I don't want to end my career with one cap - Poole

The quotes from this article have been taken from the 'Who Needs Mourinho? Regan Poole special'. You can listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds.

Regan Poole can talk about the ups and downs of professional football better than most.

His CV includes hometown heartbreak, a record-breaking debut and a dream transfer, all before turning 18.

In June 2014, Cardiff-born Poole was let go by the Bluebirds academy at 15.

He was swiftly picked up by Newport County and within months became their youngest player at 16 years and 94 days when he started against Shrewsbury Town in League Two.

After appearing in 12 games the defender trialled at some of England's biggest clubs and completed a dream transfer to Manchester United for £100,000.

A decade later, after a rise and fall through the footballing pyramid, the Welshman is making his way back up via the south-coast of England, his heart set on national re-recognition.

"I definitely don't want to end my career with one cap," said Poole, who is upfront about his desire to add to a solitary Wales cap earnt against Gibraltar in 2023.

A famous debut and settling in with stars

In 2016, Manchester United beat FC Midtjylland 5-1 in the Europa League. The game is normally remembered for 18-year-old Marcus Rashford announcing himself to the footballing world with a brace on debut.

But for one person at least, a more important debut took place that night.

Poole was subbed on for just over a minute and even though it was his only appearance for the club, the memory has never faded.

"That night was an incredible night for me. I don't know if it really sunk in, what was actually happening.

"I look back now and I think, what a crazy achievement, going from League Two to Man United and actually playing in the Europa League," he told BBC Radio Solent.

During his time in Manchester, Poole was surrounded by stars. Juan Mata and Bastian Schweinsteiger were World Cup winners, Wayne Rooney was a club legend and Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimović were global icons.

"I used to think to myself, why am I here? These guys were real stars and I was just not there yet, but I did get there slowly. I just needed to adjust to the different training.

"It stood me in good stead for the rest of my career, I thought if I can go in there and play and train with them on a daily basis, then I can overcome anything."

Down the ladder and back up again

After loan spells in the lower leagues, Poole was unable to break into United's first-team and was released in 2019.

Dropping down into League One, the centre-back signed for MK Dons before moving to Lincoln City where he impressed during a three-year stint.

Despite gaining a reputation as a solid and reliable League One defender, Poole was "desperate to get to the Championship one way or another".

In his mission to climb back up the footballing ladder he decided to head south.

Portsmouth looked a romantic fit for the defender.

Both had history with the elite level of English football and both were eager to find their way back.

The first year was bittersweet for the 27 year-old.

Portsmouth dominated League One and gained promotion to the Championship, but Poole suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in November 2023.

"It was tough because we were winning every week. It looked so good to be a part of," he said.

"We went on to have the most successful season the club's had for a long time. I missed quite a bit of it, which was even harder to take."

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Poole was disrupted by injuries again last year, but as has been the trend throughout his career he managed to pick himself back up.

This season the aggressive centre-back has been an ever-present force in a tricky Pompey season and is the only player at the club to have played all 1440 Championship minutes this season.

He also leads with 115 clearances, 18 interceptions and 554 successful passes.

Portsmouth are currently 19th in the Championship and are flirting with a relegation scrap but a 3-1 league win against Milwall on Saturday will have eased concerns.

Dreaming of national re-recognition

Watching Craig Bellamy galvanise a group of players in an attempt to reach the nation's third World Cup has only intensified his desire to represent his country once more.

"The centre-halves they have at the minute are playing at a high level," said Poole.

"A couple of them are in the Premier League so they are pretty well stacked in that area, so for me to get in there I need to keep performin."

In Joe Rodon, Ben Davies and Chris Mepham, Bellamy has Premier League proven defenders at his disposal, but with the recent selections of Cardiff City's Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio, he has shown he is not afraid to pick from League One.

So for a 27-year-old approaching the peak of his powers in the Championship, you would think he is not too far from Bellamy's thoughts.

Wales have a crucial World Cup play-off in March. If the defender is involved, it would be a story of remarkable persistence and resilience.

But if not, do not count him out because for more than a decade Regan Poole has made a habit of overcoming obstacles and finding his way to where he wants to be.

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