THIS WEEKEND - SAY 4 JUNE

Hi all

Training on Friday is at 5:45pm, Waverton Pitches. Outstanding May subs would be appreciated.

This Saturday we have a match AWAY v Vicars Cross at 10:30am KO (so 10:00am arrival) at Thackeray Drive, Vicars Cross, Chester, CH3 5LP.

We will select all players we know are available for this last league match of the year. This is the toughest game in our league and we lost 3-7 last time (from being 3-0 up!) so we hope to do well this time round. Starting selection and game time will be based on last week’s performances and this Friday’s training session.

Team

Hugo (g)
Alex
William
Harry (c)
Fin
Xander
Zac
Rory
Will B
George
Bailey

Rested

Charlie

If anyone cannot play please let me know ASAP.

Thanks

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 28 MAY

ROCKETS 2 - 0 UPTON YOUTH

A really solid display this morning brought about our 12th win in 18 games since Christmas and takes our win and draw percentage to 89% in 2016 and 83% for the campaign! Not that I'm counting or anything....

We started really well again with a nice shape playing Rory up top ahead of William, Xander and Harry. In the first quarter we caused Upton lots of problems. We had talked before the game about the need to score early against a defensive Upton set-up, and from a Xander corner which was part cleared William slammed the ball home.

We went on to dominate the first two quarters and it was great to see Harry and Rory back to their best in terms of skills and running ability. Harry was getting lots of joy down the right and it took a string of last ditch tackles to keep the score down.

After the first quarter we talked about the need to shoot earlier and asked Xander and Harry to get some shots on goal. Immediately Xander hit one from a great run and was unlucky not to score. Then Harry broke down the centre, beat two players before striking one to the top corner which was too strong for the goalie. Will B followed up on the shot but it had already crossed the line and was Harry's goal.

The third quarter went by without too much incident although Upton did start to press which Alex and Charlie dealt with very well. Charlie was also on his 'A game' today and every time we looked in danger he sprang into action with tackles and great distribution. We were unlucky not to extend the advantage with a great shot from Fin being saved at point blank range and some great saving tackles.

In the fourth quarter we stopped our passing a little and this resulted in a few hairy moments when we tried to run out from the back. Against better teams we would have got punished but Hugo wasn't tested too many times and when he was he was up to the task. Hugo's kicking and distribution was perfect.

A good win, some great moments and a clean sheet for our defence and Hugo. So well done to everyone.

MOTM was between William, Charlie and Harry who all played excellently. The award went to Harry who played brilliantly in training and took this form into the game today.

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 28 MAY

Hi all

Training on Friday is at 5:45pm, Waverton Pitches. PLEASE BRING APPLICATIONS & MAY SUBS…I will be there from 5:30pm to gather them!!

This Saturday we have a match at HOME v Upton Youth at 09:00am KO (so 08:30am arrival) at Waverton Pitches.

Team

Hugo (g)
Alex
Charlie
William
Harry
Fin (c)
Xander
Rory
Will B

Rested

Zac
Bailey
George

If anyone cannot play please let me know ASAP.

Thanks

Rob

TOURNAMENTS - SQUADS

Hi all

It seems that all boys are now available for both tournaments – which while our commitment is excellent it causes us a headache as tournament rules means we can’t take the whole squad to each event. I was working on the usual 2 or 3 missing basis!!

So unless anything changes, or people get back to me if anyone is away (?), here are the preliminary squads for each.

I know there could be some disappointment as some boys get to play two events. I’ve tried to match up team formats and positions to play to our strengths and give us the best chance at both…it’s not easy believe me. If anyone cannot play please email me ASAP.

Tournament fees are £3 per player payable on the day.

 

On a matter of safeguarding these are fairly busy public events so parents/guardians will need to commit to being there with their child; unless we know in advance that they have given responsibility to another parent or family member. On the day we will establish a ‘Waverton area’ with gazebo if someone has one they can bring…?

Sunday 12^th June    JFC Prees (Wem) Tournament                   10am-4pm

Hugo (g)
William
Charlie
Xander
Fin
Harry
Bailey
Zac
Rory

Saturday 25^th June    FC Frodsham Festival of Football             10am-4pm

Hugo (g)
Alex
Charlie
William
Xander
Bailey
Zac
George
Will B

In between we have our parents V players match and awards day.

I think next year we best do three tournaments!

