Double celebration for Lauren

It’s been a week to remember in the developing football career of Welshpool teenager Lauren Purchase who has received a Wales call-up and a contract extension at Aston Villa in the same week.

Despite the pandemic challenges, the 16-year-old has made an admirable transition from living in Malaysia to academy football in the West Midlands over the past year.

As the youngest player in the club’s academy, Lauren has developed well with some fine performances which have been recognised by a call-up to the Wales U19 camp in May, building towards a UEFA Euro tournament in October hosted by Andorra.

She was part of the U17 squad that qualified for the elite rounds in the Denmark UEFA Euro tournament, but sadly they didn’t take place due to Covid-19.

Aston Villa’s academy qualified for elite status which meant they could continue to train and play during lockdown, and they top their league having beaten Manchester United last week for the third time in 12 months.

Lauren has been playing full back, but managed her first goal in a league match at Manchester City after switching to the left wing in the 85th minute.

She is the daughter of Dacre Purchase and Caroline Morris who were pupils of Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool high schools respectively. She is also the great grand daughter of former Welshpool mayor, John Gwilt.