Youth Teams Update

[mikef]

As the title suggests this is an update to let those people who where interested know of any progress or in this case the lack of it with respect to my postings in the removed original thread and info on the `friendly match'.

 

1:

You may have thought that this matter had gone away (some of you were probably hoping it had), well not yet.

As per suggestions from Darren & Dave I contacted Mike Chatwin by email (29/04/03) with my comments/suggestions & a couple of questions.

Mike replied on 30/04/03 saying that he had passed on my comments to Ray Tuffield as this was his remit. I have not as yet had a reply from Ray, so the boys/parents etc are still in limbo as regards to next season.

 

2:

Although I have not received any info from Mike/Ray as to the `friendly match' I can pass on what info I have received from other sources.

The match will be between the real Gravesend & Northfleet U13 team and the imported gravesend & northfleet u13/u14 better known as the Blue Eagles of the Maidstone & District Boys Primary League U13 Div 1.

 

The match will be played on Wednesday 21/05/03 at

are you ready for this

 

Edenbridge United FC

Lingfield Road Recreation ground,

Lingfield Road,

Edenbridge,

Kent.

Kick off at 19:00 to be confirmed.

 

I seem to remember a post on the original thread complaining about last seasons U14 trials being held at Avery Hill, Eltham and couldn't it have been held nearer to Gravesend.

 

Well

Gravesend to Avery Hill 15.4 miles.

Gravesend to Edenbridge 28.7 miles.

Milages thanks to BP Auto Routes.

 

Not exactly getting any closer are we. And Wednesday 19:00 (be at ground at 18:30) means travelling on M25 at rush hour period, that should be fun.

 

Thats it for now.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

[BERGMAN]

Mike, thanks for the details of the game. Bit far to go though. Just out of interest do you know if the 'trial' applies also to the "Blue Eagles" boys or is it given that they are already G & N. Who decides whether a boy is good enough, the BE Manager. He cannot and probably will not be impartial. The club should request that Ian Docker attend to judge the best candidate for each place, irrespective of their team of origin.

[mikef]

Hi BERGMAN,

sorry you will not be able to make the `friendly' but i can certainly understand why. I am going to have to drive over 102 miles, most of it during the rush hour period (on the M25) to attend this game.

 

To answer your initial question truthfully, I don't know.

The powers to be are quite tight lipped about the whole situation hence little information leaks out.

As for my own personal opinion, remember Mike C said himself (in his only post so far) that "playing the incoming team seemed to be the best idea". So I believe that our boys will not only have to be good but will have to be at least head & shoulders above the equivalent squatter (sorry Blue Eagle boy) to get in.

It is noticeable that the term `trial' has never been used by the club.

 

As for your other questions/thoughts I guess we will have to wait & see.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

[BERGMAN]

Thanks Mike. Incidentally, searching on the internet I found the following on the Blue Eagles Web Site.

 

www.ringwood87.freeserve.co.uk/pg/teams/NEW%20u13.htm

 

A nice picture and profile of the team

 

Hope your boy doesn't play in the same position as the manager / assistant managers' lads. Note the former is the captain.

 

Good Luck

[Sideliner]

Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?

[mikef]

Thanks for the info BERGMAN as you say nice pic & profile of the team.

Your next comment though throws up yet another interesting point.

I have been told by a couple of parents that at a meeting attended by Ian Docker at the end of last season (2001/2002), he told these parents that as far as the club is concerned, at Kent Youth level the club does not want parents involved in the running of the teams.

The question now is (if what i have been told is correct) does this ruling still hold true and if so do Graham Chesman (Manager) & Will Murdoch (Ass Manager) of the Blue Eagles team know about this as they both appear to have sons playing in the side, or has the ruling been conveniently dropped. Maybe someone can clear this point up.

 

Sideliner:

No this is not a private conversation & anybody can join in as long as any posts do not become abusive or too personal.

A very brief resume of the reason for the original (removed) thread is that this seasons G & N U13 team have been told that they are to be discarded & another team (the Blue Eagles) brought in to replace them. Obviously there is a lot of anger/ill feeling & frustration at the way this has been done which has not been helped by one or two of the comments in some posts including one from the clubs youth management. There is to be a `friendly' between the two teams on the 21st of this month.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

[Sideliner]

Quote:

Sideliner:
No this is not a private conversation & anybody can join in as long as any posts do not become abusive or too personal.
A very brief resume of the reason for the original (removed) thread is that this seasons G & N U13 team have been told that they are to be discarded & another team (the Blue Eagles) brought in to replace them. Obviously there is a lot of anger/ill feeling & frustration at the way this has been done which has not been helped by one or two of the comments in some posts including one from the clubs youth management. There is to be a `friendly' between the two teams on the 21st of this month.

