U14 Squad: Ava (Captain), Robyn (Vice Captain), Ella, Ellie, Izzy, Hannah, Evie, Kelsey, Sophia W, Tash, Sophie, Lucy, Priya, Sophia K, Cara
The U14s were promoted to the “top-flight” so the season certainly promised to offer a different challenge to previous years.
Throughout the season the U14s, along with many other teams all around the country, struggled with significant player absence due to close contact Covid isolations, often playing matches with few or no substitutes and many sessions of training being missed which mean we found it difficult to train and play as a complete team, undoubtedly putting extra pressure on all the players.
The uncertainty of availability combined with the unequivocal higher standard of the league proved a step too far on the pitch and the U14s struggled to find form throughout the season which unfortunately translated to only 1 win in 12 games.
The U14s are much greater than the sum of their results in league games, and the season has provided lots of positives in other areas.
Six of the team are participating with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme with their schools and are undertaking their volunteer work with the club, supporting coaches, and delivering sessions as part of our Young Leader Scheme. Altogether, we have ten U14s who are part of our Young Leader Scheme and all work with various coaches on a Friday evening before their training session. They also have other activities to complete such as gaining mini soccer refereeing experience as well as joining our Women’s 1st Team training session. I am receiving great feedback from them all and look forward to seeing their continued development.
However, credit must go to all the players for always turning up (when Covid restrictions allowed) and working to try and turn the tide. It is not easy to commit to playing on the back of a run of defeats, and I am very proud of their resilience.
The team all carried themselves with upmost dignity and were respectful and considerate in the face of disappointment. I was therefore very pleased to hear that won their league fair play award, voted by the teams in the league.
PARENTS PLAYER
This award, as voted by the parents of the U14 team, goes to a player that shows consistently high positivity and engagement. Her natural humour and warm personality make her a popular member of the squad. She is also a Young Leader who has developed a fantastic rapport with the young club members she helps to coach. Many congratulations to our goalkeeper, Sophia.
PLAYERS PLAYER
Another hugely popular player with the squad, who always has a word of encouragement and a ready smile to offer to her teammate. A formidably determined midfield player is always up for a challenge. In her Young Leader role, she is proactive and very much a team player and works extremely well with other coaches at the club. A very worthy winner, as voted by her teammates, congratulations to Robyn.
COACHES PLAYER
I have chosen this player due to her overwhelming desire to be the best she can be. She always works hard in training, proactively seeking out feedback on how she can improve. Her work rate in matches is monumental as she leaves her heart and soul on the pitch. Again, another of our young leaders who commits time and energy into the club and draws praise from all who work with her. My player of the season, Priya
We were thrilled that towards the end of the season, we welcomed two new players, Paige and Liv, to the team and we are all looking forward to them joining us in league games as we move into the new season, moving to 11v11 football, which is another exciting challenge for the team and coach to get their teeth info.
No season review is complete without some thank you:
Firstly, thank you to the players, for (mostly) retaining their good humour, for turning up week in week out, and for generally being an awesome group of young women.
Thank you to our 2020/21 Season Captain, Ava and Vice-Captain, Robyn for doing a great job for the team. Consistently displaying respect, positivity, and enthusiasm.
Thank you to our team sponsor – Lisa Collins Hair Design – Lisa is one of the clubs’ longest running sponsors and the players take great pride in their team identity provided by your kit support.
To all the U14 parents, thank you for the WhatsApp “humour”, engagement with the team, the taxi service and for lugging kit and equipment around. You are all stars, and you are much appreciated.
As Richard, the U14 assistant coach, moves on to pastures new – happily only down the training field to the U12s – I must say a massive thanks from me and all the players for his unmatched enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication over the last three years. You will be sorely missed but our loss is the U12s gain and hopefully we will still see you for summer training sessions in the park.
Finally, the U14s would like to thank the RTGWFC committee and volunteers for all their help and support in team management, coaching ideas, social media, game arrangement, graphic design and welfare.