Ysgol Bro Teifi pupil Grace Morris has played a starring role with the Wales Women's U17s football squad at the Euro qualifiers currently being held in Serbia.

Fifteen-year-old Grace, who lives in Llangrannog, is one of the youngest members of the Welsh Women’s U17s squad who last week locked horns with hosts Serbia, the Republic of Ireland and Albania for a place in the 2019 Euros in Bulgaria.

Football for Grace though came along quite by accident as it was while watching her brother performing for Crannog U8s that her initial interest in the round ball game was captured.

“I first started playing due to Dad being one of the coaches at Crannog FC U8s and my older brother Brynley was one of the players so instead of standing on the sidelines watching I thought I might as well join in and give it a go!

"I stayed with Crannog FC at U10s and found myself most comfortable in defence and it is a position which I love and which I have continued to play up until today.”

From here Grace moved on to Ffostrasol FC due to a lack of players in her home village and she continued on to the Wanderers U14s still playing in defence and she and her team were very successful.

Five impressive performances for the Dragons U15s have seen the talented teen leapfrogged into the U17s squad and she currently trains three times a week in Cardiff with Wales and still finds the time to run out for the Ffostrasol U16s and also helps out with the coaching of the girls' teams, which she thoroughly enjoys.

In her spare time this busy young lady enjoys riding her pony Suzy and competes at local showjumping and cross country events and enjoys being out with her around the local bridleways and beaches.

To top it off Grace is involved with a number of team sports at Ysgol Bro Teifi including the hockey and netball teams and the girls' rugby team, which reached the final of the Welsh Schools competition at the Principality Stadium.

Fitness is of course crucial to maintaining standards and Grace gets plenty of help and encouragement from dad Neal ‘Babw’ Morris one of the current coaches at Cardigan RFC, and mum Karla.

“I try to maintain my fitness by doing extra gym, sprint sessions or longer runs with my dogs and my Dad is always willing to help me with advice and encouragement where fitness is involved," she said.

Hard tackling defender Morris played the full 90 minutes in a 4-0 defeat to Serbia and a 0-0 draw with the Irish and speaking after the second match said it had been a tough game against their fellow Celts and added: “It really was hard work and we had to put a shift in at the back but all the effort paid off and helped us gain a point.

"Just looking forward to the next game now as it is such an honour to wear the shirt and I am learning all the time.”

As things stood after the weekend, Wales still had a hope of going through to the elite round from third place in group 7 after beating Albania 2-0.