comprehensive School where one of our keenest fans, Cath Clarke, taught him geography. John knew Stuart to say hello to, but he had other role models.
He said: "I played football for Aberaman Band Club before I was eight and for Cynon Valley Schools from the age of eleven. I also played in the Ian Rush tournament at Aberystwyth at under 12's when we beat a Tranmere side in the final and I was one of the top scorers."
John was recommended to Cardiff City by John Sullivan and, although he was not offered a YTS place at the age of sixteen, the club planned to consider him again the following year. His enthusiasm for football did not stop him succeeding at school and he collected an impressive array of GCSE results
before deciding to study Maths, Physics and PE at A Level.
He said: "My mother Rita, always encouraged me to study while my dad, Ross, was keen on me succeeding in football but it hasn't been a problem for me because I have worked hard at both." Following his success at his GCSE's, John switched schools and began his A Levels at the Academy at Hartridge. Settling was made much easier because his striking pal Sam O'Sullivan also made the move from the Cynon Valley, as did Nathan Manley who plays in midfield for our youth team. John is clearly loving his football and pays great tribute to Glyn Jones and Roger Skynne for the help he has had. "Glyn told me soon after I started a year last September that he thought I could challenge for a first team place after Christmas and though I was out for a lang time with a back injury, I did make my first team debut at Welling before the season ended. Glyn is a great coach and he is really helpful in one-to-one sessions. When he was ill, Roger stepped in and also gave me a lot of support."
It has been this season that John has made a big impact and having scored his first goal at senior level at home to Afan Lido, he has not looked back. He starred in our 5-1 win at Worcester where his pace and scoring instinct helped him to grab two, and he can often be found looking at the video clips of those goals captured by cameraman Glyn Neale for our website.
He said: "I have enjoyed playing in the first team, and appreciate the help and encouragement I have had from the senior players who have made me feel comfortable in the side."
He was one of seven County youngsters called up by the Welsh Schools trial squad for two trial matches in January 2004, each lasting an hour. John was shattered because he had made a huge contribution to our excellent 2-0 victory at Cambridge City 24 hours earlier but, like his strike partner Sam, he managed a goal. The other Academy lads to play in the game were Shaun O'Brien, Lee Williams, Neil Passmore, Scott Richards and Ashley Williams.
Ashley and John have both signed contracts until the end of next season and although John appears set for academic success this summer, he has his immediate future mapped out.
"I plan to take a break from my studies for a year at least and hope I can get some good A Level results, while I see how much I can progress with my football. I also want to achieve more continuity with my goalscoring and was pleased to be able to play against Cardiff in the FAW Premier Cup."