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| Garstang FC Youth Team ahead of Sunday's Riverside debut. |
THE BEECHES: UPDATE
2nd September 19:30
Ahead of our first competitive game, Chairman Adrian Wilding has provided this update on The Beeches development.
Firstly, I wish the management and the players all the best for the coming season in both the league and the cups. I am sure that we will be celebrating at some point during the season!
Off the field, all has not gone to plan. Due to restrictions in our lease, followed by our having to apply for planning permission, the Beeches development is currently stalled. I am pleased to say though that drainage work has started with the bottom dyke beeing cleaned, and some site preparation and clearing has been actioned. Further work had to be stopped, unfortunately, until further discussions had taken place with our landlord and the planning department. This is now moving forward again in a positive way. Yes, we are behind schedule, but at least we are moving forward. Bear with us!
During this interim period, Youth Team games will be accomodated at The Riverside.
I would like to thank Alec Curwen for his continued support and help in maintaining the Beeches pitch for Garstang FC. It has been used by all the teams in pre-season training and will still be used while light permits.
Cockerham Juniors Under 15's will also play at The Beeches this season, so it will get used for some competitive games until the new changing room facilities are in place. I will update you further, in the near future, as the development progresses.
Adrian Wilding
MATCH PREVIEW: PRESTON CITY
Syndicate Trust Youth Cup
31st August 16:00
The players of Garstang youth team have worked really hard in pre-season and we only have one session remaining before the cup game on Sunday. The players should be jumping at the chance to kick off the new season for the club. Most players now know what is expected of them, and the squad has come together nicely with just one more addition to make. However, the start of the season can be a tricky one when you are at home. The players can get into a relaxed frame of mind and worry too much about how good they look in the new kit or who is watching form the sidelines.
What I want from my players is a disciplined and professional performance which will take us into every game and not just for the start of the season. We need to make people start looking at our Youth Team this season. I want teams to look at their fixture list and, when they come to play us, they don’t look forward to the fixture as they are in for a battle. I'm a great believer in mentally haveing an edge over a team before you even play them, by the way you look and present yourself, and by being prepared.
I don’t know much about Preston City and the problem is that this will be the story of the season with most teams as it is our first year together. However, I am in touch with someone who has managed in this league for a number of seasons, so our knowledge will quickly improve..
All we have to do for Sunday's game, in my opinion, is to concentrate on our game and do what we believe is right. Let's do the basics right first; the other things will look after themselves.
Lee Baker
BISPHAM JUNIORS 5 GARSTANG 2
POST MATCH SUMMARY:
Pre-Season Friendly
Played: 22nd August 14:00
Report: 23rd August 17:00
With players missing, we had to change our shape with players taking on different roles and responsibilities. This had a massive affect on the team, as a whole. We always prepare for every game in exactly the same way from the meeting time, getting to the ground early, the warm up and the post match review. Bispham are a premiership team and have recently won the league, they played to their strengths and showed a good level of fitness. Our team shape was all over the place and I think every player on the pitch in a blue shirt could have done better. Players need to concentrate on their own role first, before they can even start to think about other team mates. Getting involved with personal battles on the pitch is not the way we play. 'Let them do the talking' it's all about keeping your discipline and team shape.
We let them play out from the back for the first half and we were slow to react almost every time. So at half time we spoke about how we could stop this, by simply moving over individually as players, involving a little bit of communication and thought. This worked a little better and they had to resort to playing more long balls which should have benefitted our defence, however I thought, as a back four, we didn’t stand up to them enough and I suppose this was to be expected with two centre half's missing and a left back playing his first game this season!
It was not worth getting personal with any one's performance as we take the bad with the good as a team and not as individuals. Players know when they could have done better and if they didn’t then they need to wake up. So let's take the positives from the game. The goals we scored were very good goals with players backing up the play to keep the pressure on in their final third. The reaction and performance in the second half was a lot better and of a higher standard.
So on Thursday, the training session will firstly be on fitness again, followed by a session on Sunday working with the ball and more shadow play with players receiving information on how they can affect the play on the pitch, even though they are not involved. Some of the players need to understand that their place is still not guaranteed this year and some of you are making it very easy for me when I see the same people attending training. Players are very quickly liked but also very quickly forgotten. You all know what I'm like and as you get older you will learn that football is always this way
Lee Baker
MANAGEMENT SEEK A REACTION:
20th August 10:00
Having stepped up a level, the status of Youth Team brings new challenges for the Garstang squad. Gone are the large number of 'reusable' substitutes. Under the new rules we can only pick three from five. A quick bit of arithmatic means that if no substitutes are used, up to ten players from the current squad could face the disappointment of not playing on a matchday. Allowing for injury or suspension then that number may reduce, but not by much.
