ALBURY

EAGLES

FOOTBALL

CLUB

 NEWSLETTER

Issue No 52

 30^th May 2006

The season is just about done and dusted now.

As editor, I am just pulling together the final few remnants of the season,

some missing scores and a few last  match reports.

Congratulations to all our teams and players for a tremendous playing effort through the winter.

Some notable achievements too.

Playing at 11 a side for the first time, the U11s gained promotion in their first league season  from C to B division.

Manager Mark Hurman and coaches Greg Clements and James Brown, please take a bow !

Medals for finishing runners-up to Storrington were collected from Horsham stadium on Sat 29^th on Finals Day.

The u9s have also had a terrific season winning their leagues with both teams, play offs were played on 6^th May, with the Eagles losing narrowly in the Final.

The u10s had an excellent season.

Eagles won their league, and with the resultant play offs, our teams finished the season 2^nd and 3^rd.

The u12s have had a very good first season in the Horsham League.

At one stage, promotion also looked on the cards, but an eventual mid table finish was still a very accomplished first effort.

The squad also were awarded the Fair Play shield, collecting the very same, and medals, on 30^th April during the Plate Finals at Horsham.

The u13s battled through the season  struggling for players through injuries,  with a number of core players out for long periods.

They finished bottom of the C division, but thoroughly enjoyed what has become their final season, with the squad now going their separate ways.

The u8s have had a steady year in their first season of league play, whilst the u7s have played a number of friendlies.

The u6 department has always had a good turn out, and look forward with relish to some friendlies next season.

On behalf of the club, can I take this opportunity to warmly thank all the coaches, helpers and parents for all their excellent efforts in supporting the training sessions and match days during the season.

The club as a whole has grown during the winter to realise a playing staff of some 160 children now, not bad for four and a bit years.

Last match reports in over the past few weeks…………

U13s

22.04.06

Brockham BadgersB 3-2 Albury

Eagles played out their last league game of the season actually hosting this ‘away’ game, and came so close to gaining an excellent win.

Brockham took the lead from a corner half way through the first half, but Jack Berringer answered with an equaliser for Eagles just before the break. Pulsating action during the second half saw Jack giving Albury the lead, after some fine interplay from Sam Schoen and Will Westcott.

Albury seemed likely to go further ahead with several attacking moves, but just could not finish. Brockham

then drew level with 5 minutes to go, before a speculative lob from the half way line caught Will H off his line in injury time, giving Brockham the points.        

Ross Beasley was back to his best at left back to claim Man of the Match                                           Tony Hern.

29.04.06

Ewhurst 3-7 Albury Eagles

A friendly completed the u13s season,

with a rousing performance against

Ewhurst. The home side took Eagles

by surprise, taking the lead before

goals from Bob Moorcroft, Hugh and

Steven Robinson had Eagles back in

front 2-3 by half time.

Further Eagles strikes in the second half by Finlay Grogan (2), Hugh again, and Sam Schoen, saw Albury run out comfortable 3-7 winners.

A good debut from Jack Mercer, with Leigh Batchelor gaining MoM for some spirited attacking in the second half.                                              TH

U12s

22.04.06

Albury Eagles 0-3 Twin Oaks

23.04.06

Albury Eagles 0-5 Forest Row

29.04.06

Friendly

Horsham Sparrows 5 - 9 Albury

Thanks to those that came to the friendly match on Saturday. It was a good chance for me to see 2 new players who will be joining the club next season. It was also a chance for everyone to play a part in the match. It was a good match played in a very sporting spirit I tried out a 4-3-3 formation instead of our usual 4-4-2 formation to see how the team played. It worked very well. New boy George Stephens played in attack and showed some good touches, as other new boy Noah Pendle-Chambers stiffened up the defence in his centre back role along side captain Dan Kingshott. Albury ran out 9 - 5 winners in this match. Goals were scored by Harvey Owen(3), Dan Kingshott(2), George Stephens(2), Chris Caley (1) and Keith Fagg (1).                        JC

