Family of late Gary Speed speak of delight as teenager Edward Speed stars in Wales international friendlies

THE father of the late Gary Speed has spoken of his family’s pride at seeing his grandson Edward pull on a Welsh shirt on home turf.

Edward Speed, 14, has previously appeared for the Wales U16s development squad in Switzerland in his first season for the squad.

The teenager lives with his mum Louise, 41, and brother Thomas at the family’s home in Huntington, Chester.

And last week, Edward played as an international player on Welsh ground for the first time.

He appeared as a substitute for the first of two matches against a strong Poland side on Tuesday at Colwyn Bay’s Eirias Park stadium, where Wales lost 2-0 before starting the match at Bangor City’s Nantporth Stadium for a 5-1 defeat.

The friendly matches are being held as the team builds up to next month’s Victory Shield tournament between the U16 squads of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Edward follows in the footsteps of his famous dad who, in addition to his international career with Wales as a player and manager, also saw him play for Leeds United and Everton.

Among the interested spectators at the match were current Wales manager Chris Coleman and Edward Speed’s family, including his great-grandmother Brenda Huxley and grandfather Roger Speed.

Roger said he was delighted at Edward’s performances.

He said: “I have been watching him at all the matches he has been in, he played really well against Poland, teaming up with Craig Bellamy’s son Liam.

“I think he is a very good prospect, he knows the game inside out. All the games he plays at Wrexham he does well in positioning and moving the ball about. He is coached there by Lee Jones, who played for Wrexham and Liverpool, and he is in good hands.

“Chris Coleman was at Bangor as well. He was a little late as he had gone to the wrong Bangor stadium, but he is a good man and has gone to a few of these games like Gary used to.

“The Victory Shield starts on October 1 against England and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Gavin Allmand, deputy headteacher at Chester’s Abbeygate College, where Edward is a pupil, said: “The college is incredibly proud of Edward’s achievement in being picked to represent his country and we will continue to support and encourage him as he works hard to combine his football career with his GCSE studies.”