So now that we are entering the final weeks of pre-season training, I am looking for the players to face this challenge head on and put the me on the spot when it comes to team selection. Attitudes have to be focused on the battle for places, especially when it comes to training. The sessions are going to get tougher, to increase fitness levels, and if that means less ball work on occasions then so be it! Some of you are unfit and need to put in extra work.
Last season we earned points through our superior fitness and our ability to fight to the end of each match. We aim to achieve the same again. As the late, great, Bill Shankly once said, "We knew that all other things being equal, like skill, tactics and run of the ball, it was fitness that would count in the end. So we kept at 100% at all times. We have found that there is more satisfaction in a good win than there is in a pint or a cigarette packet!"
So take note of the above. I will guide you with tactics, but you are responsible for your own fitness. You won't achieve all you need for the new season in one hour on a Thursday night, you should be putting in some miles at other times. I need to see proof that you want to play and, more importantly, want to play to win.
Lee Baker
YOUTH CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND:
16th August 14:00
Here is the full draw for the Youth Cup Preliminary Round to be played on September 5th. Holders Burscough Dynamo begin their defence of the Youth Cup with an away tie at Premier Division side Poulton Town whilst beaten finalist Burscough make the journey to Charnock Richard.
| BAC/EE Preston |
v |
Chew Moor Brook |
| Bolton County |
v |
Brinscall |
|
| Caton |
v |
Gillibrand Warriors |
| Charnock Richard |
v |
Burscough |
|
| Fleetwood Town |
v |
Charnock Richard AFC |
| Fylde |
v |
Penwortham St Teresa’s |
|
| Garstang |
v |
Preston City |
| Hesketh Bank |
v |
Eccleston & Heskin |
| Hoole United |
v |
Bolton County Lions |
| Leyland |
v |
Tarleton Corinthians |
| Longridge Town |
v |
Ribbleton |
| Lostock Hall |
v |
Penwortham |
| Lostock St Gerards |
v |
Newman |
| Norcross & Warbreck |
v |
Thornton Cleveleys |
| Poulton Town |
v |
Burscough Dynamo |
| Warton Typhoons |
v |
Penwortham Town |
If a cup game is drawn after 90 minutes then extra time of 15 minutes each way must be played. If still a draw after extra time, then 5 penalties each will be taken. If still no result, it becomes sudden death on an equal number of penalties taken.
**OUR FIRST LEAGUE FIXTURE will be Lostock Hall [H] on September 12th.
GARSTANG 1 GREGSON LANE 0
POST MATCH SUMMARY:
Pre-Season Friendly
Played: 8th August 11:00
Report: 9th August 15:00
Yesterday's game was a fantastic team result. When I say 'team' I really do mean it, with nine players missing from a full squad, then players had to fill in positions and adapt accordingly - which they did brilliantly well.
Gregson Lane finished a respectable eigth last year and, with a good defensive record, it was always going to be a tight game. For the first half hour, we played by far the better football with some good movement off our striker,s enabling us to play channel balls more effectively than the previous game due to us working on this in training. I thought we dominated the midfield in the first half with Daniel Sutcliff winning every ball from their goal kicks in the air, and Oscar collecting the pieces.
Every team we play, whoever it may be, will have a spell in the game where they get on top and start forcing us deeper and deeper and I stressed the importance not concedeing before the interval certain players. We managed this and I think it was the turning point in the game. We regrouped at half time, complimented how well the team had done and just went through minor things which would stop certain points of their good play.
The second half was everything I want from the team; determination, grit, the will and the ability to grind a team down! From Gregson's point of view, they will say that maybe they should have scored two or three, but the truth of the matter is that they didn't because there was always a red trying to put them off or throwing their body in the way, and just doing enough to make them miss. We can talk about "what if" all day long! You can't always play great football to earn a result like we did in the first half, but the way we defended set pieces against and corners against was a testament to all the teams hard work on the training ground.
Scoring three goals and then conceding two does not interest me. To come away with a 1-0 win really does put a smile on mine and Paul's face. We are certainly not getting carried away though. I know, and so does the team, that there a harder tasks ahead of us and we still have lots of aspects to improve on.
