The Beautiful Game!

Thursday, 23 August 2007

Today marked the formal end of a fantastic Season for Longhoughton Rangers as our 3 girls teams rounded off their inaugural season with some typically outstanding performances against the strongest of opposition. If anyone has lost faith in football because of the cynical nature of some individuals or perhaps the greed in the professional game, then go and watch the girls play in the Rural Fives and I guarantee you’ll once again realise why football is, indeed, the beautiful game (or ‘Joga Bonito’ as Pele would say).

In April, our U-14 girls made their debut against an incredibly talented and strong Lowick team. Our girls tried their best but came off worse, losing 15-0. Many of them questioned whether football was really for them and if they would continue. However, continue they did and week after week they have trained hard, doing their best to take on board the coaches advice and make positive progress. Today, just 12 weeks later, they played the same outstanding Lowick team. Our young ladies fought for every ball with great determination whilst pulling together as a team to give everything and more. In a fantastic atmosphere, they drew 3-3 in an incredible display of teamwork and old fashioned graft – for them, it really was like winning the FA Cup final. The girls (and their proud parents) were elated and guest manager Rod was doing cartwheels (scary) whilst dreaming of manager of the month. As Adidas says; ‘impossible is nothing’.

Football has so many benefits for our children; exercise and healthy living, discipline and team work, but most of all I believe it teaches them how to cope with disappointment. Life ain’t easy but if you can deal with the bumps in the road and come back stronger then you’ve got a great chance to succeed in anything which life throws at you.

Enough of the footballing gospel according to Paul. It’s been a tremendously enjoyable season in which OUR club has matured from village club to a district centre of football which is held in the highest regard across the county. In writing the Chairman’s annual report for the AGM, I tried to be brief (honest) but the Club has achieved so much that it was impossible. I won’t repeat it all here but please take time to read it at NEWSLETTERS. In season 2006-2007, we’ve gone from 65 kids in 5 teams to 125 kids in 12 teams, supported by some incredibly dedicated coaches and volunteers. On that note, a very well done to our latest Level 1 coaches, Danny Troy, Del Brooks and Rory Lane who rolled back the years on the pitch to successfully complete their course in June. As usual, we also have to say goodbye to several coaches who are moving on due to postings – a huge thank-you to Tony Threlfall, John Wilson and Dave Hoare; best of luck fellas.

Our strength lies in our diversity, from our outstanding U-8s to the U-15s and the girls; all have been superb. I truly believe that no other local Club offers so much and this was recognised by the FA who made us the Northumberland Charter Standard Club of the Year 2007.

Our success has been underpinned by financial support from so many kind individuals and local businesses as well as larger organisations like Alnwick and District Sports Council and the Football Foundation. Whilst we turned over a staggering £35k last season, the incredibly generous support has enabled us to keep costs to parents to an absolute minimum. We are always seeking new avenues for funding so please let me know if you, or perhaps your company, can support us in any way – thanks!

Our strength in depth was most evident at our end of Season Awards and BBQ at RAF Boulmer, when 310 players, parents and friends enjoyed a mini-tournament followed by an exceptional BBQ and awards in glorious sunshine. The Station Commander, Group Captain Jayne Millington, kindly handed out 37 trophies and was most impressed with our Club despite getting sunburnt! It really was a fitting end to an incredible year – thank you for all your positive feedback and also for clubbing together to fund a meal out for myself and the long-suffering Pam, we are both very touched.

As you may be aware, U-14 manager and Club Treasurer Rod Munday has been busy representing the Club on the Longhoughton Village Development Trust (LVDT). They obviously think that he’s done a good job as they’ve just appointed him Chairman! No one at the Club has contributed so much this year across the board - well done Rod (or is it your lordship??!). Rod will be overseeing the continuing efforts to fund and build the all weather, floodlit, astro-turf pitch and the associated community facility with changing rooms, all of which are long overdue. Rod will update all shortly but suffice to say that real progress is being made.

Rod and I have also assisted Nicola Hepworth of the FA and Northumberland Sport to deliver disability football sessions to 7 visiting schools at the recent Ashington Sportsability Festival. It was an exhausting, but fantastically rewarding day of high emotion which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was a truly humbling experience to be amongst so many courageous young boys and girls who are determined to make the best of their lives in the face of extreme adversity. Naturally, we did have some good banter and pointed out to several that supporting Liverpool doesn’t help their street cred but they strongly disagreed and gave us plenty back! Longhoughton has 8 FA qualified, disability football coaches and next season we will be looking to expand to provide further opportunities for disability football in the local area.

We look forward to next season with great optimism. Our accounts are in good order and we have a great bunch of players, coaches, volunteers and parental supporters.

Our entry into the Sunday NABC is a great step forward for the Club and it will be great to see 11 a-side return to the village. The Club will be hosting the Rural Girls League at Lindisfarne under the guidance of girl’s managers Nicky Pennington and Carolyn Cass and their impressive bunch of parental supporters. In the Glendale, we will be entering as many teams as ever to give ALL our players a chance to play competitive football.

It’s undoubtedly going to be another busy season full of high drama, so enjoy the summer (should it arrive). Meanwhile, take a lead from our U-14 girls, be inspired and, most of all, BELIEVE!