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{"id":49752,"date":"2020-06-26T16:58:22","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T16:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/?p=49752"},"modified":"2020-06-26T20:45:26","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T20:45:26","slug":"keiron-proctor-2014-shield-osian-roberts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/2020\/06\/26\/keiron-proctor-2014-shield-osian-roberts\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2014 Victory Shield winner fighting back from Cardiff rejection"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Keiron Proctor\u2019s journey through football has been one of adversity and triumph, and there is still plenty of time for the youngster to do whatever he wants in the game.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The 20-year-old forward was a part of the 2014 Welsh Victory Shield winning squad that featured the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Tyler Roberts, all being coached by Osian Roberts<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It was a Wales U16’s squad that won the tournament outright for the first time since 1948.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

And whilst Proctor\u2019s journey to the tournament was unexpected, the impact the event had and the coaching of Roberts clearly made an impact.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cI was playing with Wales from around the age of 12, and in that season in particular I was doing really well at Cardiff, playing regularly and enjoying my football,\u201d Proctor said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe got called into a Wales game up in the box and there was a lot of players there, but I didn\u2019t expect anything from it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cAfter the game they announced that every player in the room was selected for the Victory Shield, but that age group was a year older than mine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cI was over the moon and there were no words to describe how I felt. It was a privilege to work with Osian Roberts, as a coach he was probably the best I\u2019ve ever worked with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cardiff, Wales. 15th November, 2018. Wales coach Osian Roberts trains at the Cardiff City Stadium ahead of their upcoming international matches against Denmark & Albania. Lewis Mitchell\/YCPD.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe detail to the game, he just knows every little thing about football and helps you understand it more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think before then I was constantly playing football, but I never learned anything about it, going into that set-up makes you see the bigger picture and you look at things in a completely different way, it\u2019s all drilled on doing the basics well.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen I was at Cardiff, I was just beating players, playing little 1-2\u2019s and things like that but when I went to Wales it was about keeping the ball, being patient and then when you have the chance go and hurt the opposition.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
From success to adversity<\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whilst success with Wales was certainly a highlight, adversity lay ahead for the young forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A torn meniscus whilst playing in Cardiff City\u2019s academy led to Proctor being eventually released by his hometown club, an event that even he admits at first broke him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was coming up to my 12^{th<\/sup> year at Cardiff, I think I was there from the age of six in the prep squad and being released was a complete shock to be honest,\u201d Proctor continued.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n}
\u201cIt was around the December time during my second year of scholarship. I had pretty much just come back from injury, I wouldn\u2019t even say I was match fit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“I was running and playing maybe 30 minutes here or there in training for about two months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe had a running session and after it they called me in and kind of said we can\u2019t offer you a professional contract.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“We\u2019re happy for you to go and look elsewhere and to be honest I broke down in tears because it\u2019s my home club.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Proctor had to deal with rejection from his hometown club. Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell\/<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI’d grew up at that club and didn\u2019t go anywhere else, playing there for so many years, for it all to be crushed in about a two-minute meeting literally broke me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to play football again after that. I kind of went into a shell and didn\u2019t know where to play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was hard, but it happens, it\u2019s football. It\u2019s the toughest job to get into in the world but I\u2019ve had plenty of setbacks now and it\u2019s all about the comebacks I suppose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“My agent at the time got me trials at Forest Green, Derby and Sunderland and I thoroughly enjoyed those trials but it just didn\u2019t feel the same.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“It wasn\u2019t home and to be honest I was still 17 so going to those places, I struggled quite a bit being from home all the time and I got a bit homesick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, I still love the club and if I was to have another chance I would 100% take it but I was just a bit gutted with how it all came to an end.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reflecting and looking to the future<\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
And whilst the adversity has made him stronger now than ever-before, looking back at his time within the Welsh set-up is certainly a fond memory for Proctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
After a stint at Taffs Well and playing in Australia, the 20-year-old still has a love for his hometown club and appreciates all the talent he has played with in years gone by.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn 2014, the best moment would be beating England. It was nice to travel with the squad and play three games altogether,\u201d Proctor said, reminiscing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen the goal went in against England to beat them 1-0, it was a massive achievement because the England squad was absolutely unbelievable. The players they had, no-one ever thought we\u2019d go on to win that game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI got to play with the likes of Ben Woodburn, Tyler Roberts and I think Ethan Ampadu was my age, but he played in the year above as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Ben Woodburn of Wales in action against Trinidad & Tobago. Wales v Trinidad & Tobago International friendly at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was just an unbelievable tournament and it was so nerve-wracking playing a year up, but then coming to actually win it after so many years was a massive achievement for myself and the whole of Wales.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe player I looked up to the most because he was kind of in a similar position was Tyler Roberts and the whole of the Welsh FA absolutely loved him, every player loved him, and he was excelling at that point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou have players like Ben Woodburn and Robbie Burton who are unbelievable players as well but for me it was probably him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Cardiff, Wales 13\/10\/19. Tyler Roberts of Wales in action against Croatia. Wales v Croatia UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell\/YCPD\/Alamy Live News.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think he could go far if he keeps playing regularly and proving his point, he played well last week and he\u2019s getting a chance now, which is nice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe player I think will go the furthest and have the best career would probably be Rabbi Matondo and he\u2019s actually one of my best-mates, but he wasn\u2019t in the tournament that year because I think he had an injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe then played the following Victory Shield for our own age and he absolutely tore the tournament apart.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Rabbi Matondo of Wales in action against Trinidad & Tobago. Wales v Trinidad & Tobago International friendly at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With plenty of time ahead of him, Proctor knows his future career lies in football despite his setbacks, with a chance at coaching<\/a> firmly in his mind if playing doesn\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With new opportunities laid out ahead, the game he loves will always be a part of his life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Proctor added, \u201cI\u2019m not coming out of football, whether I make it into the full-time game and go on to be a professional or not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m always going to coach and I want to get all my licenses and improve and make it to the highest level I possibly can because the only thing I know is football.