Leckhampton Rovers Cougars Under 11’s
2010-11 Season Review
This season the team has made the step up from mini-soccer to 11-a-side with some aplomb. A winning run at the start of the season that stretched to 11 games saw goals being scored for fun and some excellent individual performances. A run of tough games then saw us drop points where we really shouldn’t have. But then that’s sport.
Late into the season we were challenging for the league only to see that challenge drop away in latter matches, notably versus Gotherington and Lakeside Blues.
This was all forgotten when we lifted the Arthur Stiley Memorial Trophy, comprehensively beating Lakeside Blues 3-1 in the final.
This has been a sterling first season at 11-a-side. We brought in new players that settled and contributed immediately. Players have continued to develop their skills ability and team play as the season progressed, and we should not underestimate their toughness.
We are not the biggest team in terms of size by a long stretch but what we do have is a superior technical ability, method of play, pace and skill. It is this that we need to continue to build on and play like next season.
We continue to have fantastic support at all matches, rain or shine - and look at the cup final where we were the only fans singing! The Christmas Party and post Cup Final picnic were excellent events, well attended with everyone having a ball.
We are an excellent team and so much more besides…..
Team Report…
William
Position: Goalkeeper & Vice Captain
Clean Sheets: 12
Memorable moments……the save at very the end of the match v Cleeve Colts Rovers to secure the draw, and the save to keep us 2-0 up at half time in the cup final
Will has to be one of the best if not the best ‘keeper in the division. Bravery, athleticism and superb concentration and timing have seen him make excellent saves when called upon to keep us in matches. Notably in the cup final when he dived bravely at the onrushing attackers feet to keep us at 2-0 going into half time. Has improved and developed this season with excellent distribution particularly from hands and is a real talker keeping the defenders on their toes!
Jordan
Position: Central Defender and Club Captain
Memorable moments…A defensive masterclass against a very strong St Marks Under-12 side in the Gloucester Cup, and..lifting the Arthur Stiley Memorial Trophy– a very deserving captain.
With natural leadership qualities that you wouldn’t expect in an 11year old Jordan has been excellent this season. His reading of the game is superb, he rarely is caught out of position and although not the biggest or quickest player, I have not seen him outmuscled or outpaced, and he uses his intelligence to make sure he’s in the right position. His support of the other players on the pitch is outstanding, he never stops talking, organising and praising his team mates. He has been like a new signing this season after missing so much last season due to school commitment - and what a signing he has been.
George
Position: Defender
Memorable moment….countless last-ditch tackles – and .in a recent tournament when asked to play up front he replied “where’s that?”
The quiet man of the team who’s value should not be, and isn’t, underestimated. With abundant pace, strength and determination in the tackle he has got us out of trouble at the back on numerous occasions. A player all the boys know they can rely on George as their “last man” – and frequently do!
He was once referred to by an opposition manager as “…our insurance policy…” – if anyone breaks through the midfield they rarely get past George as well.
Will
Position: Defender
Memorable moments…..a tremendous full debut in the back three against Leckhampton Panthers which secured his place for the season – and at Gotherington where he took a ball from about two yards smack in the face; with tears in his eyes and snot on his face, he looked up and won the very next header….
Will has made himself an ever present in the back three by virtue of solid and reliable performances. He rarely gets caught out of position, will take a touch and look to pass the ball out of defence and is strong enough to stand his ground under pressure. He does the simple things very well and never over complicates matters. An excellent first season.
Nick
Position: Defender / Attacker
Goals: 7
Memorable moment….. A left foot screamer to put us 3-0 up in the first half of the Derby match against the Panthers – and somehow over the season he has been attributed the nickname of ‘the holy one’, a moniker he is revelling in, even going so far as to have it on a t-shirt under his kit for the cup final!
Nick has been a utility player this season playing in a number of positions notably either up front or in defence. Playing in either position his physical attributes put him head and shoulders above everyone and with a bit more belief he would be unstoppable. He could quite easily be the Cougars Beast! Nick also has an excellent attitude and when we have been at matches and he has not managed to get onto the pitch has accepted a difficult position with incredible good grace.
Conor
Position: Midfielder / Defender
Goals: 13
Memorable moments…..Some spectacular long-range goals in first few matches of the season, and heading the ball! It took a while to get there but now we are there’s no looking back ;)
One of the players in this team with excellent versatility having played the majority of the season as the inside left midfielder he has also played the holding role, the left wing and in some matches as centre back. Big and strong and with an eye for goal Conor is single minded in his approach during matches, approaches matches with a positive attitude and will always give you 100%.
Jacob
Position: Midfielder
Goals: 9
Memorable moments…..many great performances but particularly v Cleeve Colts Rovers where he outperformed two powerful midfielders that he was giving probably half a stone each in weight and a good few inches in height too…Also scoring the pressure penalty in that match (and many others)
The linchpin of the team, the battery, the metronome, the Claude Makele. Jacob has been quite excellent as the central midfielder, rarely giving the ball away, making tackles and covering the defence and attack. A superb player that has a picture of what is going on around him and knows what he’s going to do before he gets the ball. Add to this a strong work ethic and an eye for goal, and he is a quite wonderful footballer.
