Since their inception in 2009, Marlborough Youth Football Club have gone from strength to strength.
With age groups between U5 and U18, there are now 250 players, including dedicated girls football (MYFC Angels), plus 60 volunteers ranging from team managers, coaches, assistant coaches, match day helpers, kitchen assistants, committee members, and individuals responsible for organising pitches, equipments, sponsors, fund raising, child welfare and coach development club wide. There is also an exec committee comprising Club Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman. It’s a huge operation, well structured and everyone is a volunteer……
Because MYFC have no single venue or a clubhouse, it is not obvious just how big they are. They play at 5-6 venues throughout Marlborough, all co-ordinated by the committee. Their landlords are Marlborough Rugby Club, Marlborough College, Marlborough Town Council and Marlborough Town Football Club. The size of MYFC is not always obvious to players and parents even, hence they organise club wide events against our neighbours at the beginning and end of each season, PEWMAR and RAMMAR. (i.e. Pewsey Vale FC v MYFC and Ramsbury FC v MYFC). These events give the opportunity to have as many age groups as possible playing at the same time in the same place. A sea of orange….!
In the absence of a clubhouse, there is also no trophy cabinet! Hence a virtual trophy cabinet is on their website and also here. It is with celebration of progress in mind that each year they produce a summary of achievements, for everyone to share. It is a community club and therefore important we all see and celebrate player progress. Many congratulations therefore as follows:
Club Trophies
2016 PEWMAR winners (MYFC v Pewsey, Club Wide Tournament)
2017 RAMMAR winners (MYFC v Ramsbury, Club Wide Tournament)
Angels
Olivia Hancock (U10) invited to trial for Wilts County FA Advanced Coaching Centre
Lish O’Neill (U12) invited to trial for Wilts County FA Advanced Coaching Centre
MYFC Angel’s first ever league team (Wiltshire Girls League U12’s).
U5-6
Will Reynolds trained with Southampton FC Development Centre
Bobby Price trained with Southampton FC Development Centre
U7
Olley Stevens trained with Southampton and Chelsea FC Development Centre
Oliver Hines trained with Southampton and Reading Development Centre
Charlie O’Dowd trained with Southampton and Reading Development Centre
Caitlin Turner trained with Chelsea FC Development Centre
U8
Runners Up: Cold Ash Festival of Football 2017
Alex Danielson played with RTC Wiltshire (Junior Premier League)
Kyle Roberts played with RTC Wiltshire (Junior Premier League)
Zak Speechley played with FC Wiltshire (Junior Premier League)
Alex Danielson trained with Chelsea FC Development Centre
Kyle Roberts trained with Chelsea FC Development Centre
Alex Danielson invited to Swindon Town FITC Elite training
U9
Joe Reynolds played with Wiltshire Football Academy (Junior Premier League)
U10
Winter Trophy Winners 2016
Charlie Carroll played with Wiltshire Football Academy (Junior Premier League)
Sam Ashman played with RTC Wiltshire (Junior Premier League)
U13
U13 Colts (Third place, Division 3)
Golden Boot for Division: Ben Smith
Third highest number of goals scored in Division: Archer Pooley
Ben Llewelyn invited to join Swindon Town FITC Elite U15 next season.
(Also playing up a year)
U14
Runners Up: FC Calne 6-a-side tournament.
U17-U18
MTFC Winners “WM Bambridge Challenge Shield”, (‘Town v Gown’).
Joe Litherland played for Marlborough Town FC Reserves (Adult Football)
Tom Beadle played for Marlborough Town FC Reserves (Adult Football)
Harvey Rutherford played for Pewsey FC Reserves (Adult Football)
And not to forget the coaching team, their achievements across the past year:
Josh Evans, Tom Amer (FA Level 1)
Well done to MYFC U18 players Josh Evans and Tom Amer who are now both Level 1 FA qualified coaches. Not only are they current players helping the club’s younger age groups by coaching, they are also making the transition to senior football at Marlborough Town FC – also a first for MYFC. (Just as a final well done, Josh is also a qualified referee!).
John Whitehead (FA Level 1)
Congratulations to John Whitehead, who helps with the coaching and management of the MYFC Angels, and who has secured his FA Level 1 coaching qualification.
Geoff Pratt (FA Level 1 – Goalkeeping)
MYFC are delighted that U13 Team Manager Geoff has opted to build on his existing FA Level 1 coaching badge with the more specialist Level 1 goal keeping also.
Alex Reynolds (FA Level 2)
Alex Reynolds’s Level 2 success is hugely well deserved, not least given that he seamlessly managed three MYFC age groups, (U5-6, U7 and U10), but also that he coaches regularly at Wiltshire Football Academy.
Ben Danielsen (FA Level 2)
U8 Team Manager Ben Danielsens’s FA Level 2 submission was so well received by the FA that they have kept a copy to share and use as an example for future courses. Ben has also this season completed ‘Training Young Athletes Level 1 and 2’ (University of Florida), and when he completes his Level 3, he will qualify as a US Track and Field Coach. This is much more focused on physical development in children and how to recognise and tailor practice around the individual development phase of each player.
Charlie Forster (FA Level 2, commencing Uefa B)
Charlie has both achieved his Level 2 and commenced his Uefa B coaching qualification. He assists with the U16 age group and also works with Swindon Town FC (Swindon Town in the Community) as a licensed coach. Great work and many congratulations!
A final word from Stu Slater (Chair), “We want all our players at all levels to improve, be competitive and enjoy winning, but not at all costs. We want football to be played in the correct spirit, fairly, where ideas, creativity and therefore often mistakes on the pitch are encouraged, and everybody is welcome to play. It is important players of all ages develop whilst having fun, which creates the correct tone in order to progress”.
Any one wishing to volunteer with MYFC whether as a coach, assistant coach, helper on match days, or on the committee, there will always be a job to do and training will be given. (Contact chair@myfc.me.uk).