EXHIBITING OUR TALENTS

BLOOMSBURY FOOTBALL academy U9 gold boys 3 vs 3 Active FC (3-0 Win on Penalties)

It was a quite intense game. The boys did really well in such a hot weather and with a small squad. They kept concentration all the time during the match and executed instructions well. In possession, we created several chances through the right flank to link with the players in the box. There were a decent number of shots around the box , however, they were denied by the opponents. Out of possession, the boys remained disciplined by delaying the ball carrier and waiting for teammates to recover space. Making the formation compact.

In the penalty shootout, the boys showed great confidence and determination with brilliant ball striking skills under pressure. I was happy to see the team go through to the final.

My favourite moment happened in the first half when Maleek successfully made a breakthrough on the right wing, passing ball to Rocco. Rocco, showing composure found Teddy, who had stayed at the far post without anyone marking him. Unfortunately, the final shot was deflected by the defender, but a good chance through passing and moving.

Player of the match goes to James. He was excellent when in goal and outfield. He saved a huge penalty to secure our lead in the shoot out. As a centre back, he was calm all the time and with good vision to play the ball from the back.

In training we worked on positioning. The boys have a better understanding about the position they should stay in when they are in and out of position. We still need to work on switching the ball especially when we have a wide formation to keep the ball moving smoothly.

BLOOMSBURY FOOTBALL academy U10 girls 0 vs 1 Soccer School HGS

Throughout the game the girls were enthusiastic and ready to put up a fight to win. They battled hard making sure they put 100% effort into every pass/ shot. Unfortunately the goal that was conceded was from a free kick just outside the box. My favourite moment was the last play of the game. Princess, who was in goal, played it to Robyn who pulled off a brilliant through ball to Piper. Piper then took a shot missing the goal by inches!

Player of the match, which was chosen by the girls, was Alex. No disagreement from me. She was putting tackles in left, right and centre keeping them away from our goal. She was also putting in amazing corners and having shots on goal.

To improve, we need to work on that final touch before having a shot as this was seen to be a struggle throughout the game

BLOOMSBURY FOOTBALL foundation U12 boys 10 vs 0 Camden

Bloomsbury put on a dominant display against Camden, controlling possession, taking lots of shots and defending well as a unit. The players were also able to take their chances well scoring 10 goals. My highlight of the match was Woods’ goal, an absolute screamer. Our player of the match was Ethan. Solid defensively, kept possession well and went forward whenever possible.

In training we worked on 1 on 1 attacking battles. We were hugely successful in the is regard during the game as the players were able to take on their man and beat them. To improve we need to work on the order in which we look to progress the ball. We are always looking to go forward if we can’t we go sideways and if that isn’t on we go backwards.

BLOOMSBURY FOOTBALL Academy U12 gold boys 1 vs 4 Belsize Park

Final WFL fixture of the season and it’s fair to say… we went out on a whimper. Picture the scene: we’ve barely recovered after our heroics at the Charlton tournament, a monstrous marsh excuse of a pitch, tired legs, multiple dropouts (time to name and shame – cheers Zizou and Ezekiel).

On the excuse of a pitch, an under-hit back-pass from defensive titan, Chris, sees their striker go through on goal and score. 1-0. They then score from a corner. Cheers lads, 2-0.

At half-time, our legs are fully gone and lost in the dark depths of Belsize Park’s marsh pitches. 1v1 defending as poor as it’s been. They score, 3-0. A fortuitous free-kick from Eddie then gets us back into the game to kick off our best period of the game. 3-1. Unfortunately, we are unable to capitalise on this period. They then get a fourth.

No point dwelling on it too much but some pointers going forward. On pitches such as that, look to play in their half and don’t invite pressure. Take your first touch away from pressure, get the ball out of your feet and boot it long. Be ready for a battle. The physical side is the most important.

On that, shout-outs go to captain Yillinho and Zac-Attak, who flew the flag perfectly and battled hard throughout. Zac-Attak’s performance was particularly pleasing after he so well took on-board feedback from the tournament. My player of the match. Yacine was also phenomenal on his return, showing the bravery in and out of possession that has made him such a cult hero amongst the Bloomsbury faithful. Great to have you back on the pitch fella. And mark up at corners. Please.

BLOOMSBURY FOOTBALL Academy U16 girls 2 (or 3?) vs 1 North London Stars

Geez, football. What a concept. It provides moments of sheer stress and other moments of stress even grander in their severity. Every event that occurred on Friday felt, at the time, as the worst thing that could happen. And it all started at 9:30am.

Usually we are told of our Market Road fixtures at least three days in advance. When I came into the office at 9:30, I saw a message from Josh, our Club Football Manager, stating that we had a fixture scheduled for that day at 5:30. A cup semi-final, no less.

Mind you, I had just walked in with no equipment, not in the correct kit (although still slaying) and not having notified the players that they needed to be at Market Road that afternoon. To describe myself as apoplectic would be an understatement.

