Under 11s Royals Manager: Chris Hall
Team Photograph from early in the season courtesy of Paul and Tracey Doran
Under 11’s Royals - Highlights of the season so far
U11’s Royals started with 10 players in the squad (all of whom had played for an Ashridge team last season) and a new manager. The team enjoyed a pre-season tournament at Sandhurst and then a pre-season friendly at King George’s Park v Ashridge Park U 11s played in very hot weather and for 1 hour for the first time.
First home match at Cantley – the new match ball was punctured by a distant spectator attempting to return the ball, but it ended up in the thorny hedge!
Both Plate matches were played away and the team lost 4 – 1 to a team from the 3 rd Division and then just lost the second. In the League, against AFC Crowthorne Ravens, the team showed they could protect the ball and pass intelligently to their own players and won 8-0. In a later match the Royals played in the new kit for the first time in October and can be proud of the way they represent the club, despite being in the middle of the Division league table.
All the players have improved since last season as well as showing outstanding stamina and fitness during the second halves, and both goalkeepers have played some outstanding matches in and out of goal! They are the only two players to have appeared in every match so far.
Just after Christmas, two players decided to leave (one on transfer to the Ashridge Park U11 team to keep their numbers up, and one who has ‘retired’ from football. A former player re-registered and has returned to the team after a season’s lay-off. Every player is given equal opportunity to be team captain, and they have all had approximately the same time on the pitch by rotation.
Training has been undertaken this season (6pm Tuesdays at Cantley) following FA and club guidelines with help from Garry Sinclair at the start of the season (the manager is now FA level 1 qualified, and is always ready to accept help in training). Assistance with running the line has also been received from both Dads and Mums!