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI literally do not know anything else, so that will always be in my heart to either play or coach.\u201d<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Keiron Proctor\u2019s journey through football has been one of adversity and triumph, and there is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":49777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433,1380],"tags":[2394,3990,2559,3991,1134],"class_list":["post-49752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-posts","category-welsh-national-team","tag-ben-woodburn","tag-keiron-proctor","tag-osian-roberts","tag-robbie-burton","tag-victory-shield"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Cardiff, Wales. 15th November, 2018. Wales coach Osian Roberts trains at the Cardiff City Stadium ahead of their upcoming international matches against Denmark & Albania. Lewis Mitchell\/YCPD.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe detail to the game, he just knows every little thing about football and helps you understand it more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think before then I was constantly playing football, but I never learned anything about it, going into that set-up makes you see the bigger picture and you look at things in a completely different way, it\u2019s all drilled on doing the basics well.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen I was at Cardiff, I was just beating players, playing little 1-2\u2019s and things like that but when I went to Wales it was about keeping the ball, being patient and then when you have the chance go and hurt the opposition.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
From success to adversity<\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whilst success with Wales was certainly a highlight, adversity lay ahead for the young forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A torn meniscus whilst playing in Cardiff City\u2019s academy led to Proctor being eventually released by his hometown club, an event that even he admits at first broke him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was coming up to my 12^{th<\/sup> year at Cardiff, I think I was there from the age of six in the prep squad and being released was a complete shock to be honest,\u201d Proctor continued.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n}
\u201cIt was around the December time during my second year of scholarship. I had pretty much just come back from injury, I wouldn\u2019t even say I was match fit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“I was running and playing maybe 30 minutes here or there in training for about two months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe had a running session and after it they called me in and kind of said we can\u2019t offer you a professional contract.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“We\u2019re happy for you to go and look elsewhere and to be honest I broke down in tears because it\u2019s my home club.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Proctor had to deal with rejection from his hometown club. Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell\/<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI’d grew up at that club and didn\u2019t go anywhere else, playing there for so many years, for it all to be crushed in about a two-minute meeting literally broke me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to play football again after that. I kind of went into a shell and didn\u2019t know where to play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was hard, but it happens, it\u2019s football. It\u2019s the toughest job to get into in the world but I\u2019ve had plenty of setbacks now and it\u2019s all about the comebacks I suppose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“My agent at the time got me trials at Forest Green, Derby and Sunderland and I thoroughly enjoyed those trials but it just didn\u2019t feel the same.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
“It wasn\u2019t home and to be honest I was still 17 so going to those places, I struggled quite a bit being from home all the time and I got a bit homesick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cObviously, I still love the club and if I was to have another chance I would 100% take it but I was just a bit gutted with how it all came to an end.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reflecting and looking to the future<\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
And whilst the adversity has made him stronger now than ever-before, looking back at his time within the Welsh set-up is certainly a fond memory for Proctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
After a stint at Taffs Well and playing in Australia, the 20-year-old still has a love for his hometown club and appreciates all the talent he has played with in years gone by.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn 2014, the best moment would be beating England. It was nice to travel with the squad and play three games altogether,\u201d Proctor said, reminiscing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen the goal went in against England to beat them 1-0, it was a massive achievement because the England squad was absolutely unbelievable. The players they had, no-one ever thought we\u2019d go on to win that game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI got to play with the likes of Ben Woodburn, Tyler Roberts and I think Ethan Ampadu was my age, but he played in the year above as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Ben Woodburn of Wales in action against Trinidad & Tobago. Wales v Trinidad & Tobago International friendly at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was just an unbelievable tournament and it was so nerve-wracking playing a year up, but then coming to actually win it after so many years was a massive achievement for myself and the whole of Wales.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe player I looked up to the most because he was kind of in a similar position was Tyler Roberts and the whole of the Welsh FA absolutely loved him, every player loved him, and he was excelling at that point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou have players like Ben Woodburn and Robbie Burton who are unbelievable players as well but for me it was probably him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Cardiff, Wales 13\/10\/19. Tyler Roberts of Wales in action against Croatia. Wales v Croatia UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell\/YCPD\/Alamy Live News.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think he could go far if he keeps playing regularly and proving his point, he played well last week and he\u2019s getting a chance now, which is nice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe player I think will go the furthest and have the best career would probably be Rabbi Matondo and he\u2019s actually one of my best-mates, but he wasn\u2019t in the tournament that year because I think he had an injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe then played the following Victory Shield for our own age and he absolutely tore the tournament apart.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
$\"\"$ \r\n
Rabbi Matondo of Wales in action against Trinidad & Tobago. Wales v Trinidad & Tobago International friendly at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With plenty of time ahead of him, Proctor knows his future career lies in football despite his setbacks, with a chance at coaching<\/a> firmly in his mind if playing doesn\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With new opportunities laid out ahead, the game he loves will always be a part of his life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Proctor added, \u201cI\u2019m not coming out of football, whether I make it into the full-time game and go on to be a professional or not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m always going to coach and I want to get all my licenses and improve and make it to the highest level I possibly can because the only thing I know is football.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI literally do not know anything else, so that will always be in my heart to either play or coach.\u201d<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Keiron Proctor\u2019s journey through football has been one of adversity and triumph, and there is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":49777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433,1380],"tags":[2394,3990,2559,3991,1134],"class_list":["post-49752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-posts","category-welsh-national-team","tag-ben-woodburn","tag-keiron-proctor","tag-osian-roberts","tag-robbie-burton","tag-victory-shield"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clwbpeldroed.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}