Grippingly Gritty Grassroots Growth
Well, it all started a few weeks ago when getting ready for this game was just not going to be easy. First, Aston text to say they had to cancel the fixture, so we set out to try and find a new opponent. Then our actual goalkeeper wasn’t ready to return in an earlier fixture (due to a broken bone), so Burr went in goal and decided to fracture his ankle. Then Longlevens U-12 finally confirmed that they were able to make it and preparations started on a new formation. However, using training to practice the new formation against the Development Team, Fogg isn’t able to attend the first Friday training due to a parent mishap (Michelle!) and the following Friday is scuppered by illness to Butcher and Young, meaning we only had eight people to practice. Luckily, we could draw on Hyett to make up the numbers. Come the actual match day, Coach Harris wasn’t actually feeling well either and we were told early on that we only have the bare nine as Young hasn’t recovered. A few of last year’s GPSFA players then turn up as part of today’s opposition and tell us that not only are they unbeaten this year, but they hadn’t long beaten Gloucester City U-12s 7-1. Things looked bleak!
Anyway, everyone seemed in good spirits. Talks of undoing the curse were talked about and as Gethin had already lifted his part of the curse, Mother Butcher was next. Although I think her waving of the socks could’ve been more vigorous, a lap of the pitch was completed with her daughter dragged in-tow wondering what the heck was happening. It was only down to Big and Little Harris now to be Dumbo and Nelly for 30 seconds. Video evidence can be found on the B team WhatsApp of the shenanigans we go through.
On to the game.
Coach Harris and Wixey had both given their team talks separately and hadn’t discussed what they were saying beforehand either. We both realised that we’d actually said (near enough) word-for-word to the boys and that was ‘strength’. The only thing were interested in today was that they showed some grit and be up for the fight ….and the boys didn’t let us down.
Literally, from the get-go the boys peppered the Longlevens team. The size difference didn’t matter and we were going in for challenges left, right and centre. In doing so, this was making Longlevens make the mistakes and we were quick to pounce on any mistake. Fogg, Butcher, Badham and Evans were probably the four that were winning most of their tackles or interceptions at this point and in doing so were quick to help the team push on forwards.
DBalkwill was doing some great one-twos with Harris, Butcher and Ball - creating space down the wings to run into. A good run and cross into the box found Badham whose shot went just wide. A few corners quickly followed and great deliveries by Butcher gave chances to Butcher and Badham, but both were scuppered.
The opening goal came when Gloucester won the ball back in midfield and landed with Butcher. A few touches forwards he finally unleashed a shot (that we’ve been screaming for for ages!) from 20 yards that went flying over the top of the keeper and into the roof of the net.
This gave everyone even more a lift, but particularly the away team. They started getting hold of the ball a little more and attacking the Gloucester goal. Moroney, Evans and Harris were doing well to hold their positions and Fogg and DBalkwill were back-and-forth to help defend or go forwards…..whatever was needed. GBalkwill had a couple of good saves to make, but nothing beyond his reach.
As tiredness started to set in, which was understandable, Longlevens scored from a scrappy corner that just wasn’t dealt with, but whereas before that may have made our heads go down, the boys responded perfectly - getting to HT level and deservedly so.
The second half didn’t actually have too much in way of clear-cut chances. Badham probably had our best chance when he found himself 5 yards away from goal, but with too much time on his hands put the ball wide. Butcher had another long range effort well saved and Ball had a couple of shots that were saved comfortably by the keeper. The latter’s overall hold up play and chasing down the defence was superb and really made their defence question what they were doing.
The Gloucester backline of GBalkwill, Moroney, Evans and little Harris were unassailable for the majority of the half winning so many balls back and intercepting play. Their link-up play with each other didn’t falter either - even when the pressure was on them. Fogg and DBalkwill were absolutely brilliant getting back and forth, but both probably won more tackles in this game than the season so far. It was brilliant to see. Then the two of Badham and Butcher in the centre of the pitch won countless tackles, pressed their backline - along with Ball and pushed for our next goal at every opportunity.
Yes, Longlevens somewhere in there scored 2 more goals, but we said to the boys before the game that the result didn’t matter, however the performance did and Paul and I couldn’t have been prouder of the them. They ran their socks off and came off that pitch having left everything they could on it and we couldn’t ask for more.
