Fantastic results girls for the first round, we are in sunny Lanzarote but keeping up to date with your progress. Good luck for tomorrow's games xxxx
Cris
Great start girls
Jmck
All the best for Gothia 2013!
Lee
Well, where do i start and how do i put into words how special this young group of players were as juniors, and will hopefully continue to be as women footballers. Although some would believe we are packed with centre of excellence/academy players the truth is they were formed as under 10s 7 years ago with Amy, Beth and Zoe being the longest serving players, the following year we started to become known for our passing style of football and soon players like Meg, Loz, Gaby, Briggsy and Jess joined after either being released by various academies or not accepting a place at 1 or 2 also. This has been for the last 5 - 6 years been the main core of players within the team. Along the way we have added quality in the form of Beely, Woody, Rosie, Rosie Mac, Beth J and Lauren as well as 1 or 2 players who left along the way or are still with the club, mainly Vic, Maddy, Megan J, Courtney and Reanne. We wish them all well in the future.
Always an extremely hard working team, who through no fault of their own have taken some knocks over the years too!
From a young age we trained at least twice a week and always looked for a challenge for them to push them onto the next level. Whatever the challenge, they always met it head on and never failed to surprise Phil Williams and myself in what they overcame, whether it be playing out of their age group or facing national and european opposition they always played a style of football anyone would gladly want to watch.
Major achievements would be our 1st trophy in the Durham County Girls Cup in our 1st season, followed by the double the season after. County Cup winners, Tesco Northern Region winners and National runners up. Dutch Easter Open champions at both 7 and 11 aside. World Peace Cup (Oslo) winners, Gothia World Youth Cup (Sweden) Finalists and League and Cup champions in 3 different Counties (Durham,West Riding & Lancashire).
All the above the girls did playing good football and always improving both as athletes and young women in general.
I suppose if i'm asked about 1 particular game it would have to be Cestria Galaxy 2 - 2 Vartans IK (last 32 Gothia Cup 2012). Vartans IK had won the previous 2 championships, also beating us 1 nil in the 2011 final. The game had everything a spectator (but not a manger) could ask for, goals, passion, exciting play, technique beyond their years (from both sets of players) and in the end penalties!! I'm not frightened to say that after Amys save i said a little prayer and on us winning the game shed a few tears (but you all know im too emotional!!) Yes, that is, in my opionion our best win. Maybe not a final, but in terms of what it meant to the players and myself it will always be special.
I've been through all the highs and lows with the players, from winning and losing games to county football success and failure, worry about exams, falling out with each other, making friends again, the lot!! I've seen them take some unforgivable abuse from opposition sidelines (you know who you are!), to getting them banned from playing in leagues and in some cases wanting them stopped from palying altogether! all because of their talent. BUT this has never stopped them and in a way i've always felt it was my job to protect them from what can sometimes be the ugly side of football.
It wouldn't be fair for me to not mention a few other people who have helped make the team the success it is and helped behind the scenes, mainly Phil who has always been the voice of reason and such an enthusiastic coach and manager for the girls, Ian, who introduced the coerver style coaching to the players from an early age, Matt the GK coach who developed Amy and our back 4 into what they are today, Dan who took everything to the next level in terms of 11 aside football. Dawn for making sure the girls were looked after financially in terms of kit etc and organizing every trip we ever went on! and also for putting up with rant after rant when things weren't going our way that particular day! and finally to all of the parents who have helped make this team so very special and your support for your children has been unprecedented.
I could honestly write a book on everything we have done together. I've watched you all grow up and can honestly say its been a privelege, the best bunch of youth girl players in my opinion there has ever been and long may it continue! No matter what you do in the future or wherever you go you will always be a Galaxy player and have the memories that went with it.
Well Done & Good Luck
Lee
Jmck
Aw, Mr Bloggy, we still think you and the girls are wonderful..........
Tracy N Haz
OMG! I've been sick twice! Please don't do that tonight, we'll have 3quick goals then we can relax and enjoy. Good luck, everyone here is very proud of you ALL now go for it!!!! X
Steven, Kay, Georgia And Ciaran Xx
Fantastic girls, great result, none of us have any fingernails left back home but who cares! Very proud of your determination. keep up the good work. Good luck for tonight!!
Maggie And Phil
How nail biting was that!!! Well done girls we are so proud of you all. Keep your concentration up for the next game. Good luck to you all
Maureen Jones
Absolutely fantastic performances today. Good luck for tonight,fingers crossed for you. Love the Joneses (Grandma Maureen & Grandad Joe) xx
Liz
Brilliant news, it was nailbiting stuff! Have a good rest and good luck for tonight. Liz, Paul and Anna
Deb W
Get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are so proud of you all, can't put it into words. Keep it up, good luck for tonights game
love The Whiteys xxxx