This week Bill Carne talked to talented young footballer Jasmin Reynolds about her success after starting out a few years ago with the newly-formed Fishguard Sports Girls’ team...

JASMIN Reynolds is rapidly making a name for herself in girls' football after starting out with the girls' team at Fishguard before moving on to a higher level at Newcastle Emlyn and also making it to the West Wales Performance Group in Neath.

She has loved being involved in the game from the time she used to kick a ball round with older boys in Mathry and things have progressed really well after joining Matthew 'Minty' Lamb at Fishguard when she started attending Sunday morning sessions under his watchful eye.

Known to her friends as 'Jazz' she has also plays hockey on the wing or central midfield for Ysgol Bro Gwaun, as well as in the centre or goal defence in netball at the school in Fishguard,

But it is football that has always attracted her attention after starting in Mathry and by the time she started secondary education she was eager to play on a more organised basis and started playing mixed football in the 5x60 activities’ scheme so well organised by Dan Bellis.

But it was hard work trying to find a girls' team anywhere near home until Mr Lamb started a Fishguard Sports’ girls’ team and she took to being involved like a duck to water, playing as a striker in mini-tournaments at venues like Tenby, Pembroke and at STP School alongside the likes of Kate Griffiths, Carys John, Meg Didcote and Lowri Field.

Jazz has been playing ever since and enjoyed a few hat-tricks as part of her regular goal-scoring exploits - and a year ago she joined the Johnstown Girls' team near Carmarthen, which inevitably meant even more taxi-driving for parents Antony and Tina, who helps Matthew Lamb in any way she can, like collecting subscriptions and other jobs. Brother Dylan (14) is also a good supporter.

She has been coached at Johnstown by John Anthony and after a few months improving her skills she joined her age group at Newcastle Emlyn, where she is still playing up front and has helped the team into third place - but it means more commitment to travel for Tuesday evening training, which is very physically demanding and where she is joined by another Pembrokeshire lass in Elin Williams (Puncheston).

Wednesday evenings then see Jazz join her peers at the West Wales Performance group in Neath, again playing as striker or left wing.

"There are players involved from as far afield as Newport and Bridgend - and from all over South Wales and the standard is very high as we are coached by Andy Jones.

"So far I have played two matches there, the first on the bench at Dragon Park International Sports Village in Newport, which wasn't the best start because within four minutes of joining the action I went up for a header, caught an elbow in the back of my head and had concussion!

"The second was better because it came in a football tournament at the Velodrome at Dragon Park as we played the other regions - and I scored there."

Jazz is also still heavily involved at Fishguard, and on Thursday evenings she helps Matthew Lamb coach the Fishguard Sports' under 10s and 12s.

"It is a good way to relax after so much training of my own and I am going to take my coaching awards in the near future, once I have finished my GCSE exams.

"I also help encourage others to take part in all sorts of sporting and leisure activities in school because I have become a Silver Ambassador and go around junior schools to talk to the young children there about what is on offer.

"We are also trying to encourage children in our school who are not involved in any sport to give some sport or activity a try and I really enjoy my part in the 5x60 scheme."

The week's football involvement continues on Saturdays because she is usually playing with the West Wales Performance Group and then there are Sunday games with Newcastle Emlyn - and if they are called off she goes along with Matthew Lamb to help him at games for Fishguard Girls under 10s and under 12s teams.

The next step in jazz's footballing involvement comes in September when she joins the Llandarcy Academy of Sport, near Swansea, to take a BTech Level Three on a Sporting Performance and Excellence course.

Jazz will stay with a surrogate family, the academic section will take place in college and the football element will come under the auspices of Swansea City.

"It is going to be a real challenge but I am already looking forward to it because I would love to eventually be a professional football player at a top club like Arsenal, which is my favourite because they have terrific male players like Olivier Giroud.

Then there are top female players like Alex Scott, who is captain and plays left back, plus Rachel Yankey and Leah Williamson, whom she recently met at The Emirates Stadium.

"I am an Arsenal member and we had won a prize for a family trip to watch the Premier League match with Manchester United - amazing!

Jazz would be quick to sing the praises of all her family for their total support, plus the likes of Dan Bellis, school teacher Eiry Miles and especially Matthew 'Minty' Lamb, whom she describes as a fantastic help and giver of encouragement.

It seems that the respect is mutual because 'Minty' told us,

"Jasmin is a cracking girl and we are so proud of what she has achieved in the past four years. Credit also to her parents for their continuous support as Jasmin deserves every accolade going for her total commitment and willingness to listen to advice.

"She is also a terrific help with our junior players and we will miss her when she goes off to college."

High praise indeed from someone else who lives and breathes Fishguard Sports' football and we could pay Jasmin Reynolds no better compliment - and we wish her every success in her promising future in football!