Lee Baker
Squad: Bennett, O'Brien, Hallam, Winstanley, Salisbury, Schultz, Sutcliff, Panepinto, Walmsley, Baker, Assalone, Brooks and Thompson.
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| Teamwork! |
LEYLAND MATCH OFF:
4th August 09:30
Tonight's friendly against Leyland Youth has been cancelled.
With no training session scheduled this week; we meet next at 10:00am on Sunday August 8th, at The Beeches, ahead of the Gregson Lane friendly.
*SEASON OPENER: our first fixture of the new season will be at The Beeches with the visit of Preston City in the preliminary round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup.
LEYLAND FRIENDLY:
30th July 16:00
Our second pre-season friendly will be against Leyland Youth at The Beeches on Wednesday August 4th. Kick off is at 7:00 pm, please meet there at 6:00pm.
Registrations: An appropriate number of complete registrations have been submitted to the league to ensure our acceptance. The remaining players need to ensure Paul receives the correct paperwork asap.
PsF: GARSTANG 1 RIBBLETON 3
26th July 10:30
The game against Ribbleton proved to be a great workout with all the players included. The management team decided to play three 'half hours' so they could get a look at everyone within the squad. With seven new players making their Garstang Youth Team debuts, however,it was always going to be frustrating for everyone at times with passes going astray and team shape not going to plan. Manager Lee Baker made these points to the players before the game and, overall, he thought that they coped with it well.
The starting eleven easily coped with everything Ribbleton threw our way. Adam Baker was always a danger upfront, chasing every ball into the channels and occupying two centre halfs all the time with his natural movement. Midway into the first half he was rewarded with his goal after, this time, not being flagged for offside. The Manager wasn't saying too much on the sideline as he was busy watching each individual player and partnership, and learning a lot!
Manager Baker reported, "The goals Garstang conceded were a little soft but at our next practice we will be able to put things in place to stop those from happening again. Ribbleton had been together for two years and most of their lads were a year older and, overall, there were far more positives than negatives to be taken from the game."
"At the next training session I want to work on shadow play, distribution from the goalkeepers, team shape, and set pieces for and against, for which the players will always have positions before each game. Thanks to the lads who participated in the run after the game; an excellent attitude which will always work in our favour. Remember though if you miss a session, just phone me, Paul or Dave and we will fit a run in for you - no problem!"
IMPORTANT: FINAL REMINDER
25th July 22:00
All players must get their completed registration forms to Paul by 6pm tomorrow, Monday 26th July, in order to be signed on in time for the new season and so that the club can receive the identity cards in time.
Players must also provide TWO passport sized and passport approved photographs, along with photocopies of their birth certificate, or the forms cannot be sent. Paul's contact number is on the paperwork handed out with the forms.
A MIXED WEEK FOR THE YOUTH TEAM:
22nd July 22:00
Never mind the quote about 'a week being a long time', manager Lee Baker experienced the highs and lows in a couple hours this evening. The highs saw youth squad players Curwen, Sutcliff and Panepinto turning out with the senior squad at The Riverside in the Highgrove friendly and the lows, he had to cancel the planned training session for the remaining players due to too many being unavailable at the last minute.
The message is clear to all the potential youth team players and their parents: this time it is serious. You cannot perform at this very competitive level of football without committment, without discipline, and without putting in the 'hard yards'.
All players are requested to contact Lee Baker immediately, ahead of Sunday's first friendly, regarding registration forms and training schedules.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:
5th July 22:00
The first of our planned pre-season friendlies have been confirmed:
Sun July 25th | PsF v Ribbleton [H] 11:00am
Sun Aug 8th | PsF v Gregson Lane [H] 11:00am
**Update: our home fixtures will now be played at The Beeches
MANAGER LEE BAKER WITH A MESSAGE TO THE NEW YOUTH TEAM:
5th July 15:00
For those of you who know me then this next bit will be a little boring - or is that just me, full stop! Anyway Garstang FC Chairman Adrian Wilding has offered me the opportunity to manage and coach you, along with Paul Gahan. I'm excited to be in this position and want to take this team as far as we can possibly go.
The Club is striving to improve, both on and off the pitch, and my aim is to get the lads in the Youth Team a chance to play West Lancs football in the Garstang First and Reserve Teams. Of course, that decision is not up to me so all we can do is coach, prepare and guide the players through everything that will be expected of them at this Club. The Youth Team players will need to show the will and the quality, and show that they want to and can be good enough to make the step up to the senior teams.
