Ben Davies: How Ynysygerwn prepared Wales star for Champions League final

This evening, Ben Davies will be involved in the matchday squad for Spurs’ Champions League final with Liverpool.

Having played cricket from the age of 15 with local side Ynysygerwn, the Swansea City academy product has shown maturity beyond his years.

Manager Nicholas Maggs recalled this week how Davies’ composure in a game helped Ynysygerwn to victory.

So how has that prepared him for this evening’s showpiece final? 

“I think if anything the boys there have kept me down to earth the whole time, replied Davies.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends there who never let me get too far ahead of myself. I realise the magnitude but there’s no point getting ahead of yourself until the job is done.

“It’s going to be huge. It’s the biggest game in world football, it’s a dream come true. Hopefully, we can end it with a winners medal.”

So will there be an Ynysygerwn contingent at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium this evening?

Davies said it’ll be a win-win for some, even if there is a scatter of Liverpool fans amongst the Ynysygerwn team: “I’ve managed to get some tickets for a couple of the boys, 

“I’m not sure who they’re supporting but I’ve been told that it’ll be a night they can’t lose if they see me win the trophy so I’ll take it.”

Originally formed as a cricket club in 1981, the small village of Aberdulais where Ynysygerwn was based has just an estimated 2000 people.

Ben Davies is guaranteed European football whatever happens in this final. He’ll either be defending the trophy with Spurs or chasing it.

Someone who’ll be following his footsteps is friend Chris Baker, who has been a long-term friend of Davies.

Baker has qualified for the UEFA Europa League with Cardiff Metropolitan, meaning Ynysygerwn are now able to boast two European footballers.

The 26-year-old wished his former teammate well for his friend’s European adventure which will begin this month: “I and Chris played together when we were younger. He’s a very good player. I think we’re a good group of mates and that’s how we ended up going to Ynysygerwn. 

“We all just played football together and cricket together as well. It’s great to see Chris doing so well, it’ll be nice to see if they can do something special next year.”

The Champions League finalist never played for the football team but knows plenty of people involved in the club.

Adam Davies, Alex Powell and Tom Phillips all play for the club, whilst Nicholas Maggs, who Davies has known since the age of 11, is the manager of the club.

As Davies became a main figure in the Spurs defence, Ynysygerwn continued to grow like their hometown hero. They won promotion to the Welsh League after beating Team Swansea in 2016.

“I speak to Maggsy regularly. The boys did brilliantly, to go so far in such a short space of time. I think he’s done an unbelievable job and hopefully, it can continue.”

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)