Regan Poole has been on the scene for quite some time. The Welshman debuted for Newport County at 16, earned a dream move to Manchester United, and at the age of 22, has already played close to 150 games of professional football.
Early exposure to the senior game can often go two ways with players- but in Poole’s case, it has certainly worked in his favour. He believes that his early experiences have helped him develop in his career.
“I went a different way to the way most young footballers go, they normally go from U23s to the first team. I went from the first team to U23s and then back to the first team,” said Poole.
“So, I do think that experience did help me along the way and I feel like I’ve experienced quite a lot for a footballer of my age.
“I do feel it’s benefitted me long term.”
Embed from Getty ImagesPoole’s quick rise to prominence, intertwined with the feat of becoming Newport’s youngest ever debutant and making 15 league appearances, promptly earned him a move to Man United in the summer of 2015.
He played once for the first team, coming on as a substitute in the final stages of a 5-1 win over FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
Most of his time with the Red Devils was spent with the youth team or on loan- spending time at Northampton and Newport – though Poole reflects on the opportunity to represent one of the world’s biggest clubs with immense pride and satisfaction.
Working under top-class coaches and learning from Premier League stars has provided a huge benefit long-term, too.
“I loved my time there, I loved putting on the jersey- you know, its Manchester United at the end of the day, its one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“So for me to say that I’ve played for them is a huge achievement for me and my family. For me to say that I’ve done that is amazing and they made me such a better player and a better person.
“During the time I was there, I can only have praise to say for them because I loved my time there, it was amazing.”
Being let go by bigger clubs at a young age often threatens to make or break a career- but Poole was prepared to dig his feet in and make a success story out of himself. Following a temporary return to Newport in the second half of the 2018/19 campaign, Poole left Old Trafford permanently, moving to MK Dons.
His story, whilst far from finished, is an inspiring one, embodying where resilience and a perseverant mentality can get you. He explained how dedication, hard work, and concentration got him to where he is today.
“At a young age, I left Cardiff and went and played football with my friends for a little while.
“It just shows that if you keep going, you keep dedicated, you keep doing what you want to do, there’s a way around it and there’s a pathway. So, if you stay focused and keep enjoying football- enjoying it is the main thing- then the only way is forward and hopefully, it is upwards for them.”
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