Training Game at Home Against Buckhurst Hill

Before I get into the news regarding today's friendly training games we have a great picture of all the of Forest Glade Under 6 players from Team GMB, Serendipity and Sigma Broking wearing their respective kits. This will surely be one for the future scrap book collections.

 



Great picture of the FG U6's Teams GMB, Serendipity and Sigma Broking.


 

So today we had all 3 teams playing at home against Buckhurst Hill Football Club.Apologies for slight delay getting started however I visiting team had some unexpected traffic difficulties. In the end this worked in a favour as it meant all 3 teams could play in parallel and they could play full 40 min matches rather than the original plan for just 30 mins. This blog will mostly focus on the team GMB match as I could not be at all 3 games simultaneously. However I know there are pictures from the other matches which will follow shortly.

 

Anyway, overall I think all 3 teams were tested a little bit more than last weeks away games at Upminster. Today we ended up with 2 good wins and 1 loss. Team GMB played outstanding and were really coming together as a cohesive unit, so much so that it almost seemed unfair to pick a single player for Man of the Match. The game had everything from good tackles, great runs, super goals, strings of passes, positional awareness, forward runs, solid goal keeping and so on. Within the team we seemed to have 3 clear players that fitted into a defencive role and 3 that fitted into a midfield/attacking role, then Reily who was an absolute rock in goal. On the negative side our defence was often caught playing too far up field leaving us open for the counter. It was a pleasure to watch this team working together today.

 



Joshua, Ben and Darcy formed the strike force for Team GMB and run back to then own half celebrating an early lead.

 

Mantos was solid in defence and provided multiple challenges and clearances today.

Reily was an absolute Rock in goal today and made some good saves.

Owen organising the team and FG prepare to defend against a corner.

Great action shot of Jamie who was playing very good in defence today but was not afraid to run with the ball either.

Darcy certainly had her fair share of ball time today and was on a mission to score as many goals as possible.

Darcy and Owen get ready for a centre kick-off.

Jamie and Owen holding the back line whilst Joshua and Darcy wait for them to feed the ball through.

Joshua scored a hatrick today but was also making some great defencive runs back when required and then out muscling the opposition.

Ben has settled into a striker role for Team GMB and made plenty of good runs today plus scoring for Team GMB.

3 cheers from Forest Glade at the end of a very entertaining match.

Like I said earlier it was tough to pick the MOTM from Team GMB today and it almost seemed cruel to only give out one medal. However after a brief discussions between the coaches and some of the parents it was agreed that this weeks MOTM was Reily for his great performance in goal. A really good weekend of football for Reily what with picking up the trainer of the week trophy yesterday and the MOTM medal today. 

Reily wins the MOTM medal for Team GBM today.

Pictures and reports from the other two training matches will hopefully follow shortly. However the MOTM medals from these two games went to Charlie and Sam. Well done boys. 

Charlie striking a pose as he shows us his MOTM medal.

A proud Dad poses with Sam and his MOTM medal.

Player of the Week 15th March 2014

Good training session today. For a moment it looked like we were in for a beautiful spring morning, however Barleylands never seems to disappoint with those bitter cross winds. 

 

The Under 6's group photo being encouraged to pull funny faces by head coach, Stuart.

Well done to this weeks Players of the Week who all did outstanding in training today. Keep it up in tomorrow's training games boys. 

Player of the Week 15th March 2014 L-R : Reily, George and Alex.

Coaches Profile : Steve Cross

For the second of our coaches profiles we get to know coach Steve Cross.



Leave a comment if you think you can spot a young Steve Cross in this picture?

Name : Steve Cross

Age : 35

Birth town :  Wisbech

Profession : Detective for Essex Police

Family : Married to Zoey Cross two children Lily and Ellis

What football team do you support?: Liverpool

Football background: Started playing football when I was 9yrs of age and played for Coventry City until I was 17yrs of age.  My position has always been goalkeeper

Most memorable football moment: Playing a football match at the old Wembley

Who will win in Rio? Argentina

Sporting Achievements: winning the youth league

Hobbies / Interests:  playing football and basically watching any sport apart from rugby league and American football

Favourite food: Steak

Favourite drink: Lager

Favourite Movie / TV Program:  Don’t really have a favourite film but love watching the A –Team

Favourite music / group / song: easy going

One piece of advice you would give one of the Under 6’s: Enjoy yourself

One thing about you that no-one would know:  Best kept a Secret 

Coaches Profile : Michael Broadbent

Over the coming weeks and months we would like to upload a coaches profile for each of the FG U6's coaches so that you can get to know us a bit better. Following on from this we thought it would be great to over time include a player profile for each of the kids. I am currently working on a format for the kids player profile which I will send out in due course. But to get the ball rolling here is the coaches profile for coach Michael.

