As the last cricket game of the summer was being played out on Albury Heath last Saturday, a new season for the Albury Eagles was kicking off at Tillingbourne School, Chilworth, with an exciting winter season of fixtures and drills lying ahead for our players.

We have only been a club for two and a half years, yet Saturday’s Registration Day saw the membership passing 100 players for the first time.

This season, we are expecting to field ten Albury teams in seven age groups (u6 through to u12), thanks in great part to a wonderful collection of keen parents who help to coach and manage the sides.

To enable everyone to train and play matches on a Saturday morning, we now find it necessary to stagger training times, thus………

9am-10.30am – u11s, u10s and u8s.

10.30-Noon – u12s, u9s , u7s and u6s.

As in previous seasons, all play will be conducted by lunchtime on Saturdays, freeing up the rest of your weekend for all the other activities we all like to get up to.

We shall also be arranging match day visits to Premiership clubs for training sessions, and watching a game; Half term training on the Heath will again be supplied by Southampton/Planet Sport, with also some much needed social functioning laid on for the parents.

TRAINING TOPS
A new feature to the club this winter, previewed to rave review at the last AJCC meet of the summer on Friday night were the new club training tops. These will be available to all league players from the u8 age group.
Many thanks to Lynne Smith and James Brown for getting these excellent garments sorted.

NEW COACHES FOR UNDER 10S
We are pleased to announce that two very enthusiastic coaches from Shalford have joined up with Eagles this winter to help out at the u10 age group.
James Brown and Greg Clements are both first teamers down at Shalford FC, and are bubbling with ideas for drills and tactics as they marshall a couple of Albury sides through the Tadworth League this winter.
They are also about to embark on their FA Level 1 Coaching courses, which will help the club achieve FA Charter Standard status – a kitemark scheme
devoted to providing youth soccer coaching to safe and acceptable standards.
With an anticipated six qualified coaches by Christmas, we shall shortly be applying for our Charter Status.

HORSHAM LEAGUE ACTION
FOR THE U12S
Following acceptance into the Horsham and District Youth League, the u12s will be embarking on a busy winter schedule of 20 league games, and 2 potential cup runs, when their games commence this Saturday, at home to Kirdford Juniors.
A squad of 16 players has now been assembled, giving us plenty of playing options, and opportunity for all to get a breather from time to time.
The Horsham League is the only local opportunity to play matches on a Saturday morning. It will be necessary to also work in some midweek after school training.

EAGLES WAITING LISTS NOW OPERATING
An aim of the club has always been to attempt to provide youth soccer from u6 right through to u16 level.
This would generally involve maybe having enough young players for two small sided teams to eventually feed into one squad to take on an 11 a side programme of fixtures.
As the club has grown, the current groups at u12, u9 and u7 have fulfilled this approximate target, and waiting lists have now formed.
Our current u9 squad is a good example of where we might be expected to draw the line on taking on further new players.
John Duff, our u9 coach has a potential 26 players to organise into an Eagles and a Griffins side. With the whole Eagles club principle based on voluntary parental help, there has to be an optimum level as to what we can reasonably expect to be able to achieve. If further parents present themselves to help manage, coach (in all weathers!), run the line, transport, etc, then who knows?!

YOUR YEAR MANAGERS
U6 Adam Chamberlain
U7 Finn Jackson
U8 Nick Sanders
U9 John Duff
U10 David Harris
U11 John Caley
U12 Tony Hern

KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH EAGLES
When I can find time to get around to it, I will normally push out one of these newsletters every couple of weeks, keeping you up to date with results and news.
For Tadworth League information, have a look at:

www.cleardesk.co.uk/tadworth

whilst for the Horsham League, try:

www.yellowjersey.co.uk

Committee meet first Tuesday of every month, to attempt to steer our club in the right direction.
They will join with me in wishing you and your families an exciting winter of footy ahead.

Editor
Tony Hern
01483 202936 / 07976 810737
Email: tonyhern@lineone.net