All-Time XI: Kayne McLaggon names two Wales stars in impressive XI
Barry Town United v Bala Town JD Cymru Premier match at Jenner Park on the 26th August 2019. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
Barry Town’s Kayne McLaggon has revealed the best eleven players he has played alongside and it’s safe to say, it’s full of big names.
The striker began his career at Southampton, making his debut on Boxing Day 2008 against Plymouth Argyle.
During his time at Southampton, McLaggon featured for both Wales U17’s and Wales U19, playing alongside some big names.
McLaggon went on to make seven appearances for the Saints, scoring in a 2-2 draw at Norwich City’s Carrow Road.
Following his release by Southampton in May 2010, the striker joined Salisbury City and gained promotion to the Conference South in his first season at the club.
His form for the Whites earned him a move to League Two club Bristol Rovers, then managed by Paul Buckle, but managed just one appearance, before signing for Weston-Super-Mare in September 2012.
After scoring six goals in his first and only season for the Seagulls, McLaggon signed for Merthyr Town, before joining his hometown and current club Barry Town in 2017.
The Linnets’ striker has since impressed in the Cymru Premier, earning himself a cap for Wales C, while featuring in the Cymru Premier Team of the Season in 2017-2018.
With years left to an already impressive career, Kayne McLaggon picks the best eleven players he has played with.
GK: Kelvin Davies
Having made a remarkable 618 career appearances, Kelvin Davies is a well-known figure in English football.
Despite playing a considerable amount of games for the likes of Luton Town, Wimbledon and Ipswich Town, the goalkeeper is mostly known for his ten year spell at Southampton, where he was team-mates with Kayne McLaggon.
Davies’ accolades feature being included in the Team of the Season three years in a row, between 2009 and 2012, on the Saints’ route from League One to the Premier League.
Kelvin Davies was recognised for his ten years of service to Southampton in May 2016, with a testimonial in his honour, raising money for the Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Research & Development Charity.
After a decorated career, Kelvin Davies is the first name in Kayne McLaggon’s XI.
RB: Macauley Southam-Hales
A former team-mate of Kayne McLaggon’s at his current club, Barry Town, Macauley Southam-Hales impressed in his two-year stint with the Linnets.
Born in Cardiff, the right-back signed for Barry Town from the Bluebirds’ academy.
Southam-Hales played his part in the Linnets first qualification to European competition since they won the Cymru Premier in the 2002-2003 season.
The right-back’s form earned him a move to the Football League, as he signed for Fleetwood Town in 2019. Southam-Hales was on loan at National League club Hartlepool United, before the season was ended.
CB – Ryan Green
The first of McLaggon’s centre-backs, Ryan Green played with the Barry Town striker at Merthyr Town.
Whilst at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Green surpassed Ryan Giggs’ record by becoming Wales’ youngest ever player, a record which is now held by Harry Wilson.
Ryan Green was a regular starter during his three spells at Hereford United, making a total of 297 appearances for the Bulls.
Green also had stints at Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers, while the defender also played 53 times for Port Talbot Town.
In his only season with Kayne McLaggon at Merthyr Town, the Martyrs won the Southern League Division One South & West and is the striker’s third name in the XI.
CB: Chris Perry
During Kayne McLaggon’s time at Southampton, Chris Perry was nearing the end of his career.
The defender made an impressive total of 479 career appearances, featuring for Wimbledon on 167 occasions.
His form for the Dons earned him a £4 million move to Tottenham Hotspur in 1999 and featured regularly, as Sol Campbell joined rivals Arsenal.
After spells at Charlton Athletic, West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town, Perry spent two seasons at Southampton, adding experience to the Saints’ side.
A team-mate of McLaggon’s for two years at St. Mary’s, Chris Perry partners Ryan Green in defence.
LB – Chris Hugh
The only current team-mate in the XI, Chris Hugh has also been team-mates with McLaggon at Merthyr Town.
There is a strong case that the left-back is the best in his position in the Cymru Premier, impressing for Barry Town since his move in 2016.
Hugh has represented Wales at C international level, and was selected in Mark Jones’ squad to face England C back in March.
