Rhys Weston

Arsenal

Weston played for Arsenal as a youth player, before he made his senior debut in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 30 November 1999, Arsène Wenger bringing him on at half time to replace Oleh Luzhny. Also making his debut for Arsenal that day was Ashley Cole. His first start came on 14 May 2000 at St James' Park, he was taken off for fellow youngster Brian McGovern after 67 minutes – Newcastle United finished 4–2 winners. It was the final league game of the season and neither side had anything to play for other than pride. It was to be his only top flight appearance in English football. His first and only senior game at Highbury came on 1 November 2000, in a 2–1 defeat to Ipswich Town in the League Cup third round. He was taken off to give Lee Canoville his debut on 74 minutes.

Cardiff City

Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam saw Weston's potential and signed him for £300,000 in November 2000. The Welsh club were then in the basement division and had strong promotion ambitions. Weston made his Ninian Park debut on 22 November, Cardiff coming from behind to beat Lincoln City 3–2. He settled into the first team well and played another 31 games that season as the club finished second behind Brighton & Hove Albion.

The "Bluebirds" hopes of back-to-back promotions were ended by Stoke City in the play-offs in 2001–02. Weston played 43 games that season, also picking up eight cautions along the way. At the season's end he signed a long-term contract with the club. Cardiff managed to break out of the Second Division in 2002–03 via a 1–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the play-off final. Weston picked up ten yellow cards that season, but also scored his first senior goal on 26 October with a last minute effort of a 4–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers. Weston and Cardiff adapted well to life in the First Division, though he played only 24 league games during the 2003–04 campaign. The defender remained upbeat throughout the campaign. His season was hampered by a knee injury in October 2003, which required surgery. In March 2004 he then damaged the cartilage in his other knee.

In the 2004–05 season, the first season of the Football League Championship, he played 25 games. In April 2005 he suffered an ankle injury which sidelined him for the rest of the season. At the end of the season Weston was one of five players who took "substantial reductions in their wages" (20%) in order to pave the way for the arrival of Darren Purse. This was the beginning of the end of his career with the "Bluebirds", as new manager Dave Jones did not rate Weston. Jones told him he was transfer-listed, though no offers came for the full-back. In the 2005–06 season Weston hit 30 league games – this was in part due to some defensive departures from the previous season. He also revisited Highbury in an FA Cup encounter on 7 January, though the "Gunners" ran out 2–1 winners thanks to a brace from Robert Pirès. In July 2006 he was left out of the club's pre-season tour of Canada. Cardiff were consistently finished in mid-table, though Weston's time at Cardiff was limited and he played his final game for the club on 22 August 2006, in a 2–0 defeat by League Two Barnet with Trésor Kandol scoring both goals. Weston was replaced by youngster Darcy Blake at half time. Weston was released at the end of the month and joined top Norwegian side Viking in the Tippeligaen on a short-term deal.

Viking FK and Port Vale

His only match with the Stavanger-based club lasted just twelve minutes, as Weston dislocated his shoulder and was taken off. With the Viking manager sacked just four days after Weston's arrival, the incoming manager did not speak English, and so did not offer Weston a contract. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Dave Jones refused to let him train with Cardiff, and so he instead began training with Yeovil Town.

Weston signed with League One side Port Vale in February 2007 after a period on trial, signing a contract that paid four times less than the contract he was on at Cardiff. He played fifteen games under Martin Foyle before being released at the end of the season. Foyle had told him he wanted a more attacking full-back, though would go on to tell a BBC interviewer that Weston's "attitude was wrong". Weston believed the real reason was down to money.

Walsall

Weston was signed by Walsall, also of League One, on 16 July 2007. He made his debut for the club on 18 August in 1–0 defeat at Leyton Orient. Weston played in fifty games in 2007–08 before penning a new two-year deal in March. On 20 September 2008, he was sent off for the first time in his career. The match was a bad tempered affair at Brighton's Withdean Stadium, Weston was dismissed after 15 minutes and was followed by teammate Netan Sansara on 33 minutes, despite this a 44th minute Dwayne Mattis header earned the "Saddlers" a 1–0 win. Weston played 31 games that season and scored the third goal of his career on Boxing Day, a 64th-minute winner against Stockport County at the Bescot Stadium. He made thirty appearances in the 2009–10 season, before manager Chris Hutchings decided against offering him a fresh contract at the end of the season.

