E B Lions A.F.C. End of Season Awards 2008

Posted on July 20, 2008

On Saturday 7th June players and parents of the 10 teams from E B Lions AFC gathered at Edlesborough School for their annual end of season awards presentation. All the players received a trophy in recognition of their contribution and hard work and each team manager nominated players for the special individual awards of "Most Improved Player of the Year" and "Manager's Player of the Year". The players in each team voted for their "Player of the Year" from amongst their team-mates. The club would like to thank Edlesborough School for kindly allowing us to make use of their premises and facilities.

League Results

• U7 Whites 7th Division 2 (U8) Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U8 Reds 4th Division 1 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U8 Blues 4th Division 2 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U9 2nd Division 2 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U10 8th Division 4 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U10 Girls 6th Division 1 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U11 5th Division 4 Chiltern Youth League
• U12 6th Division 2 Chiltern Youth League
• U12 Girls 5th Division 2 Chiltern Junior Sevens League
• U14 5th Division 5 Chiltern Youth League

5 Year Service Awards

The following players received awards for 5 continuous years of playing for the club:

• U11 - Harry Rogers
• U12 - Luke Dunstan, Jake Higgs, Nathan Sears, James Pearce, Robert Moseley
• U14 - Lee Cavendish, Jack Coates, Matt Lancefield, Sam Marshall, Jonnie Moriarty, Gus Thorne.

2007/2008 Season Round-up

Our Under 12's had previously tasted cup success when winning the Under 9's Chiltern Junior Sevens League Cup. This season they reached the semi-final in both League and County U12 Cups, beating several high placed division 1 teams along the way. Not to be outdone, the young players of the Under 8 Reds team also impressed us. They showed a maturity of play well beyond their tender years and also reached the semifinal of their cup competition. Meanwhile the Under 9 team were successful in the league, stringing together a run of twelve consecutive victories to finish runners-up in division two of the Chiltern Junior Sevens league.

We established two new girls' teams at under 10 and under 12 this season. Few if any of the girls had played competitively before but they showed enormous enthusiasm and the results improved beyond our expectations as the season progressed. The under 10 Girls finished in the top half of their league. Given that the girls were all new to this and were playing some established Clubs we think this is a remarkable achievement.

Other Club News

A major achievement for the club this season was receiving FA Charter Standard Developing status. We are one of only 8 clubs in Bedfordshire to do so. The FA Charter Standard Programme provides recognition that clubs are well run and sustainable, with child protection and safety paramount. It also recognises a club's commitment to coaching, player and coach development, and the raising of standards of behaviour in the game - all of which are big priorities for the Club and the FA.

We have made several new appointments during this year. Lewis Taylor will be Senior Coach to act as a mentor to new coaches. Nick Bramston is our fitness coach and Steve Rogers our goalkeeping coach. Carol Mercer is our New Team Co-ordinator - seeking out players for new teams each season and forging links with local schools.

Thanks

The club would like to thank Eaton Bray and Edlesborough Parish Councils, Edlesborough School and Dagnall Village Hall Committee for their continued support.

The Club has significant growth plans over the coming 5 years and hopes to double the number of teams in that period, so if you would like to join a growing and friendly Club with aspirations, please contact Tim Sanders by email: [email protected]

For more information about the club please access our website at www.eblions.co.uk.

-- Liz Coates, Press Officer - EB Lions AFC.

Source: Focus, July 2008