U12s

14.05.06

Ockley Tournament

Just to let you know we had a very good Ockley tournament today. I had 2 teams in the tournament Albury Eagles and Albury Griffins. Both teams were drawn in separate groups. The Eagles won all their group games and topped their group at the end of the group stages. The Griffins lost their 1st match 1-0 and ended up 2nd in their group. This meant the Eagles were drawn against the Griffins in the semi-finals. After drawing the game and with the game still 0-0 after extra time it all went to penalties. The Eagles won 4-2 on penalties booking their place in the final against Royal Utd from u12s Div A of the Horsham League. Royal Utd had beaten the Griffins 1-0 in the group stages and were a very good passing side. After a hard fought match the Eagles were undone by a very slick passing move from Royal Utd leading to the only goal of the game. So the Eagles finished runners up and the Griffins were semi-finalists, not a bad days work. I was very proud of the boys. They gave their all and did the club proud. Just like to give my thanks to everyone that attended for the support they gave both teams. You never know maybe next year we can go one better and win it!               John Caley

U11s

15.04.06

Storrington 3-0 Albury Eagles

22.04.06

Albury Eagles 5-3 St Pauls Panthers

Harry Good (3)

Daniel Cannon

Henry Schoen

U10s

08.04.06

St AnnesYellows 0-4 AlburyGriffins
The Griffins concluded their season with a fine 4-0 win against St Annes and in doing so came third in the league. Griffins started well with Chris Brookes and Phillip Smith both forcing fine saves from the St Annes keeper. Harvey Marshall opened the scoring with a good header from a corner. In the second half Griffins played some excellent passing football with all the team contributing. Tom Gill went close with a well struck free kick which skimmed the bar before Harvey Marshall added 2 more to his total including an unstoppable volley. Chris Brookes scored the fourth goal after a fine move involving Alex Dangerfield, George Duff and Bayley Nicholson.

15.04.06

St Annes Blues 1-0 Albury Eagles

We are very proud of the way the Eagles and Griffins performed this season. I think deep down most objective people will realise who the true champions are and it is rather sad that the title was decided in the manner it was. We have 2 good teams who can hold their own and its unfortunate that we have now been runners up for the past 3 years but things do look good for the future when we switch to 11 aside.    J Duff

U9s

29.04.06

Tadworth 1-2 Albury Griffins

We won 2-1 away to Tadworth on Saturday in our final warm up before the Champions League semi and final on 6th May. Ryan Lintott scored one and the other was an own goal. We dominated from start to finish but Player of the Week went to goalkeeper Ralph Harvey-Jefferson for keeping his concentration and making a couple of very good saves from rare Tadworth attacks.

U9s Champions League Play Offs:

The top two teams from both U9 Tadworth divisions went forward to contest the Champions League Play Offs and Final on 6^th May, staged on the Big Field at Brockham.

Griffins lost 1-0 in their semi to Milford, whilst Eagles beat Tadworth 1-0 in theirs. Oli Stephens scored again with a cracker ‘Beckham-like’ free kick over the wall from distance. We then lost the final to Milford 1-0 to a soft goal, and on reflection probably a couple of substitutions too many, but hey, everybody got a chance to sample the final atmosphere.

Even though we didn't perform anything like we had throughout the season, both Eagles and Griffins were Champions of their respective Leagues with the shields to show for it.                           Trevor Stephens

Guildford Saints Tournament

Weekend 6^th and 7^th May

Our U10s and U8s contested this tournament in early May………

U10s

Just a brief note to thank everyone for last weekend. The Eagles and Griffins both got to the semi finals of the competition, having earlier won some good matches, but both were unfortunately knocked out.
The Eagles who drew their semi final match went out on penalties and the Griffins who reached the semis without conceding a goal lost to the eventual winners West Byfleet.
                                              John Duff
U8s

We just missed making the quarter finals on goal difference. We came 3rd out of 5 in our league with one win two draws and one loss. The boys played really well and were unlucky not to go through. Highlights included a draw in a match against AFC Wimbledon which we deserved to win.                           Nick Sanders

Meanwhile, down the road in Ewhurst, the U7s were performing…………

Ewhurst Tournament 6^th May

U7s

Well done to all who were able to attend, we had a really fun day despite the rain. The boys all did brilliantly, building on an early couple of draws and a 2-0 loss to finish with a very convincing win against the Ewhurst Tigers. It definitely felt they were gaining in their conviction and self belief by the end.

Results were:

Albury 1-1  Kirdford

Albury 1-1  Cranleigh

Albury  0 – 2 Milford

Albury  1 – 1 Ewhurst Lions

Albury  1 – 1 Southwater

Albury  2 – 1 Ewhurst Tigers

Have a great summer !!

Editor  -  Tony Hern

01483 202936   07891 480343

Email: tonyhern@lineone.net

www.alburyeagles.com