Regards

Rob

From: Rob Stewart
Sent: 03 May 2016 22:30
Subject: Tournaments

Hi All

Just re-checking availability for the two tournaments. If anyone is unavailable or prefers to play one tournament and pick which one then please let me know…

Sunday 12^th June              JFC Prees (Wem) Tournament                   10am-4pm

Saturday 25^th June           FC Frodsham Festival of Football             10am-4pm

On a matter of safeguarding these are fairly busy public events so parents/guardians will need to commit to being there with their child; unless we know in advance that they have given responsibility to another parent or family member. On the day we will establish a ‘Waverton area’ with gazebo if someone has one they can bring…

Further updates and teams will be issued.

Regards

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 21 MAY

SAUGHALL COLTS 0 - 3 ROCKETS

A brilliant win this morning in monsoon conditions means we can put last weeks result behind us and look to finish the season strongly.

After a very hard fought win over Saughall earlier in the season we were looking forward to this game, especially after such a good training session where our passing and movement was a joy to watch.

Sadly though Saughall were short of a few players so we played 6v6 on the smaller pitch, which as we found out against Upton does not suit our 'expansive' style of play!

We started the game brightly with good pressure on the ball and were unlucky as we were over hitting some passes due to the pitch size. At the other end Saughall had one attack and shot which William saved at point blank range.

In the second quarter, with Hugo back in goal, we changed 4 outfield positions which can often hurt our game. The boys who came on did really well. William and Charlie were solid and intelligent at the back and Harry, Zac and George combined nicely resulting in Zac sliding a pass to the on-running George who finished nicely to the bottom right.

At this point the heavens opened with a biblical 20 minute downpour which flooded the pitch and really meant any passing football was now impossible.

The third quarter started, even though we could have called off the game, and the lads really stood up to the task with Bailey, Xander and Fin showing our running strengths. Fin broke from midfield and ran towards the opposition goal forcing a clearance to Xander who rifled a low shot in off the post. The technique, with little back lift, was perfect for the conditions and put us comfortably 2-0 up.

With a few minutes to go in the quarter we moved William up to midfield - mainly because he looked hypothermic and needed to run about to warm up! That said he was unlucky when his shot got stuck in the mud on the goal-line!

In the final quarter the pitch deteriorated so much that it fell to the bigger, stronger runners on both teams to just 'have a go'. Fin showed what an athlete he is and it was great to see Harry and Zac coming back from midfield with key tackles to keep us ahead and help out Alex who was great as our last man. We completed the 0-3 score line after Fin put George through and he finished coolly again.

All the boys deserve a huge amount of credit to keep going today. MOTM was shared between George and Fin.

Well done to parents and friends as well - not a single moan or concern about the weather and pitch and everyone agreeing the boys will remember this match for years to come! Hopefully everyone has now warmed up.  

MATCH REPORT - SAT 14 MAY

ROCKETS 2 : 3 GROVES FC

Reality came home as a well organised and physically strong Groves, who are becoming our bogey team, stole a win.

A slightly depleted in numbers Rockets side dominated the first two quarters with makeshift keepers William and Wills hardly touching the ball, but on the offensive we just couldn't get the ball in the net due to a combination of bad luck, good goalkeeping and a tendency to want to overplay at times.

Somehow in the third quarter the opposition managed three shots which all went in so we found ourselves amazingly 0-3 down!

We regrouped for the last quarter and put in a great effort and got 2 back through Zac and George but the equaliser evaded us and Groves even managed two more shots as we gambled a bit which Wills dealt with very well.

In many ways it was a day to forget. William and Alex were the stand out players as they never put a foot wrong, with William getting MOTM for his joint contribution of playing in goal, defence and midfield.

If there was a lesson to be learnt we have to maybe not overplay at times and also particularly in midfield appreciate that we have to defend as well as attack.

TRAINING & MATCH - SAT 21 MAY

Hi all

Training on Friday is at 5:45pm, Waverton Pitches.

This Saturday we have a match AWAY v Saughall Colts at 10:30am KO (so 10:00am arrival). This is at Sea Hill Playing Fields, Sea Hill Road, Saughall, Chester, CH1 6BJ.

If you travel from the Parkgate Road all the way through Saughall Village the fields are at the far end of the village, down the hill on the right before the big bridge.

Team

Hugo (g)
Harry
Fin (c)
Bailey
Alex
Xander
Zac
Charlie
William

Rested

George
Rory
Will B

If anyone cannot play please let me know ASAP so we can offer the place to those rested.