Dundee

In July 2010, Weston signed a one-year contract with Dundee, following a trial with Motherwell. He made 32 appearances in his first season in Scotland in which Dundee would have finished just one point short of the First Division champions, Dunfermline Athletic, but instead finished in sixth place following a 25-point deduction for entering administration. Despite reported interest from Scottish Premier League sides, he signed a new one-year deal at the end of the season. He was appointed as captain for the start of the 2011–12 season by manager Barry Smith. He led the "Dark Blues" to a second-place finish, as Ross County ran away with the title, before leaving Dens Park in May.

KR Reykjavík and Sabah FA

Weston signed with Rúnar Kristinsson's Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur on a two-year deal in May 2012. The Icelandic club were aiming to retain their Úrvalsdeild title in 2012. In August 2012, Weston announced that due to financial circumstances at the club, he was in discussion for terms to cancel his contract. In October 2012, he signed with Malaysian club Sabah FA.

AFC Wimbledon

In July 2013, Weston went on trial with League Two side AFC Wimbledon, and scored a goal in the "Dons" first friendly of the 2013–14 season, a 2–2 draw with Conference side Dartford at Princes Park on 6 July. He played the full ninety minutes in the "Dons" next friendly, a 2–0 win over Northern Premier League Premier Division side F.C. United of Manchester at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on 13 July. Weston came on as a second-half substitute in AFC Wimbledon's third pre–season game of the 2013–14 season, a 1–1 home draw against Championship side Charlton Athletic on 18 July. Three days later, Weston made his fourth friendly appearance for "The Dons" and played the full match as they beat Isthmian League Division One South side Walton Casuals 1–0 away at Waterside Stadium. Weston played in the "Dons" final pre–season game of the 2013–14 season, a 3–0 defeat to Italian Lega Pro Seconda Divisione/A side S.S.D. Monza 1912 at the Stadio Brianteo on 27 July 2013. Following Weston playing in all but one of the "Dons" pre–season games, manager Neal Ardley revealed he was hoping to sign Weston to a deal with AFC Wimbledon and on 7 August 2013, AFC Wimbledon confirmed the signing of Weston with Ardley praising Weston’s desire to earn a contract with his dedication to the cause during pre–season.

On 6 January 2014, Weston joined Conference South side Sutton United on a one-month loan. He played six games during his stay at Gander Green Lane. He did not feature for Wimbledon in the second half of the season and was not offered a new contract in the summer.

International career

Weston won seven caps for Wales between 2000 and 2005 and also won at least four caps for the under-21 side. Born in England, he qualified for Wales due to his father being born in South Wales. His first senior cap came against Portugal on 2 June 2000, with Wales recording a 3–0 loss. He was a late substitute for Gareth Roberts.

Weston then went into an under-21 side that fared poorly in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The Welsh team drew one and lost nine, Weston played in four of these games. On 1 September he played in a 4–1 defeat to Belarus. On 6 October he played in a 2–0 defeat to Norway, four days later he played in a 2–1 defeat to Poland. On 23 March 2001, he was part of a Wales side that lost 1–0 to Armenia.

His next call-up for the senior team was for a friendly with Croatia on 21 August 2002. He was a 60th-minute substitute for Darren Barnard, the game finished 1–1. He earned three caps in the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying group stage. He played the last 20 minutes of a 2–0 win over Azerbaijan on 20 November 2002, coming on for Mark Delaney. His first senior start came on 12 February 2003, a 2–2 draw with Serbia and Montenegro, he played 60 minutes before being substituted for Matthew Jones. He also played in the 10 September 2003 game with Finland; 72 minutes into the Finland game he was taken off for Andy Johnson and watched from the bench as the game finished 1–1, the draw was enough to book Wales a play–off match against Russia.

His last game for Wales was also John Toshack's first game as manager. Toshack brought Weston on for Rob Edwards after 49 minutes in a 2–0 win over Hungary on 9 February 2005. Toshack also called him into the squad for a November 2005 friendly with Cyprus, though Weston did not make it onto the pitch. His final international call–up was on 1 March 2006 in a goalless draw with Paraguay, in which Weston remained on the bench.

Honours