Coach : Michael Broadbent

Name : Michael Broadbent

Age : 35

Birth town : Rush Green, Dagenham

Profession : Tool Pre-Set & CMM Team Leader, Ford Motor Company.

Family : Wife - Louise, Son - Owen, Daughter - Erin

What football team do you support?: West Ham United

Football background: Monteagle Junior School, Castle Green, Barking Abbey,BSFC, Forest Glade Vets. Dislocated knee warming up to play for Barking Abbey ( which turned into a reoccurring problem ) and didn’t play again properly until I was 27 for a couple of seasons with BSFC until I then dislocated my Shoulder and realised I should leave it alone. Started playing again at 35 for Forest Glade Vets.

Most memorable football moment: Winning the Cardinals Cup with BSFC

Who will win in Rio? Uruguay

Sporting Achievements: Winning the egg and spoon race !!

Hobbies / Interests: Football, Ice Hockey, Gym, Family time

Favourite food: Pie, Mash and Liquor with plenty of chilli vinegar

Favourite drink: Chocolate Milk

Favourite Movie / TV Program: Elf & Lilyhammer

Favourite music / group / song: Enjoy a little of everything / Overtones / Gambling Man

One piece of advice you would give one of the Under 6’s: Always enjoy yourself when playing, Don’t be afraid to express yourself, Remember it’s not all about scoring goals, Every position is important !!

One thing about you that no-one would know:  Was made to do Irish Dancing because my sister done it, was entered into a competition and won first place. (I was 7/8 so don’t ask me to do a jig as i haven’t a clue now)

Photo's from UPR Away Training Matches

Thank you to the parents who took some pictures at this weekends training matches at UPR. Below is a selection of some of the pictures taken during the Sigma Broking and Serendipity games.

Ethan sprints in for a tackle with Ryan and Alex in support.

Man of the Match Ryan getting stuck in to the play.

Mantos on the attack with the goal in his sight.

Team Sigma Broking on the attack in numbers.

Ryan takes a corner and Alfie stands waiting with no one marking him at all!

Ryan, Ethan and Alex just steam roll through the UPR players.

Ethan on one of his many runs at goal.

Half time team talks from coach Lee. Poor Max looks over at the other pitch after having a very easy mornings work so far.

A rare attack by UPR quickly closed down by Ethan and Alex.

Ryan and Alfie getting some man marking organised as UPR take a throw in.

Another great break away from Ryan. I lost track of how many goals they all scored.

3 cheers for UPR at the end of the match.

Then onto the other game featuring Team Serendipity. 

Joe going toe to toe with UPR.

Mason on the attack.

George showing good ball control taking on two UPR players.

Its another Forest Glade goal in the making. Great strike.

Sam holding the defensive line as always.

George on the ball again.

Good looking tackle by Joe.

So many UPR shirts around the ball, but not causing Mason any problems at all.

Some rare action for Ellis to get involved with.

Team Mascot Ideas?

Below is a picture of some of the Under 6's chilling after a hard Saturday mornings training session. Joe is standing center stage holding up a football teddy. I seemed to miss this picture/event and not sure of the significance, maybe a school project or something that Joe was doing? Maybe his Mum or Dad can comment on the blog to explain more.

Forest Glade Under 6's post training, Joe in the centre holding up his ted.

The teddy has given us an idea though that it would be good to have a team mascot which we take to our games and include in team pictures. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on a proposed team mascot then please let the coaches know?

Forest Glade Vs UPR (Away)

So today we took 3 teams of Under 6's to play away against UPR in Upminster. On the plus side it was an absolutely glorious day to be out playing football with near 20 degree weather and crystal clear blue skies. Another plus was that all 3 teams (Serendipity, Sigma and GMB) came away with very convincing wins.

On the negative side, firstly I do not have many pictures as the FG coaches were roped into refereeing and I figured getting the digital camera out to take pictures of our boys/girls whilst refereeing is a little inappropriate. Overall the organisation at UPR seemed poor which was evident from the very start when we were asked to referee, to then trying to understand what rules they play and for how long. After 20 mins we was initially told to stop play as they were swapping the teams around with the other game. However after half time this plan went out of the window and the same teams went on to play another 20 mins. The other big negative was the the teams were a complete mismatch in ability and to be honest our boys/girls gained nothing other than a confidence booster. We offered the opposition one of our players (which they rejected) and so we took our team down to just four players and still the play was very one sided.