Thanks

Rob

ROCKETS REGISTRATION 2016-17 SEASON

Hello all

 

I hope everyone has enjoyed our very successful season, in which the boys have proved they can beat any team in the league. Through the season we went on two incredible winning runs and we have improved steadily as a team. Some of the individual improvements have also been amazing.

 

 

In your email dated 16 May is attached 2016-17 player registration forms and guides. At u9s every player is registered with the FA and League so we need 2 x passport photos, copies of passport or ID’s showing correct age – it’s all explained in the form and the attachment! Each player gets an ID card which I keep and show to other managers when we get into the Cup and Shield matches!

 

 

I need the forms and cheques playable to AFC Waverton (£63/player) back NO LATER than Friday 27^th May, so that our club secretary can register the team on Wednesday 1 June which is the cut-off. Players not registered will not be able to start the season.

 

 

We hope that we can keep the squad together as we transition from mini-soccer to junior football which is a competitive environment. From the start of next season, match-day squad and starting team selection will be based on some key areas – attitude & behaviour, aptitude & ability and commitment. This will be monitored by the coaches at training and matches. I am conscious that we are all making an investment in time and money so it’s fair that we lay out the rules before this investment is made!

 

 

If anyone has any questions please feel free to call me – 07918 741958…

 

 

Please either hand the forms to me on Friday training (please not at the matches) or you can post to my home:

 

 

Stamford Heath Farm

Stamford Lane

Cotton Edmunds

Chester

CH3 7QT

 

 

Cheers

Rob

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 14 MAY

Hi all

Training will continue on the grass at Waverton Community Pitches (our home pitches) for the remainder of the season. This will be at 5:45pm as usual and again Steve Peers and Hayden Evans will take the training. Thanks to them for stepping in.

Our Saturday match is a 9:00am KO (so 8:30am arrival) HOME  v Groves FC. This is at our Waverton Pitches, Common Lane, Waverton.

Team

Bailey
Charlie
Will B
Zac
Rory
Alex
Harry
George
William

*we are looking for volunteer goalie or goalies.

Rested 

Hugo
Fin
Xander

 

If anyone can't play please let me know.

Thanks

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 7 MAY

ELTON YOUTH 1 - 1 ROCKETS

Our third draw of the season against a tough and organised Elton side was well deserved. Elton is always a hard place to get a result and the conditions today of a hot morning and knee high grass made it difficult for both teams.

Elton will move up a division next year as they have not lost all season and they said we are the only team that gives them a proper game. They have a very settled side and their progress is good encouragement to us as we play better football than them. 

We started really well again and were unlucky not to break the deadlock with both Xander and Wills having their finishes stopped by two fantastic saves. At the other end William was very composed standing in for Hugo and made a couple of good saves followed by excellent distribution. 

In the second quarter Elton scored when an over hit corner flew over all the boys heads only for the Elton defender to hit an unstoppable shot past Fin into the top left. 

Going into the third quarter we managed to get control of the game and our defending at the back was excellent. Fin in particular, ably assisted by Alex, William and Zac, looked very composed on the ball. Fin's reading of the game drew praise from the Elton coaches. 

Going forward we also started to threaten. Xander picked the ball up just inside the Elton half, went on his usual maizey run before slipping the ball to Bailey who nailed one into the top left. It was a great goal and was very much deserved.

The final quarter was a good contest but the game ended in a fair draw. 

A big thank you William, Fin, Wills and Zac who either played in goal, out of usual positions or couldn't have time further forward.

MOTM went to Fin for really solid, energetic and committed display.

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 7 MAY

Hi all

We are switching training to the grass at Waverton Community Pitches (our home pitches) for the remainder of the season. This will be at 5:45pm as usual and for the next two weeks Steve Peers and Hayden Evans will take the training. Thanks to them for stepping in.

Our Saturday match is a 9:30am KO (so 9:00am arrival) AWAY  v Elton Youth. This is at Elton Primary School, School Lane, Elton, CH2 4LT.

NB: Elton have asked that all cars be parked next door at the Community Centre as they’ve had issues with residents over cars being parked in the bus stop (probably Saughall parents…ha)

Team

Bailey (c)
Will B
Xander
Zac
Rory
Fin
Alex
Harry
George
William

*we are looking for volunteer goalie or goalies.

Rested 

Hugo
Charlie

If anyone can't play please let me know.

Thanks

Rob