Hockey starlet Ben Carless is celebrating becoming one of the youngest players to make his full international debut for Wales – at the age of just 17.
The south Shropshire youngster played a key part as Wales fought out a 2-2 draw with Ireland at Cardiff last Sunday – and will be hoping it will be the first of many caps.
“It was a very proud moment for Ben,” said father Simon. “It is a big honour to be capped by your country and to do it when you’re just 17 is quite an achievement.
“It shows he has something about him and hopefully there will be a lot more caps on the way.
“Another player in the side had 80 caps and he said he started playing for Wales
“I don’t know whether Ben is the youngest to play for Wales, but he is certainly one of the youngest.
“He was really chuffed to play for 65 minutes. He played at left half, his strongest position, and he has good defensive skills.
“What the selectors admire is that he likes to get forward and penetrate into the D which gives the team more flexibility. It was a very proud moment for him.”
Wales trailed 2-0 in a pacy, physical encounter, but clawed their way back for a 2-2 draw with Ben playing for all but five minutes.
The previous day he had been on the bench when Wales beat Ireland 2-1 in the first game between the countries in Cardiff.
The full cap comes after Ben enjoyed a successful summer with appearances for the Wales under-18 and under-21 teams.
He now has trials for the GB side in a couple of weeks and will also have his sights set on the senior European Championships next year.
Ben, who lives in Wistanstow, near Craven Arms, has links with Ludlow Hockey Club but these days plays for Stourport in the national league.
It is an exciting time for the 17-year-old who attends Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and hopes to go to Bath University next year.
Ben forms part of a family double with his older brother Luke a midfielder who also made his mark for Wales under-21s in the summer.
Luke himself currently studies at Bath University and plays for Bath Buccaneers.
And the Carless family have high hopes that one day the brothers will line up in the same senior Welsh side.