I like to be as professional as I can be and I know that, if you give players just an inch, then they will take a mile. From what I've already seen in training, however, I have no problems or worries that the players won't work hard enough. Technically we can always improve, both as players and as coaches and, under Paul and I, the players will have a great opportunity to represent Garstang FC, whether it be in the Youth Team, the Reserve or First Teams. One thing I will not do, though, is just give players' games for the sake of it. They have got to prove that they deserve to represent this Club and the only way they will achieve this is by being as professional as they can be and training hard.
I will use all the resources and the people that I have met whilst playing football, who I believe can help players in any way. Let's see where this season takes each of you, not only as a youth team member, but as a player, an individual. I promise that you will be fitter and stronger than you ever have been before, and that your attitude to the game will be one of high quality. We will work on aerobic and anerobic fitness, with players marked and recorded throughout the season. Shadow play, with and without the ball, depending on different formations and oppositions will be introduced, and sessions devoted to patterns of play, technical ability, core strength and 'set pieces', both for and, most importantly, against. Finally, we'll consider 'fuel for football' before and after games.
That's enough talk for now! I look forward to working with current and future players and, as they say, 'letting our football do the talking'!
Lee Baker
Youth Team Manager
WELCOME TO THE NEW GARSTANG FC YOUTH TEAM PAGES:
A Message from Team Secretary/Assistant Manager Paul Gahan
30th June 15:00
Garstang Football Club, under chairman Adrian Wilding are making great strides to enhance the club within the community and to elevate the club through the higher tiers of amateur football. This is progressing through the club ‘Lottery’ and with plans to develop both The Riverside and The Beeches pitches and facilities.
The Beeches, the Youth Team home pitch, will soon have its own fully furnished and operational changing facility as the ground is developed in stages. The Riverside pitch has already been widened and lengthened and, after the closure of Christie Park (Morecambe FC), the club acquired several items of ground 'furniture' that will be used to enhance the club's professional image. This was secured in order to continue the proposed development of The Riverside. The knock on benefits will follow, in time, for The Beeches.
The senior sides are currently placed in the West Lancs Premier Division and the Reserves in their respective league, Division One. There have been many occasions when ‘reserve’ team players have been called up by Manager Barry Stimpson to support the first team. With the club's intentions of progress to the fore, we are now looking to kick off next season, 2010/11, with a Youth team who will play in the Lancashire Evening Post Youth League. We are seeking to form a squad that can support both ‘senior’ teams should they be called upon and our aims and ambitions match those of the chairman.
If you want to know more, email Youth Liaison Officer Dave Porter here or, alternatively, speak with Youth Team Manager Lee Baker on 07807 009571 or me, his Assistant, Paul Gahan on 07729 529618.
YOUTH DIVISION ONE - REDS:
20th June 08:30
Garstang Youth Team have been assigned to the LEP Sunday Football League Youth Division One 'Reds' for the coming season.
They can now look forward to meetings with Caton, Fleetwood Town, AFC Fylde, Lostock Hall, Lostock St Gerards, Morecambe Hawks, Thornton Cleveleys and Warton Typhoons.
2009/10 PRESENTATION NIGHT:
May 15th 8:30 pm
After six long years as Garstang Juniors FC, eight players received special recognition for their 'dedication and commitment' to the Juniors 2004/2010. Les Taylor, Garstang FC Commercial Manager, presented each player with his award - Alex Schultz, Josh Heap, Tom Winstanley, Elliot Cooper, Philip Roskell (Booooo!), Jack Salisbury, Callum Thompson and Ryan Crouch.
Retiring Secretary, Peter Lonsdale, presented all the players with a trophy for representing the club this season, including Roskell (Booooo!).
The following individual awards were presented by Garstang FC chairman, Adrian Wilding:
Leading Goalscorer - Ryan Crouch
Merit Award for most improved player - Elliot Cooper
Players' Player of the Year - Oscar Panepinto
Manager's Player of the Year - Oscar Panepinto
Manager Lee Baker presented Tom Winstanley with the Terry Crouch award for 'outstanding achievement in Junior football' and Retiring Chairman, Stuart Preston, presented Lee Baker with an engraved glass trophy as thanks from the club for his dedication and commitment to junior football over six years.