After another impressive season for the Linnets, regularly up and down the left-wing, Chris Hugh is proving himself to be a reliable and consistent Cymru Premier player.
DM: Joe Allen
Despite Gareth Bale being the obvious choice as Wales’ best player, Joe Allen may be argued to be the most important, as he has become a dependable part of midfield.
During his time at Swansea City, Joe Allen featured in the same Wales U17 and Wales U19 side as Kayne McLaggon and has undoubtedly gone on to have a glittering career.
The midfielder followed Brendan Rodgers, as he signed for Liverpool in 2012 for a fee of £12 million and was a hero in Wales’ Euro 2016 campaign.
Joining his current club Stoke City in July 2016 for £13 million, the Potters have since been relegated to the Championship.
Due to his stellar performances for Ryan Giggs’ side, many Wales fans believe Allen is more than capable of operating in the Premier League.
CM: Aaron Ramsey
From one huge name in Welsh football to another, one of Allen’s midfield partners in McLaggon’s XI is Aaron Ramsey.
Like Joe Allen, Ramsey featured in the same Wales U17 side as the Barry Town striker and has gone on to build a massive reputation, captaining his country and making 262 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.
Aaron Ramsey was not only a key player for the Gunners, scoring the winner in two FA Cup finals, but also for Wales, as he earned himself a place in the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament.
In July 2019, ‘Rambo’ joined Juventus on a free transfer, after his Arsenal contract expired, and has made a positive start to his career for the Old Lady.
CM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
As Southampton have a reputation for their impressive academy, producing the likes of Gareth Bale, it is no surprise that McLaggon’s XI features former Saints players.
Another is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has gone on to play for Arsenal and Liverpool.
The midfielder signed for Arsenal in August 2011, after a breakthrough season for the Saints at 17 years old.
Impressing in the early stages of his Arsenal career, Oxlade-Chamberlain won the FA Cup three times with the Gunners, before making the move to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in August 2017.
Despite injuries playing a part in his Liverpool career so far, ‘The Ox’ has produced on some big occasions for his side, scoring long-range efforts on two separate wins over Manchester City at Anfield.
AM: Adam Lallana
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Another star produced by Southampton’s academy, Adam Lallana was on the pitch as Kayne McLaggon scored his first goal for the Saints against Norwich City.
The midfielder went on to make 235 appearances for Southampton, scoring 48 goals.
Lallana’s form impressed then-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who signed the playmaker in July 2014 for a reported £25 million.
Having made 128 appearances so far for the Reds, Lallana has had an impressive career at Anfield, winning the Champions League and playing a part in Liverpool’s current table-topping season.
Lallana is out of contract in the summer and would undoubtedly be a good signing for any Premier League club.
FW: David McGoldrick
From one Southampton team-mate to another, David McGoldrick is the first striker in McLaggon’s XI.
The attacker played for the Saints between 2004 and 2009, spending one season in the first team with McLaggon.
Having played for nine clubs in the Football League, McGoldrick is a familiar name in British football, with spells at Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, among others.
McGoldrick signed for Sheffield United on a free transfer in July 2018 and has been a revelation for the Blades since.
The striker was named Sheffield United’s Player of the Season, as they gained promotion to the Premier League and the Blades have been remarkable under Chris Wilder this season.
FW: Bradley Wright Phillips
McGoldrick’s strike-partner in Kayne McLaggon’s XI is Bradley Wright-Phillips.
The striker spent a season with McLaggon at Southampton between 2008 and 2009, before the leaving the Saints to play for the likes of Plymouth Argyle and Charlton Athletic.
Wright-Phillips then made the move to the MLS, signing for New York Red Bulls in 2013 and has been in fine form in the United States ever since.
The former Red Bulls’ striker is their all-time record goalscorer with 108 goals, winning the MLS golden boot on two occasions.
Having signed for Los Angeles FC in February 2020, Bradley Wright-Phillips has built a huge reputation since his move to the MLS.
Kayne McLaggon’s team-mates XI is full of huge names and is a team that shows the Barry Town striker has had an impressive career so far.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
