Hello everyone,
Hope that you are all well.
I just wanted to offer some thoughts and feelings about the season that
we have had, give some information about the summer tournaments and then think
about the 2017/18 season.
Like most of you I was really disappointed with the end of
the season, it didn’t really seem like a fair reflection on our team but was
symptomatic of a challenging season.
Finishing 6th in the table as our lowest position
since we were promoted into Division One and I feel sad for all of the players
that week in and week out put themselves on the line.
That said we are a great bunch and there have been many
highs over the season, but a few lows. Losing
twice against the Central United team was a blow. But our lovely win out at Starcross against
St Martins and taking a point from Alphington were great days.
It was lovely to celebrate the end of the season at the
awards presentation and well done once again to Charlie & Sam P for being
the Players Player of the Year, Tom O for being the Most Improved Player and to
Will P for the Managers Player of the Season.
These were richly deserved and well done to those lads.
This season has been difficult in many ways. We have had Ten Tors training throughout the
winter which Ewan, Zak and Cameron participated in. Well done to them by the way for completing
the 35 route last weekend, such a great achievement and occasion. I am really keen for boys to participate in
other activities and explore other interests.
However this has led us to field, on at least 4 occasions, only a bare
11 players and then last Saturday only 10 players for the match. This is really difficult and I take
responsibility for this. Perhaps I
should have moved these fixtures to ensure the Ten Tors trio were available to
play but we have had a squad of 16 all season and I, wrongly, felt that this
would be enough.
I am really sorry to those 10 players that battled really
hard against West Exe and were unlucky to come away loosing. However, clearly if we had a full squad, as
with other matches in the season we would have probably come away with a comfortable
win.
I feel that I am moaning a bit and I am sorry for that. There have been numerous times throughout the
season when players have pulled out mid-week or not informed me that they
cannot play and have only found out on the day.
This isn’t fair on John and I but most especially it also isn’t fair on
the boys that turn up and play their hearts out.
We have two more seasons together and John and I are determined
that they will be better than this season.
So next season we will be increasing our squad of players and moving
toward a more competitive style of team management.
No player will be guaranteed a place in the starting team
and teams will be picked on performance and attitude in training and to match
play. We hope players will be challenging
for places and using the summer tournaments and the pre-season training/matches
to push for their position in the match day squads. I truly believe that every member of our
squad can do this, and without wishing to embarrass him you don’t have to look
any further to Tom Oliver and what he has achieved this season to see how this
can be done. Tom trains with such enthusiasm;
he listens carefully in training and has learnt the position which he now will
need prising from!!
There is no Ten Tors next season but I am sure that there
will be other opportunities and I am really really supportive of the boys
having the opportunities to do these.
All I ask is that I have 2-3 weeks’ notice so that I can ensure we have
a minimum of 13 players available for each match.
II hope that is okay with everyone. I am very happy to chat or meet with anyone
(players or parents) if this is going to be tricky for next season.
And so to the summer.
I know that the players really enjoy the summer tournaments
and I have entered the following.
Sunday 11th
June - 2 x teams (6 a-side so teams of 8
players) at Crediton (we reached the final last year!!)
Sunday 18th
June – 1 x team (6 aside so team in 8 players) at Tiverton (Moors Youth)
(application pending!)
Sunday 9th
July – 1 x team (5 aside so team of 7 players) at Newton St Cyres
There is potential for one more in July but this is not
confirmed yet so watch this space!
I would really welcome a text from anyone interested in
playing in any or all of the summer tournaments, they are great fun and offer
nice social opportunities as well.
Pre-season training will begin in mid-August. My friend marine Simon will once again be
running some seasons for us aimed at fitness and team building, these sessions
are always tough but I think important and beneficial.
We will also be organising at least 3-4 friendly matches to
try and ensure that we hit the ground running in September when the season starts.
I am pleased to confirm that Will Killkenny will be joining
the squad for next season and I hope that we will be signing one more player…but
more of him another time!
I am working on the principle that the 16 players from this
season will be remaining with us for next season, however again if you want to discuss
anything please do call me.
Just a final note about next season. It is looking like training will continue on
Wednesday evenings at Isca College, however it might shift an hour from 7pm
until 8pm but again this is subject to confirmation.
Right, enough enough!!
Hope that is all okay. John and I
are really committed to ensuring that we are friendly, fair yet highly competitive
next season, that we push hard to finish much higher in the league table and
that we have a good run in the Cup!
Hope you all have a good summer break.
Mark
