Soccer Star Wows Cardiff School Children Ahead Of UEFA Euro 2016

There were plenty of excited children at Ysgol Gymraeg Coed y Gof when past pupil, football freestyler and 18 times Guinness World Records holder, Ash Randall paid them a visit ahead of his trip to Paris for the start of UEFA Euro 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were tricks aplenty on show as Ash put on multiple performances, making sure that all the children had a chance to see his skills for themselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteacher Mike Hayes was only too happy to welcome the former pupil back to the school when Ash got in touch. Mr Hayes said: “We were made up that he was willing to come back and share his skills with some of the pupils.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I think it’s really important that we can share skills of former pupils with the current class. I think what Ash has shown is that dedication and working hard, having a dream and aiming high really does pay off. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We can show a lot to our current pupils from the way that Ash has gone ahead with his life. He travels the world now and has probably the dream job. We’re very proud of him and hopefully it will inspire some of our current pupils.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For Ash, it was more than just a chance to come back to his old school, it was also an opportunity to help inspire the next generation to think big and chase their dreams: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I think it’s always good to come back. When you’re young, either in primary school or high school, you never really know what you want to be. When I was in high school I chose to do art, I didn’t really stick with the sport and I never got chosen for the football team. It’s nice to come back and inspire, even if it’s just one or two pupils. Try to open their minds a bit and try loads of different things.” Ash said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Reflecting on his journey to becoming a multiple record holder, touring the world as a professional football freestyler, Ash added: “I left high school and I spent all my time practicing the freestyle football. I practiced for up to five hours a day sometimes, whether it was rainy or sunny – whatever the weather, indoors, outdoors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Luckily it turned into a job, from a hobby to a job and now I’m lucky enough to be able to do it all around the world, performing at different events meeting loads of different people. It’s pretty much the dream job.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ash has got a busy summer ahead of him, with his UEFA Euro 2016 shows followed by a trip to Brazil for the Rio Olympics. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After the welcome he got from the children at his old school, Ash will be heading to France knowing that everyone at Ysgol Gymraeg Coed y Gof is right behind him. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​