Haverfordwest County AFC defender Iori Humphreys says he’s looking forward to continuing to develop in all areas of his game after signing a new one-year contract with the Bluebirds.
The 21-year-old is a former development team captain, having come right through the way through academy system at the club to become a regular part of the first team setup in the last four years.
Iori made his 50th senior appearance for the Town in our game against Cardiff Metropolitan at the beginning of the season, and he says he’s looking forward to plenty more outings in the blue shirt in years to come.
Here’s what the defender had to say in full after signing his new contract:
On signing his new deal
I’m really happy to be staying around. I get on with all of the boys in the changing room and everything, so I’m really happy to be staying for another year.
On how he’s developed as a player
It feels a long time ago since then. I think I was 17 making my debut, and I’m 21 now, so it’s a big difference, but I think just confidence really. Obviously when you first come into a team you don’t really know what’s going on, but I’ve got to know all of the boys and everything, and I think it just makes it much easier to play.
Also speed and a bit more technical ability as well. I think everything’s just come on leaps and bounds really ever since I’ve started joining and training with these guys.
On the strong group of local talent in the squad
Thinking back a few years, you had a lot of boys travelling down and and not many local boys, not many boys getting on at the Haverfordwest stops and the St. Clears stops, but now there’s a lot of them, you’re probably looking at three quarters of the squad who get on down this way for away trips. So it’s really good for the county as well, for people to know the players that are playing here. They’re more likely to come and support, and more likely to show an interest as well.
I think that’s what the club is looking to do and I think it’s a really good motivation for people to want to play here. Local boys can see which way the club is going, and I think that people should be wanting to come here if they’re local.
On reaching 50 appearances earlier in the season
I didn’t think I was going to make my first team debut when I was playing in the development team, so to get to fifty games is a great achievement. I’m happy to be here for another year as well, so hopefully 50 can turn into however many I can get. I’m not putting a number on it just yet, so I’ll just keep on training and keep on playing.
On the strong community feel to the club
I think that’s what you want in a club like this, you want it to feel like home, and I think a lot of the people in the changing do, even the boys that came here this season. I think they just feel welcome to sit in the clubhouse and speak to anyone that they can.
It’s great when you get into the clubhouse after the game, it’s a really homely environment, it’s not like you don’t want to go in there and not speak to anyone. Everyone is really welcoming and I think that shows out on the pitch as well, and in the changing rooms, it’s sort of the same similar vibe for both the team, players and fans as well. And to be part of that as well, you don’t wan’t to be part of a club that isn’t like that. You don’t want to be sort of on your tiptoes almost speaking to people in the club, and you’re not here so it’s great.
