LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Gareth Bale of Spurs celebrates following his team's 2-1 victory during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at White Hart Lane on March 3, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
By Sam Wallace and Jack Pitt-Brooke – 04 March 2013
Five people who have played a key role in the development of the star
Gwyn Morris
Head of PE, Whitchurch High School, Cardiff
I taught him from when he was 13, at the start of Year 9, and my first impression was “what a talented year group”. Out of his form class, they had three internationals in Sam Warburton who plays for Wales and Elliot Kear who plays rugby league for Bradford Bulls. There were eight internationals in the year group.
The main thing we tell the kids about him is his willingness to play all sports. He was a tremendous athlete. He was county champion at athletics, in the 1500m and 800m, and a cross-country runner. Southampton encouraged him to play for the Under-16 B rugby team. But obviously football was his love.
We made him only use his right foot at times. You try to maintain the strengths and develop the weakness. But Gareth was very talented and it was one way to make sure everyone else got a touch of the ball.
He was playing at 14 or 15 in the Under-18 side for the first XI. I remember the boys coming off the field saying, “He’s a bit special”. He was part of the senior football side that won the Cardiff Ebbw Vale Cup in 2005.
He used to go down to Southampton two days a week, which the school and Gareth’s parents discussed, because the academic work had to be caught up. We were chuffed to bits when he signed there. As soon as he got there he sent us a Southampton shirt to say thank you and that’s boxed and framed here, we were so proud.
He’s always been very level-headed. When he gets a week off he comes home to see his family and friends. He’s brought back shirts for our hall of fame. He doesn’t like the limelight but we have a new football facility here and he came and opened that. He was very kind and donated a signed pair of football boots for a young gentleman who broke his neck.
He’s a perfect role model for our kids. We tell them all here, “You aim for the top of Everest and then see how far you get up the mountain.” And that’s what he’s done.
By Sam Wallace and Jack Pitt-Brooke – 04 March 2013
Five people who have played a key role in the development of the star
Gwyn Morris
Head of PE, Whitchurch High School, Cardiff
I taught him from when he was 13, at the start of Year 9, and my first impression was “what a talented year group”. Out of his form class, they had three internationals in Sam Warburton who plays for Wales and Elliot Kear who plays rugby league for Bradford Bulls. There were eight internationals in the year group.
The main thing we tell the kids about him is his willingness to play all sports. He was a tremendous athlete. He was county champion at athletics, in the 1500m and 800m, and a cross-country runner. Southampton encouraged him to play for the Under-16 B rugby team. But obviously football was his love.
We made him only use his right foot at times. You try to maintain the strengths and develop the weakness. But Gareth was very talented and it was one way to make sure everyone else got a touch of the ball.
He was playing at 14 or 15 in the Under-18 side for the first XI. I remember the boys coming off the field saying, “He’s a bit special”. He was part of the senior football side that won the Cardiff Ebbw Vale Cup in 2005.
He used to go down to Southampton two days a week, which the school and Gareth’s parents discussed, because the academic work had to be caught up. We were chuffed to bits when he signed there. As soon as he got there he sent us a Southampton shirt to say thank you and that’s boxed and framed here, we were so proud.
He’s always been very level-headed. When he gets a week off he comes home to see his family and friends. He’s brought back shirts for our hall of fame. He doesn’t like the limelight but we have a new football facility here and he came and opened that. He was very kind and donated a signed pair of football boots for a young gentleman who broke his neck.
He’s a perfect role model for our kids. We tell them all here, “You aim for the top of Everest and then see how far you get up the mountain.” And that’s what he’s done.
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