Academy Honours
Robert Evans
Robert Evans from Dolgellau joined the Academy in season 2001 and remained a highly committed member of the Academy until he progressed into senior football in season 2005/2006. During the following season he was capped twice by Wales at Under 19 schoolboys level. Robert went on to make 30 Welsh Premier League appearances for Aberystwyth Town.
Richard Evans
Richard Evans of Machynlleth joined Aberystwyth Academy in season 2001-02. A young striker Richard remained in the Academy until he progressed to the Youth and Reserves squad in season 2006-07 when he also made the bench for the first team as a Youth substitute on two occasions. Richard then transferred to Newtown AFC where he made 5 Welsh Premier appearances and earned an Under 19 Welsh Schoolboys cap.
Jonathan Evans
Jonathan Evans from Penrhyncoch joined Aberystwyth Academy in 2003-04. A talented young striker, he had trials at Manchester United before joining the Cardiff City Academy in season 2007-08. Later in 2008 he won Welsh Schoolboy caps at the prestigious Under 16 level playing against France, twice against Slovakia and played in the Victory Shield Competition against England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Jonathan subsequently attained a scholarship at Accrington Stanley FC and earned more Welsh caps at Under 17 level.
Tom Bradshaw
Tom Bradshaw of Tywyn joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2004-05. An outstanding young striker, he scored a hat-trick for the Academy in the 2008 Welsh Super Cup final before progressing to the Reserves and the first team making 4 Welsh Premier appearances and appearing in the Welsh Cup final against Bangor City, as a 16 year old. He then joined Shrewsbury Town in May 2009. He made his football league debut for Shrewsbury Town on 10th April 2010 creating headlines by scoring twice in an away match against Crewe. Tom then played for the full Wales Under 19 squad against Liechtenstein scoring in a 2 – 0 victory and won a second cap in a 3 – 3 draw against Turkey in October 2010. Tom continued his international journey by making his senior international debut for Wales against Ukraine in Kiev on the 28th March 2016.
Liam Button
Liam Button of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2003-04. A ball winning midfield player Liam had trials with Swansea City. Having progressed from the Academy to the Youth and Reserves squad Liam won a Welsh Schoolboys Under 19 cap in 2009 when he played against New Zealand. Liam has also played for local club Penrhyncoch in the Cymru Alliance and for Aberystwyth Town in the Loosemore’s Cup.
Rhydian Davies
Rhydian Davies of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2007-2008. A talented midfield player with an eye for goal Rhydian was a member of the Aberystwyth Academy Under 14 side that reached the final of the FAW Academy Cup in May 2010. In September 2010 Rhydian won two Welsh Schoolboys Under 16 caps in back to back games against Poland and was unlucky not to make the Victory Shield squad that year. He did however attract the attention of Premier League club Birmingham City and scored playing for their Under 16 Academy against Manchester United’s Academy. After breaking into the Aberystwyth Town first team in 2012, Rhydian scored his first Welsh Premier goal against Afan Lido, whilst he has also been involved in the Welsh Schoolboy squads in 2012 and 2013.
Kristian Jenkins
Kristian Jenkins of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2003-04. A talented midfield player he had trials with a number of clubs including Liverpool and Derby County. On leaving the Academy at 16 Kristian took a year out from football but returned in season 2010-11 playing for local club Penrhyncoch in the Cymru Alliance. In March 2011 Kristian won his first Welsh Schoolboys Under 19 cap in a 2-2 draw against the Republic of Ireland. He has since won two further caps with the Under 19 Schoolboys squad.
Gwion Edwards
Gwion from Lampeter joined the Aberystwyth Academy as an 11 year old a spent three seasons at the Academy before moving to Swansea City's Centre of Excellence. A very talented and naturally gifted winger Gwion was scouted by Manchester United before eventually signing to Swansea. Since joining Swansea he has become a Welsh Youth Cup winner and gained his first professional contract in the summer of 2011. Later that year Gwion won two full Welsh Under 19 International Caps playing in the UEFA Under 19 European Championships against Scotland and Slovenia. Gwion has continued to impress and in April/May 2012 he was on the bench for the first team and gained another three years professional contract.
