From ball boy to first team starter - Wales Under-19 international Mark Harris' incredible season at Cardiff City
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/f...arter-12963947
It's been a whirlwind season for Cardiff City who appeared to be dead and buried in the early stages of the campaign before staging a remarkable recovery following the arrival of Neil Warnock.
But for one man in particular, it has been a season like no other.
Mark Harris has checked off a number of firsts during the course of the 2016-17 campaign and will hope to build on his breakthrough season with more regular action next time around.
Harris made his first-team debut as a substitute in Cardiff's 2-1 FA Cup third round defeat to Fulham in January, just 10 days after his 18th birthday.
His incredible rise was capped off as Warnock named him in his starting line up for the Bluebirds clash against Wigan, with Harris playing 57 minutes of the goalless draw against the Latics at the DW Stadium.
It completes an incredible campaign for the Wales Under-19 international who started the season as a second year apprentice and was a ball boy for first team matches.
"I found out I was playing (against Wigan) on the Friday after our training session at Bolton Wanderers," Harris told the club's matchday programme.
"At the end of the season the gaffer pulled us all in and named the team - and when he said my name it was a huge shock but I was buzzing.
"I instantly got on the phone and all my family came up to Wigan to watch.
"I was a ball boy at the start of the season. It was very pleasing to play against Fulham and start at Wigan.
"It's what I've been working towards since joining the club at the age of seven, It has been my dream; my goal so I'm obviously delighted."
Warnock has made no secret of his admiration for Harris during the course of the campaign, highlighting on numerous occasions that he was on the cusp of breaking into the first team.
And after being awarded his full first team debut against Wigan, Harris is eager to impress the Cardiff faithful and show Warnock he is worth a regular place in the Cardiff squad.
"The support the manager has given me is exactly what you want as a youngster coming through," he added.
"You always want your manager to have belief and confidence in you.
"I want to prove everyone now that I can play first team football. I want to be playing week in, week out and it is my job now to use the last few games and the upcoming pre-season to prove my abilities to the gaffer and everyone else at Cardiff City."
Mark Harris' remarkable rise during the 2016-17 campaign
July 2016 - Starts the season as a second year apprentice.
August 13, 2016 - A ball boy for the Bluebirds' first-team matches, Harris scores in a 4-3 win for the Under-18s in their opening day clash against Hull, later earning a call-up to the Under-23 development squad.
November 12, 2016 - Scores for Wales Under-19s in their 3-2 win over England in Bangor.
January 8, 2017 - Makes first-team debut in a 2-1 defeat to Fulham in the third round of the FA Cup.
January 10, 2017 - Signs his first professional contract with the Bluebirds, a deal that will see him remain at the club until June 2019.
April 22, 2017 - Makes his first start for the Bluebirds in a 0-0 draw with Wigan.
May 3, 2017 - Gets his own thread on CCMB
