After ‘Team Welshpool’ shines at Games, ex-Llanfyllin pupils make sports headlines

Just as we have all got our breath back from shouting at our TV sets to support three ex-Welshpool High School pupils at the Commonwealth Games, a pair of Ysgol Llanfyllin students have taken the sporting headlines.

Dan Jones led the Welshpool way with two bronze medals in the pool at the Glasgow games, while Adele Nicoll (shot put) and Joshua Whitehouse (judo) also performed brilliantly for Wales.

But this week, Joe Clarke (cricket) and Will Evans (football) have shown that elite sport is thriving across the whole area.

Clarke,30, was a £85,000 signing for Birmingham Phoenix in cricket’s Hundred competition and has been in superb form, making two half centuries in the five matches to date and sitting sixth in the overall batting standings ahead of the likes of England captains Joe Root and Harry Brook.

Meanwhile, Llangedwyn lad Evans, 29, has signed for League One side Plymouth Argyle from Mansfield Town in a deal said to be worth about £400,000.

He has become a respected player in the English Football League, previously hitting the headlines with FA Cup goals against both Manchester United and Arsenal in recent seasons.

As well as playing local football in his youth, Evans signed for Newport County in 2022 before moving to Mansfield Town.

Good luck to both as they continue to proudly put our area on the map!