Alex Samuel
Alex Samuel was still in the Academy Under 16 squad when in season 2011/2012 he made his debut for Aberystwyth Town first team and won a Welsh Cap when he played for the Welsh Under 18 semi-professional squad against the Republic of Ireland in February 2012 and scored the winning goal for Wales in a 2-1 victory. Alex joined the Academy as an 11 year but then spent a relatively short period signed to the Swansea City Centre of Excellence before returning to the Academy as a result of travelling difficulties. Alex attracted interest from Cardiff City before making his mark with the Aberystwyth youth team and first team including a goal in the 4th round of the Welsh Cup. Still aged 16 Alex went on to win more caps with the Welsh Schools Under 18 squad scoring the winning goal in a historic win over England schools. Alex attracted interest from Premier League clubs Manchester United, Newcastle United, Swansea City and Aston Villa, before agreeing to join Swansea City (the club he supports) on a two year scholarship.
Emlyn Lewis, Ed Powl-Jones and Jamie Butler
Just over two weeks ago Aberystwyth Town's young defender, Emlyn Lewis, who is loan at Penrhyncoch this season, came off the bench as Welsh Schoolboys began their preparations for the Centenary Shield in earnest with a 3-2 win over Australia Under 18's. The Ysgol Aberaeron pupil had 30 minutes on the pitch, and looks to be in good shape to remain in the squad, as they play England at the Glyndwr Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham and the Republic of Ireland at Cefn Druids FC before trips to Scotland and Northern Ireland later in the season.
Also this week the Welsh Semi Professional squad was announced, with Jamie Butler and Ed Powl-Jones both successfully being picked after a training camp earlier this month. During February they will take in a 4 day tour of the Republic of Ireland, taking in games at Waterford on Feburary 16th and Tramore FC on February 17th.
The club congratulates all three on their achievements as all three continue their development towards the first team.
Robert Evans from Dolgellau joined the Academy in season 2001 and remained a highly committed member of the Academy until he progressed into senior football in season 2005/2006. During the following season he was capped twice by Wales at Under 19 schoolboys level. Robert went on to make 30 Welsh Premier League appearances for Aberystwyth Town.
Richard Evans
Richard Evans of Machynlleth joined Aberystwyth Academy in season 2001-02. A young striker Richard remained in the Academy until he progressed to the Youth and Reserves squad in season 2006-07 when he also made the bench for the first team as a Youth substitute on two occasions. Richard then transferred to Newtown AFC where he made 5 Welsh Premier appearances and earned an Under 19 Welsh Schoolboys cap.
Jonathan Evans
Jonathan Evans from Penrhyncoch joined Aberystwyth Academy in 2003-04. A talented young striker, he had trials at Manchester United before joining the Cardiff City Academy in season 2007-08. Later in 2008 he won Welsh Schoolboy caps at the prestigious Under 16 level playing against France, twice against Slovakia and played in the Victory Shield Competition against England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Jonathan subsequently attained a scholarship at Accrington Stanley FC and earned more Welsh caps at Under 17 level.
Tom Bradshaw
Tom Bradshaw of Tywyn joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2004-05. An outstanding young striker, he scored a hat-trick for the Academy in the 2008 Welsh Super Cup final before progressing to the Reserves and the first team making 4 Welsh Premier appearances and appearing in the Welsh Cup final against Bangor City, as a 16 year old. He then joined Shrewsbury Town in May 2009. He made his football league debut for Shrewsbury Town on 10th April 2010 creating headlines by scoring twice in an away match against Crewe. Tom then played for the full Wales Under 19 squad against Liechtenstein scoring in a 2 – 0 victory and won a second cap in a 3 – 3 draw against Turkey in October 2010. Tom continued his international journey by making his senior international debut for Wales against Ukraine in Kiev on the 28th March 2016.
