DeGilbert ready for game of his life for Newport County

21-year-old striker set to play against his own team, Newport Dragons Disability FC, in a charity match next month.

Luke DeGilbert has always been a talented footballer and next month he is going to play one of the biggest games of his life. DeGilbert, who usually plays for Newport Dragons Disabilities FC, will captain the team he supports, Newport County AFC, in a charity match in September.

DeGilbert, aged 21, has always dreamed of pulling on a Newport County shirt and now he will get the chance, playing up front against his own club side. The young striker told The Independent how much he is looking forward to the prospect.

“I am looking forward to the game,” DeGilbert says. “I think it will be a good game, as it is for mental health as well. I am happy to be playing in the match, and to be captain and up front is an amazing achievement. I am going to help the team, and score as many goals as I can, work hard and keep working hard in training.”

Newport Dragons and Newport County work closely together and on Thursdays DeGilbert’s Dragons teams work with the Newport County coaches, something DeGilbert especially enjoys. “It is a great experience,” DeGilbert says. “I enjoy the training sessions with them on Thursdays, we train on a 3G astroturf which is good to play on. The training is really good, we do things like Crossbar Challenge.”

DeGilbert, who lists Steven Gerrard, Gareth Bale and Ronaldinho among his football heroes, loves playing for Newport Dragons DFC, having played successfully for his school teams growing up. “I scored in my first tournament,” he says, “and did well in training. I got the Outstanding Achievement Award, which was for the hard work I put into the tournament and training.”

That award was one of the highlights of DeGilbert’s career, and he was delighted to have won it. “I was proud, and so were family and everyone else,” he says. “I was very happy, because it was a good award to get.”

DeGilbert points to the quality of the coaching and his team-mates as his favourite things about representing Newport Dragons. “It is great to be at the club,” DeGilbert explained. “When I came back everyone welcomed me back. The coaches are good as well, I am happy to be back enjoying my football. I am going to try to score as I can and do well.”