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Issue 23 - Newsletter – May 2008
FAREWELL
The club would like to say farewell to one of our U11’s players, Kai Ellis. Kai will be leaving Lower Beeding Lions, and the country, to start a new life abroad with his family in Australia. We would also like to say a big thank you to Mick, Kai’s Dad, who has been such a great help assisting with training sessions.
The Under 9's also have a lad leaving for Australia - Harrison Gould. Thank you very much also, to his Father, Malcolm, who helped out with training.
We wish them all lots of luck for the future and hope they enjoy their time there. They will be missed.
REGISTRATIONS REMINDER!
We are still waiting for quite a few registrations to be returned.
If you wish to register your child for next season, please print off the attached form and fill in and return with your payment, either to your coach or send directly to the registration secretary – Gill Woodlock. The address is on the form. We would really appreciate if you could endeavour to get the forms returned as soon as possible please, in order to help us with the time consuming registration process.
After much discussion the coaches and committee concluded that it was necessary to increase the membership fees for the coming season. They will now be £70 per child, with a £15 reduction for siblings. If anyone has difficulty in paying, please contact our registration secretary, Gill. Please note we can only accept cheques or cash.
PHOTO’S
Please visit our website www.lowerbeedinglions.co.uk and click on the
photo gallery to view recent photo’s of our award winning U11’s team.
They are pictured receiving the League sportsmanship award and U11’s B Division winner’s title at Broadbridge Heath.
Are any of you handy with a digital camera?
We would like you to take some photos of all the age groups at the forthcoming Awards Day
on Sat 28th June.
The best ones will be selected and featured on our website.
AWARDS DAY – Sat June 28th
Please note that Phil Keen will be running a ‘Bring and Buy’ football boot sale on the morning of the Awards Day, where you will be able to bring along outgrown football boots and have the chance to buy second hand ones as well. A great way to recycle and save money. You can bring along boots on the day or give to Phil beforehand. PLEASE ensure they are clean! For more info e-mail Phil - phil.Keen@amec.com
Please read below some of the team’s end of season reports...more to follow next month!
Well done to all the teams and good luck for next season!
END OF SEASON REPORTS
2007/08 Season
Under 15's Division B
This was always going to be a tough season for the U15’s with a number of the teams in the league looking stronger than in previous seasons.
The Lions unfortunately started very slowly losing all our games before Christmas, with the exception of a hard fought point at home to fellow strugglers West Chiltington.
A very good 6-2 win in January, against East Grinstead, set up a quarter final match against Greenway in the U15 plate competition. The match was played on 02.02 2008 and was a very tight affair and one that we should almost certainly have won. Our inability yet again to put the ball in the net at crucial times cost us dearly with a late goal for Greenway winning the match. Greenway eventually got to the final of this competition and watching the game I still firmly believe that it should have been us.
There followed a much improved period of play which lead to several of our best performances of the season.
Having picked up several new players in December, we started to play much more as a team and our results showed it.
Having beaten West Chiltington 3-0 and drawing with Maidenbower 2-2 we then lost to the eventual winners of the league, Copthorne 4-1. Not only was our second half performance impressive in that match but we also received much praise from the official in that game also. An e- mail was sent to our Club Secretary, James Woodlock, commending the U15's Lions for their behaviour and good team spirit. It was good to receive a positive comment and it is always nice to receive plaudits in this way.
The season ended positively with two very hard fought draws against Dorkinians. On both occasions the Opposition equalised with the very last kick of the match.
And so the season ended with relegation, but nevertheless much to look forward to next and final youth season in the U16s.
A number of new players have fitted in very well and our second half of the season proved that we were capable of coping well with most of the sides in the league.
Our main aim for 2008/2009 will be to find a striker who is capable of scoring 20 goals in a season, as this was a key problem as can be seen from the league table.
Thanks as always to my trusted and enthusiastic helpers, Paul Reeves and Pete Mowatt, who without their assistance, I would not be able to survive. Paul is a qualified referee who takes all home games without argument, whilst also assisting with training, whilst Pete takes midweek training with me and also runs the line during matches. They do all this for the love of the game and they are without doubt great to work with.
Thanks also goes to all the players. They are a great bunch of lads and whilst it does not always appear to be the case, I enjoy working with them. I look forward to our final season in 2008/2009 and am confident of better things from the lads. A trophy would be great but at the end of the day the main aim is improvement and enjoyment.
Roy Wicking - U15's Coach
Under 10's Mini - Soccer
Due to the numbers of boys we had in the squad and a wider than usual spread of ages at the start of the season, we had a re-structure of the U 9’s and U 10’s and decided it would be best to split the squad, with the older ones playing at U/10 and the youngest ones remaining in the U/9 age group to help their development against players of their own age.
