21 August 2013
Ben Davies, Swansea City’s rising Welsh star, will be the focus of a brand new S4C documentary shown tonight(21 August)at 9.30pm.
Following his sudden rise to the top of the game the Neath born 20-year-old will give us a glimpse into his life in the programme Ben Davies on Wednesday, 21 August (with English subtitles).
Having joined Swansea at 16 on an apprenticeship contract Ben made his first-team debut as a late substitute during their 3-0 home win against West Ham in August 2012, replacing fellow Welsh international Neil Taylor.
When Taylor suffered a season ending injury in their following game against Sunderland Ben was promoted into the starting 11.
“At the time I went into the game not knowing much, but when the chance came I just had to do my best,” says Ben, who lives at home with his parents and his sister in Tonna. “I knew I might not get that chance again.”
Ben went on to make 37 appearances for Swansea during the course of the 2012/2013 season which included his first goal for the club in their 3-1 home win against Stoke in January, becoming the youngest ever player to score for the Swans at 19-years-old.
He was also an integral part of the team a month later when they lifted the Capital One Cup at Wembley, securing the club European qualification for the first time in 22 years.
“I’d be happy to play for Swansea in any division to be honest, but to play for them in the Premier League, well it’s just amazing,” says Ben at the start of the season.
"I'm looking forward to this season, and to playing against Cardiff in my first ever South Wales derby! It should be a great day down at the Cardiff City Stadium in November. It'll be a tough game, but if we do our best I'm sure we can do it."
In addition to his successes at Swansea Ben was also called up for international duty, winning his first cap for Chris Coleman’s Wales in their 2-1 home win against Scotland and securing four more caps during the course of the season.
"That was the best feeling I've ever had in my life, standing on the field in my Wales shirt; I couldn't quite believe it. But once you hear that whistle you've got to think of it as any other game, put your head down and concentrate."
After a whirlwind season Ben isn’t getting carried away and is still getting used to the coverage that comes with life in the Premier League.
"It's still strange but my friends will always keep my feet on the ground – they seem to find it funny when the cameras won't leave me alone! I try to look at this as my job now; it's what I've always wanted to do, so I hope I can carry on doing it for a long time to come."
S4C viewers can watch Ben Davies on Wednesday, 21 August at 9:30pm. English subtitles will be available. Viewers can also watch the programme at s4c.co.uk/clic for 35 days.