It is always good to win but I feel we learned little today and if anything probably introduced a few bad habits as we tried to even things up for the opposition. Our players where being asked to retreat back further than normal, to slow up their play to give the opposition more time to try and string some passes plus some favourable refereeing in their direction -but all to no avail. The kids all did great today and should be proud of themselves. Some games will be easy and some will be a lot more challenging. Our teams have been on both ends of the spectrum so we know exactly how it felt for UPR today.

Team Sigma Broking L-R : Coach Lee, Ethan, Alex, Mantos, Alfie, Ryan, Max and Joshua.



Man of the Match for Team Sigma Broking was Ryan.



Man of the Match foe Team Serendipity was Joe.

Once the first two games were out of the way it was time for Team GMB to take to the field and unfortunately things didn't change much. Again a very one sided win and if anything even worse refereeing as there really wasn't a referee on the field at all. Fortunately the kids all knew what they were doing and the game flowed OK. 

Team GMB L-R : Coach Alan, Owen, Jake, Darcy, Charlie, Lorne, Ryan, Ben and Jamie.



Man of the Match for Team GMB was Ben. Excellent play for his first match out.

Lets look forward to next weeks fixtures where we are sure to be tested a little bit harder than this week.

Player of the Week 8th March 2014

Well done to today's Player's of the Week from training, Sam, Josh and Jake. Keep up the hard work and play well in tomorrow's training matches at Upminster.

 

Player's of the Week 8th March 2014 L-R : Sam, Josh and Jake.

 

A couple of reminders for everyone:

 

• If you are playing in tomorrow's training games at Upminster and have a Football shirt still at home, please make sure you bring it with you.
• If you haven't done so already, please advise one of the coaches if you are interested in the Southend United trip on 29th March. Numbers are starting to come in. We need to have confirmed all tickets ready to book places by this Friday.

FG U6's Trip to Southend United Versus Torquay

We are pleased to confirm that we have been in contact with Southend United and have potentially arranged a trip for all the Forest Glade Under 6's to watch Southend United playing at home at Roots Hall on Saturday March 29th against Torquay United, kick-off time 3pm. We have managed to negotiate an excellent price of just £1 for each child and £5 per adult assuming we can book 25+ seats. Whilst the FG U6's coaches will be fully supporting this trip, we are not covered from insurance purposes to transport children on your behalf and then to take responsibility for them at such a venue, therefore we must insist that all children who would like to come on this trip are accompanied by an parent or guardian.

We think this would be a great experience for the Under 6's to watch our local team playing at home in Roots Hall and it would be great to just bring all of the Under 6's together for a social event outside of our normal training. Please can you either leave a comment on this blog, text or email one of the coaches, or confirm at the weekend whether or not you or your child would be interested in this trip. We urgently need to get a feel for whether we can get 25+ participants before going ahead and making the booking.

Forest Glade Quiz Night Saturday 22nd March

Hi everyone,

We have been asked by the club to communicate to you that there is an annual Forest Glade Quiz Night on Saturday 22nd March.

Tickets are £5 each. To be held at Steepleview Community Association / Centre.

7.30pm to 11pm.

Bring your own drink and nibbles.

Adults only.

The club have recently held a successful Race Nights and hope to make this our first Quiz night a success too. Please support it and promote it.

To book tickets contact Julie Dresou or alternatively email / call me 07557551800.

This could be a fun night and hopefully raise additional funds for the development of our CLUB.

Directions for Upminster Park Rovers

Coming from Southend on the A127 take the slip road for Upminster turn left at the junction about a mile down the road cross over the mini roundabout on your left you will see the recreation ground .as you pass it you will see see the entrance to a car park its the left hand of the two ..Park up and walk between the rugby clubhouse and the play area pass it and we will be straight ahead. Postcode - RM14 1AL

Teams, Kick Off and arrival time.

Serendipity & Sigma Broking Please arrive by 10.40 for 11.00 Kick Off

GMB Please arrive by 11.30 for 11.45 Kick Off

Team Serendipity - Sam, Ellis, George, Mason, Lenny, Joe

Team Sigma Broking - Max, Ethan, Ryan, Alfie, Alex, Mantos, Josh

Team GMB - Jake, Jaime, Darcy, Charlie H, Reily, Lorne, Owen

PLEASE BRING ANY KIT YOU HAVE WITH YOU