They have indeed set themselves up now as we know that they can perform at that level (effort-wise) and will expect this for future games.
Easily my favourite game of the season so far and capped off by a text from their manager that evening saying how well our boys had done and how impressed he was by the whole thing. They had also gone off to play their next fixture after and beat another U-12 team 11-0, so that just shows you again how well the boys did.
Keep it up gents!!
Gloucester B: G.Balkwill, J.Moroney, C.Evans, D.Balkwill, G.Ball, J.Fogg, L.Badham, H.Butcher, J.Harris and R.Burr (coach)
Anyway, everyone seemed in good spirits. Talks of undoing the curse were talked about and as Gethin had already lifted his part of the curse, Mother Butcher was next. Although I think her waving of the socks could’ve been more vigorous, a lap of the pitch was completed with her daughter dragged in-tow wondering what the heck was happening. It was only down to Big and Little Harris now to be Dumbo and Nelly for 30 seconds. Video evidence can be found on the B team WhatsApp of the shenanigans we go through.
On to the game.
Coach Harris and Wixey had both given their team talks separately and hadn’t discussed what they were saying beforehand either. We both realised that we’d actually said (near enough) word-for-word to the boys and that was ‘strength’. The only thing were interested in today was that they showed some grit and be up for the fight ….and the boys didn’t let us down.
Literally, from the get-go the boys peppered the Longlevens team. The size difference didn’t matter and we were going in for challenges left, right and centre. In doing so, this was making Longlevens make the mistakes and we were quick to pounce on any mistake. Fogg, Butcher, Badham and Evans were probably the four that were winning most of their tackles or interceptions at this point and in doing so were quick to help the team push on forwards.
DBalkwill was doing some great one-twos with Harris, Butcher and Ball - creating space down the wings to run into. A good run and cross into the box found Badham whose shot went just wide. A few corners quickly followed and great deliveries by Butcher gave chances to Butcher and Badham, but both were scuppered.
The opening goal came when Gloucester won the ball back in midfield and landed with Butcher. A few touches forwards he finally unleashed a shot (that we’ve been screaming for for ages!) from 20 yards that went flying over the top of the keeper and into the roof of the net.
This gave everyone even more a lift, but particularly the away team. They started getting hold of the ball a little more and attacking the Gloucester goal. Moroney, Evans and Harris were doing well to hold their positions and Fogg and DBalkwill were back-and-forth to help defend or go forwards…..whatever was needed. GBalkwill had a couple of good saves to make, but nothing beyond his reach.
As tiredness started to set in, which was understandable, Longlevens scored from a scrappy corner that just wasn’t dealt with, but whereas before that may have made our heads go down, the boys responded perfectly - getting to HT level and deservedly so.
The second half didn’t actually have too much in way of clear-cut chances. Badham probably had our best chance when he found himself 5 yards away from goal, but with too much time on his hands put the ball wide. Butcher had another long range effort well saved and Ball had a couple of shots that were saved comfortably by the keeper. The latter’s overall hold up play and chasing down the defence was superb and really made their defence question what they were doing.
The Gloucester backline of GBalkwill, Moroney, Evans and little Harris were unassailable for the majority of the half winning so many balls back and intercepting play. Their link-up play with each other didn’t falter either - even when the pressure was on them. Fogg and DBalkwill were absolutely brilliant getting back and forth, but both probably won more tackles in this game than the season so far. It was brilliant to see. Then the two of Badham and Butcher in the centre of the pitch won countless tackles, pressed their backline - along with Ball and pushed for our next goal at every opportunity.
Yes, Longlevens somewhere in there scored 2 more goals, but we said to the boys before the game that the result didn’t matter, however the performance did and Paul and I couldn’t have been prouder of the them. They ran their socks off and came off that pitch having left everything they could on it and we couldn’t ask for more.
They have indeed set themselves up now as we know that they can perform at that level (effort-wise) and will expect this for future games.
Easily my favourite game of the season so far and capped off by a text from their manager that evening saying how well our boys had done and how impressed he was by the whole thing. They had also gone off to play their next fixture after and beat another U-12 team 11-0, so that just shows you again how well the boys did.
Keep it up gents!!
Gloucester B: G.Balkwill, J.Moroney, C.Evans, D.Balkwill, G.Ball, J.Fogg, L.Badham, H.Butcher, J.Harris and R.Burr (coach)
