A RHYL teenager has been praised after making his senior debut for the Huws Gray Alliance club.

Jack Parry-Jones, a former Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School pupil, has come through the ranks at the Lilies’ Academy and took the field for the first time in their convincing 4-0 home success over Gresford Athletic.

Manager Matthew Jones, said: “His debut was down to merit we are not just going to put lads in for the sake of doing it, lads have to earn the right to come in and be part of this first team and to get on to the field of play and he has. “We are very, very keen to start promoting the academy and getting lads coming through and producing our own players and it’s good to have seen this tonight with him coming on and getting minutes on the pitch, now it’s down to him as an individual to go away and to keep grafting to make sure that it’s not a one off and that he becomes a regular in the squad and starts pushing for a starting place.”

Parry-Jones is the latest youth product to make his mark with the senior side after impressing for the reserves throughout the campaign, and he was quick to thank Director of Football Mark Connolly for his support.

“I am delighted to have made my debut and Mark given me the opportunity which I can hopefully build on and get more involved,” he added.

“There is a very good squad here but hopefully I can continue developing and get another chance soon. Playing for your local club is what it is all about and it was an honour to be called-up.

“We have some excellent players in the reserves at the minute with the talent to play in the first team so it bodes well for the future at the club.”