Football: Lads are relishing new U21 challenge.Byline: neil TAYLOR Neil Taylor (born Orpington Kent July 21 1959) was a cricketer with Kent. He made his debut in 1979 and was an opening batsman and off spin bowler. THIS week got off to the best possible start with the news that I had been included in the Wales under-21 squad for the friendly international with Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. this coming Tuesday. Although I was not really expecting to get the call from under-21 boss Brian Flynn Brian Flynn, (born 1955) is a Welsh football manager and former Welsh international player. He was a midfield player and, at 161cm (5'3")[1], one of the shortest professional football players of modern times. , I knew there was an outside chance simply because I've been playing pretty regularly for Wrexham, which is the case too for team-mates Marc Williams Marc Williams, born July 27th, 1988, is a young striker currently playing in League Two with Wrexham FC. Williams made his under-21 debut against Northern Ireland in 2006. In his second game for the squad Williams came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-2 defeat to Israel. and Jon Brown
Jon Brown (born February 27, 1971) is a British athlete specializing in marathon running. , who have also been called up. It's a new Wales squad this time and the task ahead is to try and qualify for the 2011 Uefa Championships from a group that also includes Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina. It promises to be as much a challenge as the previous campaign, when Wales did brilliantly well to reach the play-offs where they were narrowly beaten by England. But even though some members of that squad - notably Aaron Ramsey, Jack Collison, Ched Evans and Sam Vokes - have moved up to the senior squad, there are several other players coming through the ranks. I'm thinking especially of Joe Allen, who was a big hit in his short spell with us, and who is destined for bigger things to come, and although Italy will be the team to beat this time round, people were saying the same about France last time. Going away with Wales, even for a few days, is something to look forward to because it is a break from the routine and I always enjoy the sessions that Brian Flynn arranges. But, whether I have the chance or not to add to my solitary under-21 cap to date in Ballymena on Tuesday evening, it is important for all of the Wrexham lads to try and do the club proud and perform well enough to stay in the squad when the competitive games begin next month. Before then, of course, we have today's match at Lewes, weather permitting, and everyone is well aware that they are not doing very well so far. But the same was true of Northwich Victoria when we faced them the other week and dropped two vital points. The 3-3 draw emphasised the fact that there are no easy games in the league and we'll need to make sure we battle as hard as we did at Workington last week in order to get the result we are looking for. CAPTION(S): Wales hopeful Joe Allen |
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