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Updated 26/4/13

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Coaches Blog

Who am I ?

50 years old, coach of under 7’s and 8’s teams, supporter of Northern League Club Ashington FC, Newcastle United supporter

 

Tuesday 19th March

If you’re interested in coaching check out www.coachingfamily.com

 

Thursday 28th February

If you’re on the look out for some end of season trophies have a look at these www.mytrophy.co.uk

 

Tuesday 15th January

Friday sees Ashington FC making the 450 mile journey to Bodmin Town in the last 32 of the FA Vase. With money no object in the higher reaches of football, it’s worth remembering how difficult it is for other teams with Ashington likely to make a sizeable loss on the game. Due to set off at 9am on Friday morning for the 10 hour journey, the team will be staying overnight in Cornwall, playing the game at 3pm on Saturday and then returning to the north east straight after the game.

 

 

Friday 11th January

Bedlington Terriers from the Northern League (step 5) beat Newcastle United U21 (what used to be known as the reserves) 3-2 in the Northumberland Senior Cup. The Newcastle team included 5 players with first team experience. Whilst I appreciate it’s only one game (although regular watchers of the Northern League wouldn’t be in the least surprised by the result) it really makes you reflect on the quality of players who make the pro grade. These are players who train every day .. compared to the Terriers who train one night a week or maybe none at all if they have a midweek game.

 

Monday 7th January

The juniors get underway again with our Under 8’s drawing 5-5 and the Under 7’s winning 4-2. Love playing at completefootball.net  - Refs provided, no goals to put up - brilliant

 

On Saturday Ashington drew 1-1 with FA Vase holders Dunston UTS. Only 11 days to go before the long trip to Bodmin - 1000 mile round trip !

 

Wednesday 12th December

FA Vase  Ashington 2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 ...Watch the Goals here  ..... Better than watching the Premier League

 

Tuesday 30th October

If you’re looking for new coaching ideas, check out coachingfamily.com

 

 

Tuesday 9th October

Reverting back to St James Park - very sensible.

 

I’d be interested to hear other coaches/parents/kids views on the new 5v5 at under 7’s

 

 

Wednesday 3rd October

Not enjoying the new 5 a side for the under 7’s. Pitches are too small and we’re getting some ridiculous scores

 

Attended a fantastic “Coach the Coach” evening with the FA’s Dick Bate. So enthusiastic and meticulous.

 

 

Wednesday 19th September

We had our first taste of the FA’s new 5v5 for under 7’s on Sunday. A bit like “fight football”. Everyone swarming around on a little pitch till the ball broke free and someone scored. Coaches telling goalkeepers to boot it up the pitch !  Not really what we hoped for.

 

A simple game to help with team shape for under 8’s here

 

 

Tuesday 11th September

It will be interesting to see how the FA’s new structure for junior football shapes up this season. Our under 7’s are playing 5 a side on a 40x30m pitch with 12x6 goals. The league has decided not to introduce a retreat line so I can see a lot of goalies going for the big kick upfield which is the exact opposite of what we want.

 

 

Sunday 2nd September

Ashington 3 West Auckland 3  Northern League Div 1. Great game against last seasons FA Vase finalists.

 

 

Saturday 1st September

Attended a great “coach the coach” event presented by England U21 Coach Brian Eastick. Really inspires you to see such good coaches without any sort of egos.

 

Monday 13th August

Good blog on junior football here

 

Ashington 1 Sunderland RCA 1 FA Cup Extra Prelim Round

The road to Wembley starts early if you’re a non-league club. Check out the highlights with the RCA goalkeeper getting a last minute equaliser for his team. Click here  Thanks to Hayley for the highlights.

 

The behaviour of the winners and losers at the Olympics has certainly given our footballers a lesson in how to behave. In the new season why don’t we really show up those players trying to cheat to win free kicks and those feigning injury. Let us not accept players moaning because they have to play 2 games in a week.

 

 

Friday 3rd August

For senior teams in particular, pre-season training is probably the most important time of the year. If you fail to do a proper pre-season you feel as though you’re playing catch-up when the real action starts. Good coaches have moved away from simply running around the park and shuttles. Fitness can be attained whilst using a football. “You don’t learn to be a pianist by running around the piano” as a better coach than me once said.