Special thanks on the night to Sarah and the new Mrs Baker (Charlotte) for preparing the food and organising the room for our return. Also to Alec and Trevor for manning the bar. Lee and I would like to congratulate Philip Roskell (Booooo!) who moved on from the Juniors mid season and joined Fleetwood Town where he has had a successful start to his time with the Cods. We wish him all the very best for the future. We would just like to point out that since he left, we went on a fantastic run and picked up fifteen points!
Garstang Juniors are dead: long live the Youth team. We would like to thank all the players and parents for their continued support and look forward to putting you all through this again next season! Training starts in June.
The final but biggest 'thank you' from the Juniors.
In 2008 at the conclusion of the season (07/08) Amelia Jackson of AVJ Design & Print, Longirdge was approach in relation to sponsoring Garstang Juniors remaining team. Fortunately for us she agreed to support us and not only did she provide the club with a new kit but she also designed the club logo. This logo has adorned training sweatshirts, tee shirts, kit and stationary. This season the logo was also used on trophies. AVJ Design liked the colour of the kit so much that the company has changed its corporate colours to match!
Without the support of Amelia and her company the club would have struggled and would more than likely have folded. Had this happened the plans for a youth team next season may never have come to fruition. Both Lee and I cannot thank Amelia enough for all she did for us and her help in keeping the club going. As a thank you from the team Amelia, who was unable to attend the presentation evening, was presented with a signed 'keepers' shirt from all the players, which will hang alongside her Garstang Juniors 'team' shirt and photograph in the company offices, situated on Shay Lane, Longridge.
On behalf of the team, present and past, I would like to wish Amelia and her company all the very best for the future.
YOUTH TEAM MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE:
April 1st 09:00
At a meeting held earlier this week, the management structure for the 2010/11 Garstang FC Youth Team was formally agreed.
Lee Baker will be taking the reins as Manager/Coach with Paul Gahan acting as his assistant whilst also performing the role of Team Secretary. Dave Porter, Garstang FC Youth Development Officer, will provide the important link between community based projects and the progression of the younger players towards Garstang's senior teams, and represent the Youth Team's interests on the Garstang FC Management Committee. We are also happy to, formally, welcome Alec Curwen to the team with responsibility for the pitch and facilities, and to assist Lee and Paul where necessary. Alec has previously been successful in Junior football seeing his Garstang Juniors team promoted three years ago. All four members of this team have local connections, having played and/or managed in the Garstang area.
In line with Garstang Football Club's vision, we aim to build a team of younger players to supplement the Reserve and First teams with a view to carrying the club forward 'as one', towards a higher league status. Lee and his management team share a passion and desire to help young players achieve their aims. This will be accomplished by continuing with a professional and disciplined approach ensuring a positive and strong team spirit throughout. Once established the team will become a continual feeder to the senior teams as the players mature, develop and progress through the ranks.
Garstang FC Youth Team, who will play in the same strip as the senior teams, have applied to play in the Lancashire Evening Post Sunday Football League Youth Division, and we would hope to have news of our application towards the end of April. The LEPSFL website is here.
The development of The Beeches remains a 'work in progress', but with an assurance from Chairman Adrian Wilding and his committee, that the facilities will be in place for next season. There are discussions underway to develop The Beeches further but, as they say, 'Rome wasn't built in a day' and, as we grow in stature, so too will the facilities. Just last month Garstang FC received the FA Charter Standard and, together with this development of the Youth Team, are making giant strides forward, enhancing the clubs status.
As you will know, on April 11th 2010, Garstang Juniors U16's host Myerscough Juniors in a local derby match that will now be played on Garstang FC's home pitch at The Riverside. The kick off for this, the last Garstang Juniors home game, will be 10:30 am and, post match, there will be a briefing in the clubhouse for all current and prospective new players, and their parents.
Adrian Wilding, Dave Porter and Lee Baker will all be present to project the club's intentions and give further insight. They will be accompanied by the senior team managers and other management committee members. This will be an 'open' meeting and so, if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to those present, either during or after the meeting.
All players who would consider themselves eligible for playing at this level, ie. aged under 18 on September 1st 2010, are more than welcome to attend and we would like to see you there. In fact, if you would like to be part of the new Garstang Youth, you should be there!
Information sheets will be available at the briefing, or you will be able to download a copy from here after the meeting. In the meantime, if you have any queries at all, you can email Youth Development Officer Dave Porter here.