Tom
Position: Midfielder (or “Alloverthefielder”)
Goals: 8
Memorable moments…..a fantastic solo run and goal against Saracens, and sending Tom on with clear instructions to play the holding midfield role and watching him run onto the pitch to the right back position to break up an attack!
There is not a blade of grass on a pitch that we have played on that Tom will not have run across this season! Astonishing energy levels and skill have seen him emerge as an ever-present in the midfield trio. His constant motion disrupting opposition players from their passing game as he makes a seemingly infinite number of interceptions and tackles. He is also creative going forward and causes defences real problems with his driving runs. He has had an excellent first season with the Cougars. Another versatile player Tom has plays nearly every position on the pitch in most games he plays!
Sam
Position: Midfielder
Goals: 5
Memorable moments…..a lovely cross v Charlton Rovers that led to a rare Cougars headed goal, and two excellent passes that led to goals for Daniel to latch onto in the cup final. Also the crunch winning goal in a tight 2-1 victory over Cleeve Colts at the start of the season.
Another player that can be described as “versatile”. Sam has played positions across the entire midfield and also played a stint at right back. Technically excellent he controls the ball instantly and shows supberb technique when firing in crosses from deep. Intelligent when on the ball he has linked well with the midfielders and strikers and shown excellent form on the right wing in the last few matches we played.
Finn
Position: Midfielder
Goals: 1
Memorable moments…..ahhh where to begin?! How can the opposition second guess what he will do when on the ball when he doesn’t know himself? Also a great second half performance against Abbeymead in the “comeback of the season”
Finn has had an excellent season developing significantly as a player. With undoubted skill on the ball despite a style that makes it look as though he is one step from collapsing in a heap he has grown in confidence and developed what is a natural ability to excellent effect. He has started to play more with his head up, and managed to combine his undoubted dribbling skills with the ability to find the right pass at the right time.
Paddy
Position: Winger/Wing back
Goals: 11
Memorable moments…..a cool finish to put us 1-0 up in the end of season nailbiter against Cleeve Colts Rovers, and showing tremendous all-round skill energy, and athleticism (albeit in a losing match) against Churdown Panthers
A power house of an athlete, Paddy has played on the right wing and up front this season significantly improving in the process. He is another of the Cougars flying machines and when in full flight is pretty impossible to stop! Growing on confidence as the season progressed he should definitely be looking forward to the start of next season!
Freddie
Position: Striker / Midfielder
Goals: 9
Memorable moments….a dominant man-of-the-match performance in a difficult game on bumpy pitch against Bourton Rovers, and in the cup final having to be substituted because he forgot his antihistamines and then again when catching a ball in the face and getting a bloody nose ;)
Freddie has excellent technical ability as a front man. He holds the ball up well and links well to bring others into the game. This ability has also seen him able to drop into midfield when called upon. Fitness was an issue at the season start but this has improved due to hard work put in by Freddie outside of training. As the season progressed he became more involved in matches and delivered important contributions. A lot of what he does is unnoticed as it is link play but he is very effective in this role.
Luca
Position: Winger / Striker
Goals: 18
Memorable moments…..Flying down the wing against any opposition and a six goal haul (including a diving header) on a rainy day in Bishops Cleeve.
Luca has really developed as a player this season.He has always had pace and fitness but this season has added control, directness and goals to his game. 11-a-side clearly suits his playing style, and he has been devastating in his maurauding runs up and down the line. Playing on the left wing as a natural right-footer he has become two footed and has shown this finishing with both feet. Always the outlet ball from the back or midfield he must cover miles in a game!
Daniel
Position: Striker
Goals: 30
Memorable moments…..a goal from the half-way line against Southside, and a quite brilliant hat-trick in the Cup Final!
Berbatov or Chicharito?
A quite excellent striker, gifted with pace, trickery and skill. He has scored all sorts of goals this season. His hat-trick in the cup final showed his array of talent with none of them an easy finish. When he’s up for it he is unplayable. Another excellent season and his second season finishing as top scorer.
Callum
Position: Striker
Goals: 3
Memorable moments…..has to be playing a goalscoring, man of the match performance against Lakeside Whites in odd boots. Or was it when called to come on as a sub against Saracens he couldn’t get his tracky bottoms off? ;)
Callum has taken his opportunities in the team when they have presented themselves, predominantly playing up front but also in midfield when required. What has been impressive is that he has started most matches from the bench but has never let his head drop or stopped trying. He has attended every training session and continues to improve. When on the bench his attitude is first class and he has accepted when he has not made it onto the field in incredibly good grace. This has not been an easy season but one that Callum has handled with excellent maturity, and he has clearly developed as a footballer during the year.
New Signings…
Harvey
Harvey joins the team from the Lynxes where he finished top scorer last season. He has played a couple of tournaments for the team in the summer to get used to playing and start to mix with the lads. A real acquisition he has pace, bags of drive and willingness to work hard for the team. The only problem will be finding his best position!
Max
As debuts go few can match Max. Making his debut in a friendly versus the Sharks he played well and marked his first outing with a goal. Then in the Cleeve Colts tournament over the summer he was an instrumental player in the overall victory! A cultured midfielder who rarely gives the ball away Max, like Harvey is a definite acquisition for the team who can provide something a little different.