 

 

Tuesday 26th June

So the usual post mortem into England’s lack of success at the Euros can now get underway. Why is it that technically we look so average? Why can’t we keep hold of the ball under pressure? Why is our movement so one dimensional? It seems to me that nothing changes. We were having these conversations 15 years ago when I first got into coaching. Clubs have spent and are spending a fortune on their academies but technically we still lag behind. Am I being too impatient?

 

 

Thursday 21st June

I hope you’re all surviving the close season. If you’re the coach of a junior team maybe you’ll be in the middle of your trials, if you’re lucky enough to be able to attract players. The rest of us will be scratching around for enough players to have a team!  Semi Pro squads will probably be back in training next week. Sunday league teams still have a bit of time off !

 

 

Thursday 7th June

Tomorrow’s session with the Under 7’s and 8’s here

 

Wednesday 30th May

This weeks training session with under 7’s/8’s  here

 

Saturday 5th May

Good session last night with the Under 8’s. Download here

 

 

Thursday 3rd May

Brilliant win on Saturday at home to West Auckland. The visitors needed to win the game to claim the championship. See the highlights here

What a win for Newcastle against Chelsea! Don’t think you’ll see better goals.

Don’t mind Roy Hodgson getting the England job. Think it’s only the Southern based press who wanted Redknapp.

 

 

Saturday 28th April 2012

Great session at training last night. 21 kids turned up for our under 7’s and 8’s. Session here

 

 

Saturday 21st April

Good training session with our Under 8’s last night. Session here  Taken from the FA’s new book The Future Game

Watching the Chelsea v Barcelona game on Wednesday was so infuriating. Players rolling around in “pain” and others falling over after minimal contact. Let’s hope something is done about it before it filters down the leagues.

 

 

Friday 13th April

Northern League: Benfield 2 Ashington 1 .. A wonder goal overhead kick from Paul Antony gave Benfield a slightly fortunate 3 points. Great display from the home keeper Andy Grainger.  

 

 

Saturday 7th April

The way forward for youth football

U7 U8 - 5 a side:    U9 U10 - 7 a side:    U11 U12 - 9 a side:    U13 up - 11 a side

I hope they bring out a rule stopping goalies from kicking out of their hands in the 5 a side game otherwise the temptation for some coaches/teams will be to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

 

 

Friday 6th April

If you’re interested in Junior / Mini Soccer have a look at this website www.youthfootballdevelopment.blogspot.co.uk

Written by Nick Levett who is the FA National development Manager for Youth and Mini Soccer.

 

We rightly complain in this country about how technically we seem to be miles behind the likes of Spain, Portugal etc. But watching Swansea against Newcastle should be a reminder that possession of the ball is not an end in itself. You keep the ball in order to go forward and create chances. If your final ball is poor or you don’t have the flair to play a killer ball or to get past an opponent, you achieve nothing.

 

 

Tuesday 3rd April

Congratulations to Dunston UTS and West Auckland on reaching the FA Vase Final at Wembley. With Whitley Bay winning the competition for the previous 3 years, it’s further confirmation that the Northern League is the strongest Step 5 league in the country.

 

 

Friday 30th March

Big games for 2 Northern League teams tomorrow in the semi finals of the FA Vase. West Auckland are at home to Herne Bay (2-2 first leg) and Dunston UTS travel to Staveley with a 1-0 lead. With fellow Northern League side Whitley Bay having won the competition for the previous 3 years it would be great if one of them could keep the run going.

 

 

Wednesday 28th March

Northern League: Ashington 0 Sunderland RCA 4 .. Hammered by top of the table Sunderland RCA who must now be slight favourites to win the league unless Dunston, Spennymoor or West Auckland can stop them. No complaints about the result as RCA were much stronger and quicker than us. Just disappointed that we couldn’t put up more of a fight.

 

 

Tuesday 27th March

Sunday: Under 8’s Cramlington Juniors 2 Ellington 1 A really close game played in glorious sunshine!

Saturday: Northern League  Consett 1 Ashington 2.  We carried a bit of luck in this game, scoring from a free kick given for a back pass which seemed rather harsh, then Consett had a player sent off.

 

We did an interesting session with our Under 8’s last Friday. Closing down and defending

Probably a bit too advanced but it may stick in their minds for when we re-visit it at a later date

 

 

Wednesday 21st March

Good win last Saturday. Northern League: Ashington 2 Shildon 0. The Colliers move up to 5th place.

