SWANSEA has played its part in unearthing another potential Wales international.

Bradford City midfielder Scott Neilson is hoping to emulate his grandfather — former Swansea and Wales great Cliff Jones — by going on to win national honours.

Enfield-born Neilson, who won schoolboy caps for Wales, has just been given the green light to play for the Dragons following confirmation from the FAW of his eligibility.

And he's delighted to have the chance to go on and play at the same stage as former Spurs hero Jones, who won 59 caps and played for Wales in the 1958 World Cup.

Eligible

"It is great to know I am eligible to play Wales," said Neilson, whose mother Amanda also hails from Swansea.

"My granddad has told me a lot of stories of playing for Swansea and Wales, and I'd love to get the chance to play at the Millennium Stadium with a great bunch of players.

"My granddad and mother are very proud of being Welsh and of their Swansea roots.

"As a young boy we would go to Swansea to meet parts of the family and we had a great time there.

"It would not only be my dream to win caps for Wales, but it would be my mother's and granddad's too."

Neilson's story is of fairytale proportions.

Three years ago he wasn't even playing football, rather working five days a week as a plumber.

But after returning to the game with Isthmian League division one north side Ware, the 22-year-old right-midfielder signed for Conference South outfit Cambridge City.

And his meteoric rise continued as he signed a three-year deal for League Two side Bradford last August.

"It's been a mad couple of years," said Neilson, who started his career at Charlton. "One minute I'm a plumber and the next I'm a League Two footballer who's told he is eligible to play for Wales.

"I hadn't thought about Wales before my team-mate at Bradford, Mike Flynn — who is Welsh — told me to follow it up.

Opportunity

"I did and now I have an opportunity to push myself on to another level and work under John Toshack, who is an excellent manager.

"I won't get ahead of myself, though, I know I have a lot to do before that happens.

"I need to establish myself as a League Two player and at Bradford before anything happens.

"It would be a huge achievement, though. I realise I was fortunate to get this chance as at one time my career was totally heading in the wrong direction.

"But if I can go on and play for Wales then that would be the ultimate achievement for me."