LLANGATTOCK 15-year old Grace Thomas-Parr recently returned from Northern Ireland after winning her first Welsh Cap playing for the Women's U17 football team in their 2-0 win against the Faroe Islands. Grace began playing football aged nine as a striker for the Crickhowell Panthers and as a midfielder for Mardy Tigers. Grace worked her way back through the pack, playing defender for Gwent Girl's Development Centre, before reaching national regional level and being asked to try out as a goal keeper. Grace, who was also selected to play U16 netball for SE Wales, took up this challenging position in March 2013, and played in goal for Cwmbran Celtic, before being signed by Bristol Academy's centre of excellence earlier this season. Trained by Cardiff City's head goalkeeper coach and Welsh national regional coach. Paul Simms, Grace has a natural advantage for the position, being nearly six foot tall. Her quick reactions from her netball playing have already assisted her on her meteoric rise to success. Simms explained, "Grace has followed a set development plan and made a step forward every day. To have taken just a year from starting as a keeper to winning your first Welsh cap, in the increasingly competitive field of Women's football is truly remarkable. Grace has shown dedication and perseverance. I can't express how proud I am to have been a part of her development."