At the age of just 21, Dai Thomas is preparing to lead Cambrian & Clydach out in the biggest game of their history on Saturday night.
The young captain and his teammates take on Cardiff Met FC in the Nathaniel MG Cup final after a fairytale run to the final, having beaten four JD Welsh Premier opposition in Barry Town, Aberystwyth, Newtown and The New Saints.
And with a historic campaign already under his belt, Thomas is keeping a cool head at the prospect of becoming a cup winner.
“We’ve prepared really well for this game. A lot’s been said since the last game in this cup about how we’re the underdogs and are into these type of games, but we’re all just excited to get going really.
“It’s not different to any other game for me, I’ve been captain this year for pretty much every game, and I’ve always been a leader in my own way.”
Also a player for the University of South Wales BUCS side, Thomas is already familiar with Met, having come up against them in the university league.
“We know the style of play they have, and also that they rotate a lot of players, so a lot of their (senior) league first team don’t play in BUCS games.
“They’re obviously a very good side, we can appreciate that, but we know what we can do as well, we’re going to play to our strengths, and hopefully come out on top.”
He is enjoying the most important year of his career so far, and isn’t alone, with a number of Cambrian’s young players also facing one of the biggest game’s they’ve ever played in.
“I’d definitely say this is the biggest year of my career, a couple of the lads have perhaps played in bigger games, but for the young lads it’s our first chance of winning a senior competition.”
Thomas accepts Cambrian’s underdog status but is chomping at the bit to use it as ammunition to take the trophy home on Saturday night.
“We are going into this game as underdogs, we definitely are, we’ve been underdogs in every round in this competition, and probably rightly so.
“But we relish that, we’re happy to go in and work harder than other people, and hopefully that mentality can take us through the game.”
Facing the prospect of lifting his club’s first ever major trophy, Thomas is showing no selfishness with a focus on doing it for Cambrian & Clydach.
“It would be massive for me on a personal note, but more so for the club, it hasn’t been in the major competitions before in this current period, so as a club it would be huge.”
The game kicks off at Barry Town’s Jenner Park on Saturday evening for a 7:30 kick off and will be broadcast live on S4C Sgorio.
(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)
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