Ball at his feet: Aaron Bowles.

Aaron Bowles can stake an unusual claim at Haverfordwest County because the Milford Haven teenager not only plays for the club's youth team but he also prepares the food for sponsors in the hospitality suites at first team matches.

That's because Aaron is a very useful footballer who has already been included in the first team squad on one occasion but previously attended a two-year college course on food skills and has shown off his wide repertoire by also cooking Christmas lunch for his current youth team colleagues!

Ask Aaron about his talents in football and he is quite analytical for a teenager. He says: "I'm not a flair player like some of the lads; I'm more of a team player who is good at dropping back and filling in holes in the defence.

"I enjoy motivating others, I'm vice-captain to Bobby Briers, and I like creating space for them by good running off the ball - and I'm just as happy setting up the chance to score with a good pass or cross as I am scoring a goal.

"But I've still got to work on my first touch, which is not consistent, and I need to time tackles and aerial challenges better. It takes time and effort but I'm ready to work towards it."

Coach Ronnie Beynon readily agrees and he says of Aaron: "He's a real character, on and off the pitch, with a willingness to work at anything he does in the club's cause.

"We only have to ask Bowlesy once and he's there to help out - it's no wonder he's so popular about the place."

Aaron began his footballing days at under-ten level with Herbrandston, under the watchful eye of Tony Fawcett, who is clearly held in high regard by his young protégé because when Tony moved to coach Hakin United under-14s Aaron switched his allegiance and played in a good Vikings junior team which won the under-15 league and came runners-up in the cup, with players of the calibre of Chris Milich, Jonty Bennett, Mark Jones, Edward Ford as his pals in the team and at Milford Comprehensive School.

He was also part of the Bluebirds' youth team which won the McWhirter Cup two seasons ago and his ambition is to claim a regular first-team place by the time he is a little older and he has enormous regard for Derek Brazil, who told him not to feel under any pressure when he turned out for the senior side, just to enjoy the experience, which Aaron did when he made his debut on the bench against Airbus.

His favourite player at the top level is Chelsea's Joe Cole and he says that, like his hero, he loves tackling and distributing the ball, as well as being totally involved in the game.

Aaron is showing his versatility because he now works as a lifeguard at Milford Haven Leisure Centre but it is football that is his first sporting love.

He is a bubbly, pleasant and modest youngster and club chairman Rob Summons says: "Aaron is a cracking young feller and his willingness to prepare the buffets makes my job so much easier - and he also gives 100% on the field to make him someone who is a real asset to us at Haverfordwest County AFC."

3:36pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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