sniffer66
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I know this forum focuses mainly on the Prem but hopefully this will hit a few notes with some of the dads on here - and I'm so proud I feel like sharing
My lad is 12 and a keeper. He is pretty decent and plays at somewhere just below academy level, though his height is always going to be an issue. He wasnt happy at his old club so moved to another local team and they put a Saturday team into the East Berkshire league in Div 2 (Div 1 is the highest) so he is in the equivalent of the Championship. The boys play on intermediate pitches, 9 a side
To cut a long story short they played a blinder for the whole season, losing only 2 games, drawing none and winning their division last week.
They also made it through to the final of the League Cup after a few hard battles with teams in the Division above. On Saturday the final was played against Binfield who won the Div 1 (Prem) at a canter, only losing one game all season.
They fought every ball and battled non stop for the whole 60 minutes and ended up 2-0 winners to take the cup. My son had another blinder in goal, keeping a clean sheet and stopping everything that came near him
So, Division Winners and League Cup holders in first season together. People talk about kids in this country playing kick and rush, long ball football but everything is played along the ground, to feet, one touch, look up and pass. And most of the other teams we have played do the same. Its just passing triangles all over the pitch. So they even did it the "right" way
I don't get the chance to go to many pro games these days as I just don't have the time and money due to the kids costs but I take him to games and training 4-5 days a week, often getting up at the crack of dawn or racing home from work and going without eating, cleaning boots and acting as a glorified trainer, physio and boot cleaner. I spend a fortune on boots, gloves and kit as the little bugger grows out of everything every few months. I reckon I've done at least a £1.5k in fees, petrol and other costs this season. He has had some injuries as well as he is a brave little sod and often ends up at feet with a boot in the face
But do you know, its all completely worth it when you get to stand and look at pics like this at the end of a season.
I've included some stat links as well if anyone is interested. He has 9 clean sheets out of 20 games, keeping the team in some games we only won by a goal. He was also MoM 4 times, more than any other player. Not bad for a keeper
Its easy to get caught up in the money game, the glamour and everything that goes with that but the grass roots stuff is also what its all about
East Berks Football Alliance
U12 Elm Grove Colts Saturns
My lad is 12 and a keeper. He is pretty decent and plays at somewhere just below academy level, though his height is always going to be an issue. He wasnt happy at his old club so moved to another local team and they put a Saturday team into the East Berkshire league in Div 2 (Div 1 is the highest) so he is in the equivalent of the Championship. The boys play on intermediate pitches, 9 a side
To cut a long story short they played a blinder for the whole season, losing only 2 games, drawing none and winning their division last week.
They also made it through to the final of the League Cup after a few hard battles with teams in the Division above. On Saturday the final was played against Binfield who won the Div 1 (Prem) at a canter, only losing one game all season.
They fought every ball and battled non stop for the whole 60 minutes and ended up 2-0 winners to take the cup. My son had another blinder in goal, keeping a clean sheet and stopping everything that came near him
So, Division Winners and League Cup holders in first season together. People talk about kids in this country playing kick and rush, long ball football but everything is played along the ground, to feet, one touch, look up and pass. And most of the other teams we have played do the same. Its just passing triangles all over the pitch. So they even did it the "right" way
I don't get the chance to go to many pro games these days as I just don't have the time and money due to the kids costs but I take him to games and training 4-5 days a week, often getting up at the crack of dawn or racing home from work and going without eating, cleaning boots and acting as a glorified trainer, physio and boot cleaner. I spend a fortune on boots, gloves and kit as the little bugger grows out of everything every few months. I reckon I've done at least a £1.5k in fees, petrol and other costs this season. He has had some injuries as well as he is a brave little sod and often ends up at feet with a boot in the face
But do you know, its all completely worth it when you get to stand and look at pics like this at the end of a season.
I've included some stat links as well if anyone is interested. He has 9 clean sheets out of 20 games, keeping the team in some games we only won by a goal. He was also MoM 4 times, more than any other player. Not bad for a keeper
Its easy to get caught up in the money game, the glamour and everything that goes with that but the grass roots stuff is also what its all about
East Berks Football Alliance
U12 Elm Grove Colts Saturns
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