I have an under 10's grassroots team on Hayling. We don't have a great catchment area and in Portsmouth teams such as Moneyfields, East Lodge, Havant and Waterlooville usually lead the way with the standard of players.
We finished second in our league, so secured another successive promotion, more importantly playing fantastic football. I really emphasise playing short simple football and from the back, which seeing a team of medium ability execute nine out of ten times is very satisfying.
Such a ****ter with the season finishing so early for us but with the plans of eleven aside/nine aside, it gives us plenty of time to start the relevant training.
We must be doing something right as we have recently had parents bring their kids from ‘stronger teams’ in Portsmouth down to Hayling to specifically play for us (I do worry it may be influenced by my job and parents seek to exploit it).
On the down side we do have a ‘B’ team that are mainly new to football, which I also had to manage, which was manic. They wasn’t the strongest footballers but loved the game and I had to get them playing. Unfortunately, I can’t find anyone to take a second team on and to save any messing around or confusion, I have to tell eleven or so players they can’t play for their local team. Horrible potential position.
Looking to play some teams from Southampton over the summer and will enter the Warsash Wasps and Crofton Saints tournaments.