With the 2025/26 Season upon us, we’re sharing some reviews of the season just completed – U13 Blue
Written by: Terence Griffin
Overview of the Season:
After taking over last summer and only having 5 players left from the previous season the team needed rebuilding.
Bringing in 6 new players and wondering if they would become friends first and then a team that would be capable of not only playing together but challenging for promotion.
There was some ups and downs in the first couple of months but once they got to know each other they became not only a great team but great friends on and off the pitch. To finish runners up and gain promotion to division 2 and to only lose 3 league matches all season (2 in the first 3 games) shows how much hard work they have put in this season and I’m so proud to coach these amazing young men.
Standout Moment of the Season:
The playoff win.
After 14 matches unbeaten and only conceding 8 league goals since October the boys finished the season in joint second. The league offered to share second or playoff with Blunsdon for outright second and the boys were in no doubt they wanted to play the match.
On the evening of the playoff match the boys played with grit and determination with only 10 available they took the lead early in the second half after a nervy first half only to concede in the final minutes so the match finished 1-1 and went to penalties. The boys showed the same courage and confidence they had played with all season and won the penalty shootout 5-4 to secure second place and promotion to division 2 and an invitation to the league presentation day.
Shoutout To:
Firstly to my coaches
Louie and nick without guys it wouldn’t be possible so thank you ❤️
Louie is an amazing coach and the boys absolutely love him. He demands high standards in both training and matches and the boys have really improved and developed so much under his training and the respect the boys have for him is amazing.
Nick – He’s been a absolute legend since starting to help out in February and he’s a level head among us and the boys have been fantastic with him and you can see how much he’s enjoying the start of his coaching journey (also still unbeaten since he joined)
Also a big shout out to Dan
Dan’s son David joined the team in October and since the first match Dan has always been available to help run the line or referee when the team needed one, Dan is as much a part of the team as any of us and without people like Dan us coaches would really struggle over the course of the season as the pressure of coaching and then having to ref or run the line can be overwhelming. So thank you mate you’ve been amazing and hopefully your continue to help the team for many more seasons in the future.
Last but not least to all my parents thank you for your commitment to the team and getting the boys to training and matches even when the weather has been awful or the early 9-30 Sunday morning away matches and the change of training days and times you’ve not complained once and we all appreciate it so thank you ❤️