Paul Daymond remained as Under 9’s coach, as his son Harry was still eligible for this age group, which left me on the hunt for a number two.
Luckily for us this co-incided with the break-up of the Partridge Green team. We were able to recruit six boys from there. George Comber, a specialist keeper who has been outstanding all season, two defenders, Ben O’Brien and Nathan Kennell, and three forwards, Matt Collier, Daniel Bucher and Alex Crane. This complimented the remaining nine boys in our squad.
Paul Dollner came on board as joint manager and brought his son Elliott, who added some steel strength to our midfield.
We had a squad of sixteen which was ideal to ensure most weeks all the boys played at least one match.
After a few good training sessions where all the boys gelled really well and we got to know all the new lads, we were confident that we would have good season.
We started the season away at Royal Utd where we romped home to an 8-0 victory.
The added strength and size of our new players was evident. Some of the football played was very good with the boys building a really good understanding of each other’s play. The boys were learning to beat a player and then pass to a man in space instead of trying to beat another man.
Our season really started to get going just before Xmas when we beat Hurst Colts convincingly at home, 2-0.
The next game, at home, to Storrington, we were trailing 3-0 at half-time. However, the boys came out for the second half absolutely flying. They fought for every ball and their passing and movement really came to the fore. Goals by Samuel (2) Nathan and Matt gave us a fantastic victory and the boy’s real belief that they could keep going and battle for a result against the odds. This gave them a real boost of confidence and we won five out of the next six games going in to March. This left us with two to play.
We had a really tight game against against Greenway which we drew 1-1. The high point of the day was watching the second game, where the boys passed the ball as well as at any time during the season. Luke scored four fantastic goals, with Alex playing some lovely passes through the defence, and James was everywhere in midfield.
The final game was away at Chesworth. Although we lost, the boys put up a good show and really stepped up when the game became a bit physical. This is a part of the game where they really improved. Nathan and Matt, in particular were a big help with their competitive natures.
We are looking forward to next season and the step up to 11 a side. We have played a friendly against Henfield and they looked very comfortable with the step-up.
Paul Rogers U10’s Coach
Under 9's Mini - Soccer
After splitting those that were playing up into their own age group, we only had eight players for the U9's opening match of the season against Southwater.
Undaunted the brave lions pulled of the shock of the season and came away 1-0 winners.
A few training sessions later saw players appearing from everywhere and before long the numbers swelled, in the end resulting in having to create a waiting list!
Had it not been for a slightly bad run against the top sides on the run up to Christmas, we would surely have finished second if not top with the New Year, only seeing us lose once against our bogey team Greenway; however on another day I reckon we could have them too!
Both teams did extremely well with A picking up 32 points, 10 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses and a +14 Goal difference and B, 28 points, 9 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses but 54 goals for. In total we scored 90 goals which backs up our Kegan-esque attacking play but we only conceded 49 goals!
My favourite moment has to be beating Hurstpierpoint.
They narrowly beat us 4-3, but to turn them over 3-1 was fantastic, especially as they pitched up with five, yes five coaches and all the gear!
Let’s build on these beginnings next season, but remember, if we have made promotion, it’s going to be just a bit tougher!
Paul Daymond U9’s Coach
Under 7’s Mini-Soccer
Friendly Matches
Played 5 Won 3, Lost 1, Drew 1, Goals for 18 against 13
Tournament
Played 5, Won 3, Lost 0, Drew 2, Goals for 10 Against 2
Having experienced some personal successes in the higher age group, the fledgling under 7’s began matches in their own right this season and started very well.
A first game against a very strong Royal United ended 3-3, followed by a win and a defeat against Steyning Strikers 5-4 and 1-3. Then a double victory at Henfield 5-1 and 4-2.
On to their first ever tournament and they emerged unbeaten with 3 wins and 2 draws from their games. They passed both the footballing and the physical tests with flying colours being both good with the ball and brave.
In Finn and Bruno we have a blossoming partnership that has already scored 22 goals between them in 10 games!! They are both quick and talented, and if they learn to feed each other, will be unstoppable. Josh is outstanding and improves all the time in defence and has started organising well. Ellie is brave, has an unbelievably good throw and good ability. Lucas is a great goalkeeper and useful outfield player. Dan is a great keeper and improving outfield player. Archie is a great passer and ball carrier. Harry a great battler. New boys Elliott and Max will be good additions if they continue to come and we have another couple of boys ready to start.
Four aims for next season:
1. To encourage team spirit, as few of the team go to the same school or mix with the same crowd and encourage them to enjoy themselves even more
2. To get every squad player comfortable with the ball in controlling, passing, dribbling and shooting
3. To continue to progress from the swarm formation and continue a fluent passing style of play!
4. To score LOADS of goals!
Luke Aldrich U7’s Coach
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