It’s been quite a week for young Black and Greens Midfielder Jack Rimmer, writes Club Media Assistant Matthew Wallace. Just seven days ago, the sixteen year old was nervously awaiting his GCSE results like thousands around the country. Fast forward to now and not only has the Penweddig pupil had success in the classroom, but he’s also made his first team debut live in front of the Sgorio cameras in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Llandudno.
“This week has been amazing, making my senior debut in the Welsh Premier League, and picking up my GCSE results, which were a lot better than what I thought they were going to be! It has probably been the best week in my life!”
Despite the disappointment of defeat, the midfielder impressed during his brief twenty-minute cameo from the substitutes bench and is eager to build upon this first taste of first team action.
“We were very unfortunate with the first result of the season. I still think we're bonding as a squad, it wasn't the best start to the season, but we have many positives to take from the game, but also we will work on the mistakes which we made in losing the game. I'm very eager to play more games for Aberystwyth, I am determined to work hard through the season, and hopefully push myself to start a few games in the season!”
Rimmer is the latest in the line of talented youngsters to make his way through the ranks first at Aberystwyth academy and then the first team. Names like Tom Bradshaw, Gwion Edwards and Alex Samuel will be recognisable not only to the faithful supporters of Aberystwyth, but also to fans right across the country and the class of 2015 look set to emulate the success of their predecessors with Rimmer being named on the bench alongside Liam Lewis and Tom Jones.
“Last year with the Academy was great, I learned a lot from the likes of Gari Lewis, Bari Morgan, Andy Evans and Lee Jenkins from a young age. It's exciting to think that I'm the latest in the line of exciting youngsters coming through the Academy, obviously Alex, Gwion and Tom have done amazingly well since leaving the club, hopefully one day, my chance will come to play at the level they are at!”
Having impressed in pre-season, manager Ian Hughes had little hesitation about placing Jack in the squad for the season opener. “He’s a player with a great future. He’ll be given opportunities at our club. He’s physically ready to play Welsh Premier League football and he’ll be given those opportunities as and when we feel it’s right.”
Rimmer added, “Preseason with the first team was a big step up, one which I had enjoyed! Knowing that I was in the squad for the first game of the season was great, I couldn't wait to get on the pitch, and when Ian gave me the nod to come on, and make my debut, I was really nervous, but also very excited to get my first game underway!”
Making your debut would already be a daunting enough experience for most but to do so in front of the TV cameras and a national television audience adds another element of expectation. But the youngster did so, showing maturity on and off the ball beyond his formative years, which Rimmer attributes to the support of his family, friends and team mates around him.
“The support has been overwhelming, my family of course are all proud of me and were so excited seeing my on the television! My mates still couldn't believe that I was on the TV! The boys have been very supportive from the start of pre-season, they are all a great bunch of lads, who have welcomed me with open arms, they were just saying, just to try and relax and go out and enjoy it more than anything! But everyone that I know have been congratulating me a lot the past few days, which is great!”
Undoubtedly, the talented youngster will enjoy many more famous weeks in the game before the end of his career but few will be as memorable as this one.
Jack will certainly be in the Black and Greens' Squad which faces Rhyl in Town's 2015/6 Park Avenue Bow this Friday (ko 7.45pm).
“This week has been amazing, making my senior debut in the Welsh Premier League, and picking up my GCSE results, which were a lot better than what I thought they were going to be! It has probably been the best week in my life!”
Despite the disappointment of defeat, the midfielder impressed during his brief twenty-minute cameo from the substitutes bench and is eager to build upon this first taste of first team action.
“We were very unfortunate with the first result of the season. I still think we're bonding as a squad, it wasn't the best start to the season, but we have many positives to take from the game, but also we will work on the mistakes which we made in losing the game. I'm very eager to play more games for Aberystwyth, I am determined to work hard through the season, and hopefully push myself to start a few games in the season!”
Rimmer is the latest in the line of talented youngsters to make his way through the ranks first at Aberystwyth academy and then the first team. Names like Tom Bradshaw, Gwion Edwards and Alex Samuel will be recognisable not only to the faithful supporters of Aberystwyth, but also to fans right across the country and the class of 2015 look set to emulate the success of their predecessors with Rimmer being named on the bench alongside Liam Lewis and Tom Jones.
“Last year with the Academy was great, I learned a lot from the likes of Gari Lewis, Bari Morgan, Andy Evans and Lee Jenkins from a young age. It's exciting to think that I'm the latest in the line of exciting youngsters coming through the Academy, obviously Alex, Gwion and Tom have done amazingly well since leaving the club, hopefully one day, my chance will come to play at the level they are at!”
Having impressed in pre-season, manager Ian Hughes had little hesitation about placing Jack in the squad for the season opener. “He’s a player with a great future. He’ll be given opportunities at our club. He’s physically ready to play Welsh Premier League football and he’ll be given those opportunities as and when we feel it’s right.”
Rimmer added, “Preseason with the first team was a big step up, one which I had enjoyed! Knowing that I was in the squad for the first game of the season was great, I couldn't wait to get on the pitch, and when Ian gave me the nod to come on, and make my debut, I was really nervous, but also very excited to get my first game underway!”
Making your debut would already be a daunting enough experience for most but to do so in front of the TV cameras and a national television audience adds another element of expectation. But the youngster did so, showing maturity on and off the ball beyond his formative years, which Rimmer attributes to the support of his family, friends and team mates around him.
“The support has been overwhelming, my family of course are all proud of me and were so excited seeing my on the television! My mates still couldn't believe that I was on the TV! The boys have been very supportive from the start of pre-season, they are all a great bunch of lads, who have welcomed me with open arms, they were just saying, just to try and relax and go out and enjoy it more than anything! But everyone that I know have been congratulating me a lot the past few days, which is great!”
Undoubtedly, the talented youngster will enjoy many more famous weeks in the game before the end of his career but few will be as memorable as this one.
Jack will certainly be in the Black and Greens' Squad which faces Rhyl in Town's 2015/6 Park Avenue Bow this Friday (ko 7.45pm).
