It was a mild and dry Thursday evening – perfect weather for training, though the firm ground underfoot led Mason, Eddie, Dan and Katherine to take tackling drills off the table. The coaches instead introduced some creative two-ball challenge games designed to sharpen the team’s attacking and defensive formations.

The session got off to a slow start as the players adjusted to the new drills, but it didn’t take long before the squad found their rhythm. Once the penny dropped, there was a noticeable shift in understanding, and the team really began to show their progress.

Following a few more drills, the session wrapped up and it was time for the much-anticipated Trainer of the Week award. Katherine passed the duty of choosing this week’s winner to Eddie and Mason, who selected George for his exceptional display of growing game intelligence. His awareness, positioning, and decision-making were stand-out features throughout the evening.

All the U9s are showing real improvement this season in terms of positional play and tactical understanding – a testament to both their commitment and the coaching team’s hard work. George’s performance this week was a great example of how far the team has come. Well done, George – a fantastic effort! (Although we’re not entirely convinced about the photo…)

South Woodham visit on Sunday for our last match of the season, let’s hope we go out on a high.