Powys border teenager to captain Welsh junior pool team

Freddie Winks-Jones from the North Powys-Shropshire border has never looked back since his parents bought a pool table during the first year of lockdown to keep their family safe and occupied.

Being the youngest of a big family, including up to four foster children at any one time, Freddie enjoyed the opportunity to have a knockabout daily with anyone who would agree to play despite being too small to properly reach the table.

After lockdown everyone went back to their routines but Freddie was hooked and at age 11, his dad agreed to take him to an under 15s Wales qualifying tournament being held in South Wales to learn a little more about the game and exceeded all expectations by reaching the final.

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Freddie was honoured to be chosen to play for Wales under 15s team at the World Championships in Toulouse in France in 2022.

Since then the team have played in Bridlington, coming second in the Nations Cup and third at the European Championship in Malta.

13 year old Freddie, who is still the youngest player on the team, has been chosen to captain the team playing in Bridlington in March and Malta again in November. 

He also plays in local leagues every week for The Butchers Arms Wern and The Ex-serviceman’s Club Oswestry as well as being part of Croesowallt Dragons team playing Inter-county matches from The Lounge in Oswestry. 

All of this travelling and taking part in tournaments costs money and the family are looking for support via sponsorship from local businesses. 

If anyone is interested in supporting Freddie the contract email is fwj.blackballpool@gmail.com.

Freddie has travelled, made many friends, young and old and enjoyed so many new life experiences because of pool. 

His confidence has grown and he’s learnt much about sportsmanship and tolerance while also competing in the Weston Rhyn Pool League with his membership meaning a 70 year age age gap with the league’s oldest player, Dave Talbot.