Regards

Mike F

Thank you.

It just seemed that this was a private conversation between you and Bergman which would have been far better done by e-mail.

But as you say "there is a lot of anger" then obviously appearances can be deceptive.

I shall leave you now and go and see if I can find a way to help raise £60,000!

[Guest]

Mike, you are looking at the current Under 14's. You should look at the current under 13's.

 

Manager Steve Greenwood Assistant Barry Patey.

 

The link shows this team. (Both have a son in the team)

[mikef]

Thanks for pointing out that i was looking at the wrong team although they are not the current U14 side but a second U13 (colts) side.

 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE MIKE C & RAY T THAT YET ANOTHER CLUB RUNS TWO TEAMS IN THE SAME AGE GROUP.

 

Update of part of my previous post:

I have been told by a couple of parents that at a meeting attended by Ian Docker at the end of last season (2001/2002), he told these parents that as far as the club is concerned, at Kent Youth League level the club does not want parents involved in the running of the teams.

The question now is (if what i have been told is correct) does this ruling still apply and if so do Steve Greenwood (Manager) & Barry Patey (Ass Manager) of the Blue Eagles U13 team know about this as they both appear to have sons playing in the side, or has the ruling been conveniently dropped. Maybe someone can clear this point up.

 

It is now ten days since i emailed Mike C with my concerns/feelings/suggestions/question & nine days since Mike replied with "your comments have been passed to Ray Tuffield as this is his remit" nothing since particularly from Ray. Is this further evidence of the way that future youth teams & parents (who without their help & dedication the teams probably couldn't run) will be treat, i hope not as other clubs League & non league do seem to value their youth setups for several reasons one being their image in the local community.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

 

[David Holden]

Quote:

I have been told by a couple of parents that at a meeting attended by Ian Docker at the end of last season (2001/2002), he told these parents that as far as the club is concerned, at Kent Youth League level the club does not want parents involved in the running of the teams.

The question now is (if what i have been told is correct) does this ruling still apply and if so do Steve Greenwood (Manager) & Barry Patey (Ass Manager) of the Blue Eagles U13 team know about this as they both appear to have sons playing in the side, or has the ruling been conveniently dropped. Maybe someone can clear this point up.

 

 

I seem to be missing something here, you say that the club (not the league) do not want parents involved in running the teams. If this is a club thing why on earth should it concern the running of other clubs?

 

Are you implying that the club is going to import the whole team including the managers, which seems to indicate that whoever made the decision has just voted themselves out of a job, or is this just a red herring designed to stir up trouble?

[mikef]

It doesn't concern other clubs.

 

We know that Gravesend & Northfleet (Kent League youth section) is importing a whole team of players (the Blue Eagles) for next seasons U14 side, as to their Managers, that's why i asked the question.

 

Mike F

[David Holden]

The Under 15s beat Tonbridge Angels 2-1 last night to take the Kent Youth League Under 15 Division with two matches to spare.

[mikef]

Putting aside my feelings with regards to how the U13 have been treat by the clubs youth section, may i be the first to congratulate the U15 team on winning the Kent Youth League U15 Division. Very well done lads.

 

Also did the PASE team win their National PASE League Championship match against Kettering on Wednesday.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

[Guest]

Blimey, is this thread still going !

 

Clearly an emotive subject for those involved - but maybe should be resolved somewhere else ?

 

If the PASE and U15 sides (an imported side I think) have done so well this season, it suggests that whatever the policy being followed, it is working - which has to be good for the long-term future of the club.

 

 

[David Holden]

Quote:

Also did the PASE team win their National PASE League Championship match against Kettering on Wednesday.

Kettering won 3-0

[mikef]

Thanks Dave.

that's a great shame as they have done so incredibly well this season. Good luck to the lads next season.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

[Guest]

Oh come on Stade (or we know who boys and girls don't we ?). By chance Welling packed up and the section acquired their 15's. Hardly the result of some well thought out strategy. How wonderfully smug.

 

 

[Guest]

If its of any interest the U13's are playing a friendly against New Ash Green on Sunday 18th May. 11am Kick off at New Ash Green Rugby Club.

See you all there?

[mikef]

We won 6:1. Not a bad result considering it is 5 weeks since our last match, and only had ten players again! New Ash Green kindly lent us one of their subs (who to be fair did a reasonable job).

As for the 11am kick Off! nearer 1pm, we had to wait for a cricket match to finish. Now for Wednesday.

 

Come on you little reds.

 

Regards

 

Mike F

 

[Guest]

I believe the first player we were loaned on Sunday was New Ash Greens newly signed goalie. It was his first game for NAG and he should be complimented on his performance. Its never easy playing against your team mates. But first game? Thats very hard.

Once again John(?) well done.