I have been coaching and then subsequently managing the team for about 4 years, there has been a few games that will always be memorable but the clear stand out game must be the U15 John Leeds Cup Final in 2024/25 vs Rainham 84 Warriors.

We’d had two very close matches with Warriors in the league, drawing one and losing the other by a single goal so I was expecting a tight game.

I was extremely nervous and had had countless sleepless nights leading up to final day going over the formation, team selection, tactics in my head. Preparation had been perfect with great support from the U18s who shared their experience of winning a cup final a few weeks previously during a joint training session before the final.

Thankfully the players didn’t appear to be nervous and executed our instructions perfectly during a close first half in which we took the lead and dominated position as well as creating numerous chances to extend the lead. As the clock ticked down, tiredness and nerves kicked in and Warriors equalised with literally the last kick of the game and meant extra-time!

For me, it’s why this is easily the best game they have played, most teams would have been broken from conceding with the last kick of the game, but the whole team lifted themselves and completely bulldozed extra time, scoring 2 outstanding goals and creating numerous other chances and eventually lifting the Cup!

I was an emotional wreck after the game, but what an experience and couldn’t have been prouder of the way the team performed.

Last season was my first as manager and I had some difficult decisions to make as players decided not to continue leading to gaps in the team to fill. Adverts and word of mouth led to a few trials with new players. I took the decision to sign one lad that had never played in a team or competitive football before, which was a risk at U15 when most will have been playing for nearly 10 years. What struck me most was his positive attitude and desire to improve and so I chose to sign him knowing that I’d have to put the effort in with him to help him improve.

At the start of the season, he struggled a little with fitness and confidence from his lack of experience, but by the end of the season he was a regular starter at full back and was trusted to play a full 80 minutes even deputising at centre back in some games.

He has to take a lot of the credit for this impressive improvement, but I’d like to think that my coaching, support and encouragement has helped him to develop into the player he is now.