Liam Button
Liam Button of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2003-04. A ball winning midfield player Liam had trials with Swansea City. Having progressed from the Academy to the Youth and Reserves squad Liam won a Welsh Schoolboys Under 19 cap in 2009 when he played against New Zealand. Liam has also played for local club Penrhyncoch in the Cymru Alliance and for Aberystwyth Town in the Loosemore’s Cup.
Rhydian Davies
Rhydian Davies of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2007-2008. A talented midfield player with an eye for goal Rhydian was a member of the Aberystwyth Academy Under 14 side that reached the final of the FAW Academy Cup in May 2010. In September 2010 Rhydian won two Welsh Schoolboys Under 16 caps in back to back games against Poland and was unlucky not to make the Victory Shield squad that year. He did however attract the attention of Premier League club Birmingham City and scored playing for their Under 16 Academy against Manchester United’s Academy. After breaking into the Aberystwyth Town first team in 2012, Rhydian scored his first Welsh Premier goal against Afan Lido, whilst he has also been involved in the Welsh Schoolboy squads in 2012 and 2013.
Kristian Jenkins
Kristian Jenkins of Aberystwyth joined the Aberystwyth Academy in season 2003-04. A talented midfield player he had trials with a number of clubs including Liverpool and Derby County. On leaving the Academy at 16 Kristian took a year out from football but returned in season 2010-11 playing for local club Penrhyncoch in the Cymru Alliance. In March 2011 Kristian won his first Welsh Schoolboys Under 19 cap in a 2-2 draw against the Republic of Ireland. He has since won two further caps with the Under 19 Schoolboys squad.
Gwion Edwards
Gwion from Lampeter joined the Aberystwyth Academy as an 11 year old a spent three seasons at the Academy before moving to Swansea City's Centre of Excellence. A very talented and naturally gifted winger Gwion was scouted by Manchester United before eventually signing to Swansea. Since joining Swansea he has become a Welsh Youth Cup winner and gained his first professional contract in the summer of 2011. Later that year Gwion won two full Welsh Under 19 International Caps playing in the UEFA Under 19 European Championships against Scotland and Slovenia. Gwion has continued to impress and in April/May 2012 he was on the bench for the first team and gained another three years professional contract.
Alex Samuel
Alex Samuel was still in the Academy Under 16 squad when in season 2011/2012 he made his debut for Aberystwyth Town first team and won a Welsh Cap when he played for the Welsh Under 18 semi-professional squad against the Republic of Ireland in February 2012 and scored the winning goal for Wales in a 2-1 victory. Alex joined the Academy as an 11 year but then spent a relatively short period signed to the Swansea City Centre of Excellence before returning to the Academy as a result of travelling difficulties. Alex attracted interest from Cardiff City before making his mark with the Aberystwyth youth team and first team including a goal in the 4th round of the Welsh Cup. Still aged 16 Alex went on to win more caps with the Welsh Schools Under 18 squad scoring the winning goal in a historic win over England schools. Alex attracted interest from Premier League clubs Manchester United, Newcastle United, Swansea City and Aston Villa, before agreeing to join Swansea City (the club he supports) on a two year scholarship.
Emlyn Lewis, Ed Powl-Jones and Jamie Butler
Just over two weeks ago Aberystwyth Town's young defender, Emlyn Lewis, who is loan at Penrhyncoch this season, came off the bench as Welsh Schoolboys began their preparations for the Centenary Shield in earnest with a 3-2 win over Australia Under 18's. The Ysgol Aberaeron pupil had 30 minutes on the pitch, and looks to be in good shape to remain in the squad, as they play England at the Glyndwr Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham and the Republic of Ireland at Cefn Druids FC before trips to Scotland and Northern Ireland later in the season.
Also this week the Welsh Semi Professional squad was announced, with Jamie Butler and Ed Powl-Jones both successfully being picked after a training camp earlier this month. During February they will take in a 4 day tour of the Republic of Ireland, taking in games at Waterford on Feburary 16th and Tramore FC on February 17th.
The club congratulates all three on their achievements as all three continue their development towards the first team.
