Nigel Richard Rees is a Welsh

Welsh people

The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...

 former professional footballer.

Career

A Welsh youth international, Rees began his career as a youth player at Cardiff City

Cardiff City F.C.

Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

, where he was part of the team that reached the 1971 FA Youth Cup

FA Youth Cup

The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...

 final before losing to Arsenal

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

. He was handed his professional debut at the age of 17 in a 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday F.C.

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...

 in 1970 and played in the clubs win over Real Madrid

Real Madrid C.F.

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

, supplying the cross for Brian Clark's

Brian Clark (footballer)

Brian Donald Clark was an English professional footballer. He is probably most famous for scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Cardiff City against Real Madrid in the first leg of the European Cup Winners Cup quarter-final in 1971.-Career:The son of former Bristol City player Don Clark,...

 winning goal. The following season Rees was unable to maintain his form as the club struggled in Division Two

Football League Second Division

From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 and he was eventually released.

After leaving Cardiff, Rees joined Bridgend Town

Bridgend Town F.C.

Bridgend Town F.C. is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League First Division. They are based in Bridgend in south Wales. Historically, their local rivals were Maesteg Park who disbanded in 2009...

 where he spent several years but, despite returning to Ninian Park

Ninian Park

Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...

 for a trial under manager Jimmy Andrews

Jimmy Andrews

Jimmy Andrews is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left winger.-Career:Andrews was signed by English club West Ham United from Dundee in November 1951 for £4,750. He played his first game for the club on 24 November 1951, against Everton. His final game for West Ham came against...

, he never returned to The Football League

The Football League

The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

.