|
CITY TEAMS PREPARE FOR KICK –OFF
As pupils return to school after their long summer break, the Nottingham Schools’ F.A. representative teams will soon begin their 2007-2008 campaign. Last season proved to be an exceptional one for the players and managers of the Nottingham U15 Boys representative side. Against all expectations, the boys managed to reach the semi-final of the English Schools’ Football Association Trophy. In doing so, they had had progressed further than any other Nottingham team since this national competition began in 1904-05 and they justly deserved their nickname of “The History Boys”.
Already the City Team managers are preparing their squads for the new season. In June, almost 100 budding young footballers from Years 4 and 5 in the City’s Primary Schools attended a 3-day coaching course held at South Wilford Primary School. The U11s will once again be run by Steve Behrend and Tony Farrell, while Glynn Hall will be in charge of the Under 11 Girls teams and ex-City Boys’ player, Jonathan Williams, will look after the Under 10 Development squad for a second season.
Chris Ballard and Dave Marlow will be hoping to strengthen their squad of players as they move up to the U15 age group. Last season was a very disappointing one for both players and managers, as the U14 team only recorded three victories from 13 games. However in their final match they showed excellent character to beat local rivals South Notts 6-4 after extra-time to win the County Cup.
Team managers, Mark Gascoine and Jim Hargreaves, assisted by coach, Andrew Palmer will take most of their U13 team through to Under 14 level, while Steve Murray will combine the job of U13 manager with the onerous position of Chairman of Nottingham Schools’ F.A. As U12s, Steve’s squad played some exciting, attacking football and were rewarded by winning the South Yorkshire based Michael Dale Trophy, when they beat Bradford 2-1 in the Final.
Finally Jim Watson, who managed the history making Under 15s last season, will now revert to the Under 12 age group. No doubt he will be hoping to prepare a side, which may eventually win the ESFA Trophy.
The search for players for all of the City representative squads will continue at trials during September at the University’s Highfields Sports Ground. The first inter-association games will start on September 22nd, when Nottingham U15s, 14s and 13s are away to Coventry. The following Saturday sees the first home games of the season, when the City U13s and U12s entertain Halesowen & Stourbridge, while the U11s and U11 Girls will play St. Helens. Meanwhile, The U15s and U14s are once again on their travels to take on their Halesowen & Stourbridge counterparts. |
