Last year we completely transformed the way we organised club, setting up 5 coaching groups on a Saturday morning, providing mid-week coaching for interested adults, establishing a weekly club night for practice and opening club on 3 nights throughout the Summer, including holidays.
I believe that we are seeing the impact of our coaching and practice sessions in the performances we are obtaining from our membership.
Pride of place must go to our A team. Last season, I waxed lyrical about the fact that our first team would not be relegated. Tom Brocklehurst, Deepak Chandrababu, Luke Hobbins, Hugh Matthews and Chris Mulligan have taken a giant leap forward at the beginning of this campaign, such that we are looking for a top half finish. The team has already beaten St.Georges D 9-1 and WCC B 8-2 and confidence is sky high.
Our B team has had a setback in that Tom Hunt has been sidelined. We transferred Scott Delday to join Luke Spencer and Michael Ho and he has already claimed the scalp of League legend, Brian Aston. Luke, meanwhile, heaped great credit on our club by winning the under 15 and 18 events at the Cirencester 1-star.
The C team, now deprived of Scott, has struggled a little. However, Cherry Matthews has proved that the second division holds no fears winning over 40% of her matches. Anthony Smith has also had some decent wins and with Julie Richardson, whom we are delighted to welcome back to club after a considerable lay-off, expected to recapture her old levels, the future could be bright.
In the third division, our D team of new-boy Stuart Dalrymple, John Taylor, Mandy Thomas and another new-boy, Kim Wong , have made an excellent start, winning their first two matches, a testimony to their pre-season training! Our E team of Chris Beckett, Lleryn Brocklehurst, Pete Rourke and Russell Spencer were unexpectedly thrown in to the third division by the League but are fighting well. Lleryn has had some fine wins at this new level and it will be a great experience for 15 year old Chris, who is showing his potential.
We put 4 new teams in the fourth division, just to gain experience. The F team of Solomon Hayes, Roald Myers, Troy Pierce and Theo Rutter are equipping themselves the best and currently lie third. They should be joined by the H side, for whom the experienced Adam Cooper has made a real difference, being undefeated as I write. Ben Haigh, Ben King and Charlie Snelson have responded well to Adam’s leadership.
The X team of Lincoln Liburd, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Caroline Nicholls are all new to club. Lincoln and Jordan have come to us from Eathorpe, after taking a year out and ex-Hertfordshire junior Caroline has joined us after 8 years out of the sport. Caroline has been so enthusiastic, practising regularly and playing in all of our club tournaments. Jordan has joined our coaching sessions and Dad Lincoln has won over half of his games so I am sure they will get better and better as the season progresses. They are all great assets to our club.
Our other team in this division is the G team. Angela John, returning to the sport after 20 years, Jessica Campion, Lauren Delday and Lindy Myers have all taken the giant step of moving from division B to 4, a big ask. Angela shows an eagerness to reach her former heights, Lindy is one of the club’s most avid practisers and Jess and Lauren have really impressed their coaches on Saturdays. If they maintain their enthusiasm, they will end the season as much better players.
The I team of Keith Knott and Tony Williams look to be heading for a mid-table slot in Division A with averages of 50% and 66% respectively.
FC J top division B with 11 year old Timmy Cooper on 100%. Jack Leggatt and David Marguerie are the others with their sights set on the title. FC L sit second with Kris Reiman, whose Summer practising is really paying off, Simon Cooper and James Payne adapting well to life at a higher level. Not to be outdone, the K side are third and Matthew Flood, Anita Whitehouse and Estyn Williams could yet challenge for promotion.
In the C division, FC M have been promoted from the E division by the League and are on a learning curve. Harry Keen (on 50%), Luke and Paul Watkins will no doubt benefit from the experience and put it to good use after Christmas.
Two of our sides are challenging for promotion in division D. The N side of unbeaten newcomer, Harry Purewal, Andrew McIlvaney and Tom Sharpe have relished the challenge of the higher standard and are putting the skills learnt in coaching sessions to good use. FC O’s Callum Guest and Sam Wiggins are not far behind them in third. Callum, after a quiet start, has suddenly found the confidence to play his attacking shots, reaping the reward of some fine wins. Sam, who only started last January, has been a revelation and enjoys a 60% average.
The P side of young Olivia and Tom Fletcher and newcomer Tom Meldrum, are showing their tremendous potential every week and should stay up.
Our teams occupy the first four spots in division E. The Q side of James Foster, Matthew Scott and Jay Virdi are showing what just a little experience can do and dominate the division. All three are unrecognisable from the players who started in the League in January. The R side of newcomers Lee Dorning and Joe Hunt, who are benefiting from the experience of Jeremy Knott, sit second. FC S (Daniel Shaw, Dudley Turner and Sundeep Virdi, all newcomers) are third and are showing how much they have learnt in coaching as are fourth placed FC T in the shape of Ben Farmer, James Robertson and Kit Turner. All are exciting prospects.
Phil
