What a first season for Audlem Saints

(The website link that was here no longer works) All season, David Parry has written superb match reports on Audlem Saints U8s football matches. Below is the end of season report from David and Charles Bloomer, coaches to the Saints.

"Following on from the success of the free and open to all Saturday morning football coaching sessions, Audlem Saints decided last summer to enter a team in a competitive league. The season has been a resounding success and the club hopes to expand further into other age groups. The Under 8s team began playing as a team last September in the Crewe Soccer Centre Sunday League at Shavington. The centre runs many leagues but ours consists of 8 teams who play each other twice. The game format is the official mini soccer variation of the game – 6 a side, no offside rule and game is 30 mins duration. In truth, our under 8s are mostly under 7s but as there was no league for under 7s we took the plunge and played as under 8s!

A fabulous red and white kit, sponsored by ASET, ensured the boys looked and felt the part. Massive thanks to ASET and everyone in the village that supports ASET events.

The first game was enormously exciting and a great thrill to see the team play so well, despite losing 4-3. This was to be a familiar tale in the 14 games leading up to Xmas as Audlem lost 10 of the 14 games. What was noticeable however, was that games were being lost only by the odd goal and the boys were markedly improving week by week. Indeed in the last 4 games, they were beaten only once. However, they ended that part of the season in 5th out of 8 positions.

After Xmas, they began in style with a 7-0 victory and just as before, this first game seemed to set the tone for what followed. In the next 13 games they were beaten only twice and eventually finished 2nd in the league table. A remarkable achievement in the first proper season and also given that they are still a year younger than most of their opponents.

Eleven boys took part during the season and each contributed hugely to the success. Fergal Madden and Max Parry each scored 11 goals whilst Eddie Warrington was the chief provider with a great many assists. Tom Hancock and Tom Lever dazzled with skillful touches whilst our midfield engine room was Joseph Joule and Jamie Turner. The only player to score against the all conquering Intertechnic team was Jack Brookes. Defence was a particular strongpoint of ours, conceding only 9 goals in our last 11 games and credit here goes to Joe Evans and James Bloomer who proved to be just like Ferdinand and Terry (or Butcher and Osman for older readers!). Every team needs a good goalkeeper and all of the boys tried their hand there but one that emerged as a great stopper was Will Gleave.

Thanks are due to the parents who gave fantastic support every week and to the boys themselves for representing the village so well. The coaches? No thanks required by them because they have had an absolute ball!"

Report by David Parry and Charles Bloomer (Coaches)

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