Have to agree with everything Ash has said. A fantastic weekend with a great bunch of kids and parents, all made even sweeter with the girls performing heroics to come home as Under 11 champions, and to also pick up the fair play award with a little bit of help from the parents in going way over the top with praise for each referee we had.
The standard of football that they played on Saturday was an absolute joy to watch, and something that even now I can't get out of my head how much these girls have progressed in the last year. We went through the whole day Saturday without losing a game and also without conceding a goal.
A mix of an early start in cold, wet & windy conditions, plus tiredness from their heroics the day before, mixed with a couple of late nights meant that their football on the Sunday was not quite up to the same high standards, but it was still good enough to make us champions.
Team:Freya Mowbray (Goal keeper) - Had an excellent tournament, and stayed focused in every minute of every match. kept a clean sheet for the whole of Saturday.
Megan Thorpe (Defender & Captain) - Megs gave her usual solid performances. An absolute rock at the back, formed a fantastic partnership with Isabella Richards. Highlight was when she did a Cruyff turn in her own box to then clear the danger.
Isabella Richards (Defender) - Izzy absolutely excelled in everything she did. Has real potential to become a very good defender. Oxford City star player of the tournament (as voted by the 2 managers & all parents).
Lauren Page (Midfield) - Lollie also had an excellent tournament, and really shone out. Full of energy, and linked up well with Alice. 2 excellent goals to cap off her performances.
Chloe Holden (Midfield) - Chloe played the central Midfield role for us, and really came to age. Worked tirelessly up & down the pitch. A couple of assists from some excellent passing. Highlight from Chloe was when Lily ran round the back of her, and she did a little back heel which took the opposing defenders away (she must have learnt that from her old man?).
Lily Hernandez (Midfield) - Lily was an absolute terrier in the midfield, always putting her foot in, and working her socks off. Done everything that me & Ash asked from her and more.
Alice Ford (Forward) - The opposing defenders were struggling to cope with Alice's pace and sheer all round nippiness. A parent from another team came up to me to compliment on her performance after she had just completed her hat-trick, and was shocked when I told them that she was still only 10 years old. Finished as top scorer for City with 4 goals.
Zoe Washington (Forward) - Zoe is not normally a regular in the team, but has come on leaps and bounds, and is always working hard at training to try and improve. This was proved this weekend, as she was a real handful every time she was called into action, and never let the team down. A goal in the last game capped of an excellent weekend's work for Zoe.
A few awards were handed out at the end of the weekend.
Isabella Richards - Player of the tournament.
James "can't drink soup" Thorpe - was given an award for his gardening skills after wrestling with a bush on Friday night/Saturday morning.
Mike "Bobby" Ford - Was given an award for being the most competitive. It was a Pound in for any competition he could think of. Geoff Hurst's age, darts, snooker, putting, result of an Italian game, spoof, just to name but a few. Also an award for kicking the ball the highest in the centre pavilion at Butlins at 2am in the morning.
Ashby "Wolfman" Hope - Won 2 awards. One for saying the words "MY ROUND" the least, and one for being the worst spoof player.
Wayne Holden - An award for dedication and commitment after going home early on Friday night to prepare and plan his tactics for the next days football??? This was justified with the girls not losing a game or letting in a goal.
Paul "Fair play" Holden - An award for knowing the most people in Bognor Regis.
Regards
Holdy
Roll on Bognor 2011 ;D