Chloe kicks off her international career for Wales Teenager won first cap playing on ladies U19 side
AN Aberdare-born teenage footballer has won her first cap for a Wales side three years above her age group.
Chloe Williams, 16, made her first appearance for the Welsh Under19s Ladies last week, and her debut was even screened live on the BBC Sport website.
Chloe, who has four brothers and four sisters, is the only one of her siblings to play football, and her family say they are “thrilled” for her.
Mum Michelle said: “From a really young age when she was playing football in the playground, people always said to me, ‘that little one has got fantastic control of the ball.’
“I used to think, ‘yeah she’s good’ but then not think too much more of it until one of the other mums got me in touch with our local club.
“Look where she is now – starting matches for Wales.”
Centre midfielder Chloe, who now lives with her family in Stafford, West Midlands, began her footballing journey with local team Wyrley Juniors and then Burntwood Pheonix before being snapped up by Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.
After hearing she had dual nationality, Chloe opted to play for Wales, and soon went along to trials. There, she was quickly asked to sign up to play in the upcoming Super Cup NI, which took place last week.
To her family’s delight, her first match, held at Ballymena Showgrounds, was screened live on the BBC Sport website as part of the Super Cup NI international youth football tournament.
Michelle added: “She’s the youngest in the squad and it was a very proud moment to see her kick off the second half of the game – a proud honour for her to represent her roots and she absolutely loved it.”
Chloe’s next match for Wales will be away to Kazakhstan in October. She is also due to start a Level 3 Diploma at Walsall College in September.