At 9:45 I sent out a message (more like a plea) to the girls asking if they could make it to the game that afternoon. After no initial bites, in a desperate attempt to get anyone to attend, I send out another message saying that “I’m confident we can win with 5 players”. More on that later.

An hour later we had 8 players raring to go. I’m thrilled. Crisis averted. We were going to win in the smoothest way possible. Nothing else could go wrong that day.

Wrong!

We had a game scheduled for Sunday which was due to be cancelled as we had low numbers due to GCSE’s. I posted a message on the group chat referencing the poll for Sunday’s game that said that it was cancelled. Apparently 16-year-old girls don’t read messages, but instead, only check notifications. This led to some players thinking that the game was cancelled. Chaos rears its ugly head, again, unbeknownst to me.

I arrive at the pitch feeling optimistic. 15 minutes before kick-off we have 4 players. 10 minutes before kick-off we have 5 players. 5 minutes before kick-off I receive word that the other players will be coming after kick-off. The confidence I had in my team 8 hours earlier was set to be put to the test.

As the game starts, it is clear that we are the superior team. We created chances with ease and got shots away on goal. Due to the 2-player deficit, they created a chance of their own which was crashed against the crossbar. The fine margins of football favouring us for once was a nice touch.

After 10 minutes, which included manic instruction from my touchline restricted self, we create a chance through Alexia, who finished clinically. My faith in our abilities, even being two players down, was well placed.

Finally, reinforcements arrive. One of which had forgotten her shinpads and could not enter the pitch. Our first inconvenience of the day…

On top of this, there was an issue with my Market Road registration as I was somehow not on the system (even though I had been given a pass from Market Road themselves verifying my credentials and permitting me to be on the pitch since January). As such I would have to watch the game from the side lines with the spectators.

 I was forced to communicate my instructions via WhatsApp to a member of the Market Road Staff who would then pass the message on to my team. Just the way I drew it up. (Major shoutout to Ronnie from Market Road who helped me out of a bad situation there).

For me, watching my team play without being able to help, was as close to torture as I could have imagined. Frantically texting substitutions and subsequent formations was extremely draining as my eyes were on my phone rather than the match in front of me. In the midst of all the furore, I managed to miss one of our goals. I’m not sure who scored our second goal. Was there also a third? I honestly couldn’t tell you.

We go in at half time with a 2 (possibly 3) goal lead. At this point I’m frantically signalling to the girls that they need to come and meet me off the pitches so that we can discuss a few points which will see us over the line. By the time they reach me, still separated by a large fence, we have a minute left before they need to get back on the pitch. I asked them to finish with a little bit more efficiency by passing the ball into the goal rather than lashing at shots with their laces. I also mentioned that, as I would not be there to direct them as much, they needed to take the initiative themselves to make sure that we won this game.

Leaving the girls to head back to my position in the stands, dreading the next 25 minutes where I would be glued to my phone, I saw my friend and colleague James Williams speaking to a parent. In a moment of rudeness from myself, I interrupted their discussion and asked James if he could take the second half of the game. He, of course, agreed.

If you read my match report for our rousing victory against LFS in the first game of the cup, you may recall me waxing lyrical about what a great man James is. And you best believe I’m going to do it again. James is the yin to my yang, the moon to my ocean, the calm amongst the chaos in my life. Having him on the touchline is a nice change for girls. Rather than a brash Australian man waving his arms about like he’s at a rave, a soothing English voice asking, “would anyone like a break?”, surely means that they have experienced each end of the coaching spectrum.

The way that we moved the ball was, dare I say, professional? The decision making, the execution of the passes, the positive touches, were a delight to watch. The only thing we were not was clinical. Hitting the post and missing the target on a number of occasions.

I was also fortunate enough for my oldest friend from Australia to be at the game. Watching along with him I found myself saying repeatedly “I’m so proud”. My girls have improved so much in the short time that we have been together and I’m excited to see how we can grow together in the future.

In the dying moments of the game, the opposition managed to swing in a cross which our stand in goalkeeper, Acacia, pushed away, but into the path of an attacker for them to score a late consolation goal. The game finished 2 (or 3)-1 and all I could do was applaud the effort in the face of such adversity.

Speaking to a friend afterwards I mentioned how the universe had conspired to make us lose this match in every way possible. She offered me the wisdom that that was not the case. The universe had put all these obstacles in the way to allow us to exhibit our talents in their various forms.

I can see the irony in this match report not actually including many details about the match itself. This is largely an ode to my coaching style. I don’t just focus on the football. I focus mainly on how we feel when we are together and boy, did I feel a lot of things on Friday. More than my fair share.

Now, we look forward to the final against the team who are quickly becoming our arch-rivals: London Football School. It’s bound to be a scintillating fixture with both teams capable of doing some real damage. Seeing as James has been on the touchline for all of the fixtures in the cup, I asked him to join me for the final. Regardless of the result, it’ll be special to share the space with him.

Although it was a draining day, it is one that will remain long in the memory. I count my blessings that I am able to be involved with an organisation that provides me with such riveting experiences.

THE WEATHER ISN’T THE ONLY THING HEATING UP!