Speaking to welshfootballfans.com Joe Jacobson opened up on the joys of his time with the Under-21s, aswell as the disappointment of being so close to grasping his debut senior appearance for Wales.
Joe Jacobson made 14 appearances for Wales Under-21s but making that dream cap for the senior side was never presented to him.
The left-back was very much classed as a senior player in the youth set up captaining the Under-21 side on multiple occasions.
The 34-year-old earned 13 caps for the youth side and expressed his gratitude to Welsh legend Brian Flynn who was manager at the time.
Jacobson said: “He (Brian Flynn) was really good. He made it really enjoyable and he wanted us to go and express ourselves, score goals and win games.”
“Before he came in the Under-21s had gone through a tough couple of years which they didn’t win a game at one point.”
During Flynn’s reign as Under-21 boss stars such as Gareth Bale, Sam Vokes and Joe Ledley evolved through the ranks.
“He came in and it was maybe fortunate that we had a great group of players at the same time,” continued Jacobson.
“You hear stories of players going on international duty and not really enjoying it but I used to love going away with the Under-21s.
“I couldn’t wait to be called up and go to some great countries just because the group we had was so good.
“With Brian Flynn in charge and Alan Curtis and Dave Williams with him we just had good fun, obviously success on the pitch helped that but he just let us do what we wanted to do.
“He never over-complicated tactics, he had a few star men in the team like Aaron Ramsey who we would try and work out systems to get him free all the time.
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring one of his two goals against Hungary. (Image: Mike James)
“We had alot of players around him that could do good jobs aswell.
“Looking back on it (Wales Under-21s) it was just a really enjoyable time.”
Jacobson did get that eagerly anticipated call-up for John Toshack’s senior side, but unfortunately for him he never stepped onto the field.
Jacobson, who is the captain of Championship side Wycombe Wanderers, played alongside the likes of Andy King, Simon Church and Sam Vokes who all progressed to make appearances for the senior side from the Under-21s.
“Brian Flynn was the one who told me that he’d put me forward to go away with them and I got the call which was incredible.
“We had two games away in Iceland and Holland, and I didn’t think I would start the (Iceland) game and I thought there would maybe a chance to come on.
“John Toshack told me to go and warm up and I went out he pulled someone else back and put them on which was the final substitute. I was gutted about it.”
Welsh Football Fans’ full Facebook live session can be found at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2137576659706097&ref=watch_permalink
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