Awards, coaches, day out etc.....

Phew! I’m feeling pretty breathless after a fantastic few weeks at the Club. The big news, of course, is the huge award from the Football Foundation which, combined with the Alnwick and District Sports Council Award, provides a massive £10,000 over the next 3 years for Club development. Amazingly, it was less than 2 months from thinking about a submission to getting the grant; I must congratulate the Foundation on the efficiency of their application and assessment process.

A lot of people have asked why us? Quite simply, our Club has shown that we are extremely organised with high standards of coaching, administration and child protection. This is summed up in our FA Charter Status which only 10% of Clubs in England have achieved. The funding bodies have limited amounts of money and the bottom line is that they will only fund Clubs which they believe can deliver increased participation in a well structured environment. To our credit we have shown that we can indeed deliver the highest quality experience for all; and every coach, player and parent should be proud that we are held in such high esteem both locally and nationally.

On that note, the Club was nominated for several awards at the annual Alnwick and District Sports Council (ADSC) awards held in the Playhouse last night. Pete Troy’s superb double-double winning U-12s from last year were nominated as Junior Team of the Year and, somewhat embarrassingly, I was up for Coach of the Year (actually it was an honour - thanks Rebecca Gillon!). Whilst we didn’t win this year, it was very gratifying to hear us described as one of the most organised and successful sports clubs in the area. Apart from that, some of our players were present to receive a giant cheque for our recently awarded ADSC grant and they got to meet Peter ‘one dart’ Manley and the world champion Mr Universe, Steph Sinton. To stop Mr Universe having any feelings of inadequacy, Rod Munday kindly agreed to keep his Longhoughton jacket on!!

That gives me a nice link to the jackets. 108 jackets arrived safely at my house last week and Pam battled (thanks again Pam!) all day to sort them into teams and check the details. All were correct and I think everyone agrees how fantastic the kids (and dare I say us rather suave coaches?!!) look. Indeed, the Parish Council have commented on how well we promote our Club as they’ve seen seemingly hundreds of kids in their jackets around the area. I will be putting a second order in sometime soon, primarily to cater for our new girls but also for anyone else who missed ordering the first time around.

As usual we’ve been working closely with the FA on a number of issues. Rod, Kirby and I recently attended a meeting at which our Club was asked to deliver training in Alnwick Middle Schools in association with the FA. Again, I’m delighted that they’ve asked our Club and we should be delivering the first of four sessions for girls in April, with sessions for boys possibly following soon after.

Well done to the 4 coaches who passed their Level 1 at Hirst in Ashington. The level of commitment of all our volunteers is outstanding and particularly heart-warming in these days of what seems relentless bad news. I will single out Rod Munday, our U-14 Lasers manager and suitably tight-fisted treasurer, for a special mention. Rod has been putting a huge amount of time into assisting the Village Development Trust in preparing the way for the planned village all-weather training facility. Things are moving very quickly and I’m pleased that, largely as a result of Rod’s contribution, third generation astro-turf is now the preferred option. For those who haven’t seen it, it is like grass; it doesn’t burn the skin like the older type and you can even play in blades on it. More detail in the future.

Sponsored penalties are now well underway and, as mentioned in Hot News, we cannot be complacent about funding. Please get your money in by 17 March so that we can pay for much needed equipment and other extras like the buses for the Newcastle Trips for both the U-8s and the older players. We will then announce the top fund raisers and dish out the prizes and ball boy places. Thanks!!!

Last weekend, the Club coaches hosted our exceedingly generous sponsors at a curry evening in the Boulmer Sergeants Mess to thank them for their outstanding financial support which this year has amounted to an amazing £2500!!! Also present was long-term Club supporter, Mark Woodall from the FA and local Parish Councillors, Stephen Marker and Donna Freeman who are working hard to secure the all-weather training facility. All had a great time - secure your invite to next year’s event by sponsoring the Club through your own business or badgering your employer to do likewise!!

Despite the lull in the Glendale due to the half-term break there has still been lots of football going on. Thanks to Bob Pattinson who organised a mini-competition in association with Bamburgh for some of the Leagues U-10 teams. Our two U-12 teams had a mini 5 a-side tournament in the sports hall today where it was really gratifying to see the progress being made by the Spitfires who I don’t get to see very often. Highlight for me though was seeing 11 a-side football return to the Longhoughton pitch, where Rod’s Lasers (supplemented by 3 Old Boys) played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Alnwick in heavy conditions (just like a good old fashioned FA cup tie).......great stuff and a sign of things to come!!

All that remains is to wish all teams luck in the forthcoming cup competition.

Enjoy your football!!

Paul and all the team at Longhoughton.