1-1 draw for our U8’s against Cramlington United on Sunday

 

 

Wednesday 14th March

Good win last night for Ashington.  Northern league: Ashington 3 Billingham Town 0

Check out the goals here

 

 

Tuesday 13th March

Good weekend. Northern league : South Shields 0 Ashington 1  Brief highlights available here

Then a good 3-0 win on Sunday for Ellington U8’s against Ponteland.

Monday night was a bit disappointing with a schoolboy error from Danny Simpson handing Arsenal a 92nd minute winner against Newcastle.

 

 

Thursday 8th March

Saturday saw a disappointing 1-1 draw for Ashington against Jarrow Roofing but a much better performance on Tuesday winning 3-1 at home to Consett

 

 

Saturday 3rd March

Took in the Morpeth Town v North Shields game last Wednesday. Check out the last minute goal from Goalkeeper Michael Robinson here

 

 

Monday 27th February

Good weekend of football!  Northern League: Ashington 3 Stokesley 0     Two goals from Marc Walton and one from Andrew Johnson.

And on the Sunday:   Ellington U8  2  North Shields 0  ... One of our best performances of the season.

Quite rightly winning isn’t important at this age but even so the kids and the parents go home happier after a victory!!

 

 

Wednesday 22nd February

West Auckland 2 Ashington 1 .. A much improved performance against top of the table West Auckland. Had we taken half our chances we would have won the game comfortably. For those unfamiliar with West Auckland’s story have a look at this

 

 

Monday 20th February

FA Vase Last 16  Shortwood United 3 Ashington 0

A disappointing result and performance plus a 600 mile round trip for good measure!

2 down after 12 minutes. I don’t think Shortwood could quite believe how bad we were but that’s football.

Good luck to them in the next round. On a positive note Nailsworth in Gloucestershire is a lovely part of the country.

Our under 8’s lost 3-2 on Sunday to complete a miserable weekend!

 

 

Tuesday 14th February

Good training session on Friday with the Under 8’s. Repeated last week’s drill and it went even better second time round.

Saturday’s trip down to Shortwood United was called off and re-scheduled for next Saturday. Need to book the hotel again!

On Sunday the Under 8’s lost 3-2 in a very close game against Cramlington Juniors

Then watched Newcastle get absolutely thrashed by Spurs on Sky. Never been so un-interested in a game after those first 5 minutes.

 

 

Thursday 9th February

Long trip down to Gloucester looming for Sunday’s FA Vase home against Shortwood United .. Weather permitting

 

 

Friday 3rd February

Tried a nice drill with our under 8’s which went quite well

 

 

Wednesday 1st February

Played Sun:  Under 8’s  Newcastle City 5 Ellington 2 ..... 5-0 down after the third quarter we pulled 2 goals back in the final quarter to salvage some respectability!

Played Sat:  Newton Aycliffe 1 Ashington 1 .... A deflected Mark O’Dea goal was cancelled out before half time. Got back just in time to see the second half of the Brighton v Newcastle FA Cup game. Dreadful.

 

 

Wednesday 25th Jan

Ashington 4 Spennymoor 1  .......  Great win against probably the best team in the league. Very impressed again with Dan Taylor, on loan from Newcastle United. Two goals from him, another one from Mark O’Dea and a penalty from Phil Bell.

 

 

Tuesday 24th Jan

Ashington drawn away to Shortwood United in the FA Vase. Another long journey!

 

 

Sunday 22nd Jan

Back home to the North East at 10pm on Saturday night, then back on the road to Gosforth at 10am Sunday for Ellington’s under 8’s game against Cramlington Juniors. Lost 4-1 but a really spirited performance against the best team in the league. Great to see their keeper throwing the ball out to their defenders so they can build it up from the back. That’s what we’ve got to aim for.

 

 

Saturday 21st Jan

Newport Pagnell 2 Ashington 3

A crowd of well over 600 saw Ashington deservedly move into the last 16 of the FA Vase. Goals from Mark O’Dea and Gareth Rees put the Colliers 2 up before Newport pegged it back to 2-2. Ashington hit straight back before half time with a Gareth Bainbridge goal. Surprisingly that was the end of the scoring. The other surprise was how Pagnell finished the game with 11 players on the field .. Only the ref could explain that one. All in all a great day out and thanks to all at Newport Pagnell FC for a friendly welcome.

 

Thurs 19th Jan

Saturday sees Ashington FC travel down to Newport Pagnell FC for the 4th round of the FA Vase ... That’s the last 32 with the final being held at Wembley. This equals the furthest the club have ever reached in the competition so over 100 fans are expected to make the 4½ hour journey.