2007-08
Grendon Rangers U13 squad finished their 2007/08 season campaign as unbeaten champions of the league. This tremendous success is a tribute to the commitment and skill of each player of the U13s squad who all played their part in this superb achievement.
At every level in football now, it is not about just having a single team, but more a need for a winning squad of players. U13 football is no exception to this and what gives us the most satisfaction is the way that each player in our squad has played a significant, often match changing part. Our league helps to encourage this through the use of rolling substitutions, allowing players to come off and return later in a match, often in different position or within a new formation. We hope we have given everyone the chance to play football as part of the team, and to try different positions where they can and just enjoy playing football.
This approach has seemed to work. I have counted 129 teams in the Witney League which play 11 a-side football. Only 4 teams have managed to go unbeaten through the season – we are one of those 4! Our record of 14 victories and only 2 drawn matches shows just what we have achieved since the end of last year. Scoring 113 goals in a season emphasises that.
Our position at the start of this season was fairly poor. Our team had just been relegated in 2006/07 and, almost inevitably at this age, we had lost a number of players who had been a part of the squad for many years. However I suppose, what has delighted us more than anything, was the desire and enthusiasm amongst the remaining team members. They had an incredible belief to go out, find and welcome new players from friends, schools and just passing comments. The new players joined us, as they will each year, blended quickly into the team and were made to feel valued for the parts that they played.
I believe that the squad that we have now is one of the strongest that we have ever had. The boys enjoy their football and have created a strong and winning squad of players. This year, we are promoted as league champions. I hope that we can take this form in to the U14s league. Most of all though, I hope we take with us the enthusiasm, the skill, the laughs and the jokes which have made this season memorable and I hope that we enjoy our next seasons in the same way. Enjoy your football.
Managers - Keith Beard & Mark Priestley
Training resumed for the new season on Saturday 30th August. Interested players should email
Keith@grendonrangers.co.uk
or
Mark@grendonrangers.co.uk
Witney & District Youth Football League
