ABERYSTWYTH Town FC’s Under-19s manager Emyr Jones has spoken of his pride that three members of his team have been selected to represent Wales’ Under 18s Academy squad.

Oliver Farebrother, Jack Rimmer and Harri Horwood have been selected for the final 18-man Welsh Academy squad for two games against the Republic of Ireland later this month.

The matches will be at Bala’s Maes Tegid on Tuesday, 21 February (ko 7.30pm) and Newtown’ Latham Park on Thursday, 23 February (ko 2pm).

Manager Mark Pike finalised his squad last week, with players from clubs in the FAW Academy structure, and Aberystwyth are delighted that all three Seasiders made the final cut.

“Having three players from Aberystwyth Town in the final squad shows that the Academy system works,” said Under-19s boss Jones.

“These players have come through each Academy level at Under 12s, 14s and 16s, and it’s a credit to Gari Lewis, the Academy Director, and all the coaches here at Aberystwyth.

“Personally, as the manager of the Aberystwyth Under 19s team, to have three players selected for the squad, and to see them playing international football is a huge achievement.

“We want to see them reach professional football. We know that’s difficult, but we need them to be playing in the Welsh Premier League to give them the opportunities of coming up through the ranks, and to develop within a professional environment.

“Over the last five years, Aber has had five players involved in the Welsh Academy squad, with Alex Samuel, Rhydian Davies, Liam James, Jamie Butler and Ed Powell-Jones.

“To be selected for the squad, they have to be playing Academy football at the Under 19s level, and to have three players selected in one year is an amazing achievement, and reward for all the hard work, dedication and commitment that has been shown.

“We wish Ollie, Jack and Harri all the best in the international games.”

Wales U18s Academy manager Pike said preparations for the two games began a few months ago with training camps, and friendlies against The New Saints and Newport County.

“The training camps have gone really well,” he said. “The players that came in were absolutely magnificent.

“They’ve really taken to it. We’ve looked at over 150 players and now we’re down to the last 18. Hopefully they’ll do well over the two games.”

Pike says that the Welsh Premier Development League has raised standards significantly, and there are almost a dozen players in his current squad that have spent a number of years coming through the academy system at their respective clubs.

He has also stressed the value of being involved in senior football within the Welsh Premier, and Jack Rimmer is one such example, having made one start and five appearances on the bench for Aberystwyth this season.

“I think there are too many Welsh Premier League sides not looking at their academy system,” Pike said.

“There are still too many players being lost and ending up in the very lower levels of the pyramid, and some go out of the game all together.

“We want to see them reach the professional heights, but to see them playing in our own national league is still a massive achievement, and there are a number of players who are doing it. These players have used this system to help better themselves.”

He added: “I always try to relay to the players that they are representing Wales, and there’s no bigger honour.

“The coaches in the academy system throughout the country are all doing a great job, in their own time, and I know the dedication and hours it takes to do it. Hopefully the clubs will continue to get behind them.”