The Bristol footballers representing Wales at the World Cup

While many will be supporting the Three Lions as they aim for success at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there’s a couple of familiar faces from both the red and blue sides of the city representing Wales.

Tom Lockyer and Joe Morrell were lined up for the Dragons’ first fixture of the tournament on Monday night, facing the United States at the Al-Rayyan stadium.

The former Bristol City and Bristol Rovers duo both began on the bench for Wales, while it was only the former Robin who was called upon to see out the game.

Despite a poor first-half performance, the points were shared after Tim Weah’s first-half strike for the Stars and Stripes was well-matched by Gareth Bale’s late penalty kick.

Tom Lockyer was born in the Welsh capital and joined Cardiff City’s academy at age eleven, though as a result of his short stature, he was released by the Welsh giants in 2011, before signing a scholarship deal with the then-League Two outfit Bristol Rovers.

Lockyer captained the under-18 side for the 2012/13 season, leading the side to both league and cup success. He made the senior bench on numerous occasions and earned his first-team debut in 2013, after coming on as a late substitute in the Gas’ 3-0 win over Fleetwood Town.

After making a total of four substitute appearances that season, Lockyer earned his first professional deal that summer. The following year, the then 19-year-old made 47 appearances for Bristol Rovers and was voted Supporters Club Young Player of the Year, competing with the likes of Ellis Harrison, Ollie Clark and Lee Brown for the award.

??????? Congrats to @JoeJMorrell on playing last night for @Cymru – he grew up playing local football before joining @BristolCity

?️ Tom Lockyer, who went from @Official_BRFC youth player to club captain, is also in Wales’ squad

⚽ #Bristol producing great players #RaisedInTheEFL https://t.co/KAIGnoVH6n

— Marvin Rees (@MarvinJRees) November 22, 2022

He played a key role in the 2014/15 season, starting in the Gas’ play-off final at Wembley, where Rovers defeated Grimsby Town on penalties, achieving promotion back to the football league, before captaining the side for the 2018/19 season under both Darrell Clarke and Graham Coughlan.

Lockyer remains full of praise for the north Bristol team, despite now playing football at the highest level on the international stage for his home nation – Wales.

He said: “It was the club that made me, it was fantastic. Funnily enough, Cardiff releasing me was probably the best thing to happen to me. To go there and play men’s football at an early age in the league and dropping out of the league to play non-league.”

Joe Morrell is representing Wales in Qatar – photo: BCFC

25-year-old Joe Morrell was brought up in Bradley Stoke, attending Holy Trinity Primary School before spending his secondary years at Castle School in Thornbury alongside playing academy football with Bristol City. At school age he signed scholarship terms with the club, despite offers from Premier League giants Liverpool.

After making just one league appearance for the Robins, spending many of his years at the club on loan with the likes of Sutton United, Margate, Cheltenham Town and Lincoln, Morrell joined fellow Championship outfit Luton Town in 2020, following in the footsteps of fellow Welshman (and former rival) Lockyer who also signed for the Hatters that summer. Morrell made ten appearances under Nathan Jones, before reuniting with his former boss Danny Cowley at Portsmouth, where he still remains today.

Despite being born in Ipswich, Morrell qualifies for the Wales national team through his mother, and after playing for Y Dreigiau from youth level, he had no doubts about representing the senior team once called upon.

“I’m half-Welsh, but in a football and in a life sense, I do feel Welsh, without speaking the language and without growing up there. I feel proud to represent Wales every time I’m out there and I know what it means to the people,” Morrell said.

Morrell captained the Wales under-16 and under-17 sides, before making six appearances at under-21 level, scoring a total of two goals at youth level. After signing a new contract with Bristol City in 2019, Morrell received his first senior call-up and made his first international start against Belarus the same year.

He has since made 31 appearances for the Wales senior team, and made his World Cup debut on Monday night in their 1-1 draw against the United States.

In cup, Wales next face Iran and both players could be given their chances to shine against a side well-beaten by their English rivals on Monday, before facing the Three Lions themselves on Tuesday.

Main photo: JMP

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• Celebrations across Bristol as England beat Iran

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