The end of something

The end of the season is always a time of mixed emotions. Time to look back on happy times during the season, have a laugh about the many funny moments (and there were certainly many of them), reflect on some very good performances and recognise the bonds and friendships that have built up. But as we look forward to our summer holidays, we are also saddened by the inevitable break up of the team. It happens each season, but still does us in.

So Wednesday night's meal and presentation only seemed to accentuate the happy and sadness of our emotions. Individually the girls were thinking, 'we will be back in September? ', 'who else is returning?' One, and we know who, was thinking that it would be so unfair to not be allowed back with the team come September. Some others were thinking their future was maybe elsewhere, some had clearly decided it definitely was.

Although at the time the season seems long and never ending, looking back it doesn't seem that drawn out. The early season games in which we excelled against the folding Vicars Cross and the very good Upton were highlights before the winter kicked in. The comeback against Upton was as good as it gets, and Lily's goal celebration will remain a joyous memory. Kate and Lauren came and stayed, Laura came and didn't stay. Emma got badly injured in training and missed a few weeks in the really hard period in mid winter. Lucie excelled continually in goal. Caitlin kept putting them in the net when she played and Ellie, Kiera, Elia and Lily all ran their socks off every Saturday and created chance after chance. Rebecca kept running and smiling.

As we emerged into Spring we got better and stronger. The win at Wirral Hawks in April was fantastic, and the first half football was sublime just Ellie's sprained ankle the cloud on the morning. The weakened side who played against Ridgewood at home the same month was brilliant and to come back and snatch it at the death was top quality. Then Ellie, Kiera, Lily and Lauren played 30 mins later for the u16s and must have been dead on their feet that afternoon.

And so that is how it ends, on a rainy July night at the Ring of Bells. A presentation of individual trophies, photos for posterity and a round of applause for all their efforts.

Thank you girls. Have a good summer.

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We need to get those who are staying at Waverton to sign on before 22 July. As said previously if don't register 7 players by the end of July, we are out of the League.

a) Fill in a club registration form (off website or from Mike)

b) Return to Mike completed with cheque for subscription for 2011/12

c) The IMPORTANT BIT - fill in a registration form for the Wallasey Junior League - available from Mike and given out already to current u14s.

d) Return to Mike with 2 passport photos by Thurs 21 July at the very latest.

Mikes number is 07901552261

2011/12 u16s Pre season training starts at Waverton on Wednesday 17 August 7-8.

Follow us on Twitter over the summer - @afcwaverton

Climbing Trees

Great day at Go Ape. See everyone on Wednesday evening.

We need to get those who are staying with us signed up. If we don't get 7 players registered by 22 July we will not have a team in the League for 2011/12. We blagged our way out of only having 5 signed on by end of July last year, we will not be allowed to do so again, the League will simply throw us out. You will need to: a) complete club registration form and pay subs b) complete Wallasey League registration form including 2 new passport photos. c) hand everything to Mike. Forms will be given out on Wednesday.

More Monkey Business, Pizzas and Presentations

Can those confirmed (Kate, Kiera, Ellie, Emma, Lily and Rebecca together with Rick, Lisa and Mike) please meet at Delamere at 10:15 on Sunday for Go Ape. More details below.

After the Go Ape we will have a bit of a picnic and others are welcome to join us. This will be about 1pm. Just bring some food and treats.

Pizza and Presentation night is Weds 6 July - so far only Kiera, Lily, Lucie, Rebecca and Ellie have confirmed. We cannot eat all those pizzas. Can others please confirm asap. Meet at the Ring of Bells at 7. Presentations at 8:15. Parents welcome then. We really could do with getting in registrations then too. Further details to follow but you will need two passport photos.

What time do I need to arrive?

Make your way to the Go Ape cabin and be ready to get going on your Go Ape adventure at your booked time. Late arrivals that miss their session will be charged at full price. Allow plenty of timeas it may take considerably longer than you think to drive into the forest, park and get to the Go Ape cabin, particularly on busy days when traffic queuing is more likely. At most sites you’ll have to pay for parking. This is because car parks are managed by forest owners, not us. Parking charges vary from course to course and can change at any time, so bring plenty of loose change.

What should I wear?

We suggest that you wear something you don’t mind getting grubby. Dress for the weather so bring along a mac if it’s raining! Please wear appropriate footwear with soles with good grips. No sandals or slip-off shoes. Some people recommend thin gloves. Long hair must be tied back.

Can I bring my camera/camcorder?

Yes you can! Getting a camera into the trees is straightforward. Talk to the guys at the Go Ape cabin and they’ll kit you out with a lanyard so that you and your camera are always attached – safer for everyone (Please note that lanyards are available to purchase for £2 at the Go Ape cabin).

Are there storage or changing facilities?

We don’t provide anywhere to store your belongings. There are toilets on site where you can change before and after your Go Ape experience.

What happens in bad weather?

Go Ape is an excellent wet weather activity! The course remains open in all weathers, except when it is icy, stormy or during lightning. Rain makes the course muddier than usual – which all adds to the fun! Don’t forget to dress for the weather.

Up in the Trees

How long does the course take?

The Go Ape adventure takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and that includes your safety briefing.

Is there a time limit to complete the course?

Nope, you can go at your own pace and let people ‘overtake’ if you fancy taking a little more time over an obstacle or section. If you want to reduce the chance of being held up by people in front of you, we recommend that you book an early morning slot, as there will be fewer people ahead of you.

Swinging Safety

Is it safe?

Go Ape! courses are substantial and physically testing tree-top obstacle courses. There is inevitably a risk of injury when undertaking such activities. Participants will be responsible for attaching themselves to the safety system. If you do not attach yourself to the safety system you risk falling, which could result in a serious or fatal injury. However, the courses and operating procedures are inspected annually by Jacobs (specialist engineering inspectors) and Harraway Tree Services. All participants receive a safety briefing from a trained instructor at the start and have to wear a safety harness at all times.

Is there an instructor with you on the course?

You will receive a 30 minute safety briefing and training from an instructor before you start the course. After that you’re on your own, free to swing through the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)

I’m afraid of heights!

If you’re worried about your knees knocking and your arms trembling – never fear; Go Ape is here and we are proud to have helped lots of people to conquer their fear of heights. Why not give it a try – you might surprise yourself!

Do I need to be fit or strong?

Doing Go Ape does require a degree of physical fitness but if you can climb up a rope ladder you should be fine. You can always catch your breath between obstacles.

What happens if I get stuck?

Our instructors will come to your rescue! They have specialist equipment to lower you safely back to the ground.

What if I fall?

Your safety harness will catch you. Then you can regain your footing and continue having fun!

Is Go Ape insured?

Yes; Go Ape holds £10m of public liability Insurance covering all of its courses.

What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

The staff at Go Ape are not medically qualified and so are not in a position to assess the capacity of participants to undertake a course. It remains your responsibility to undertake such an assessment prior to use of the course. We advise you to visit the course prior to booking to undertake your own risk assessment. You may also wish to contact your doctor for further advice.

Monkey business, Pizzas, and Presentations

Go Ape is booked for the 6 girls who confirmed - Kiera, Ellie, Kate, Emma, Rebecca and Lily. Meet at Delamere at 10:15 on Sunday 3 July. We shall have a picnic in the woods afterwards and everyone is welcome even if not go apeing including parents.

The Pizza and Presentation night at the Ring of Bells is booked for Wednesday 6 July at 7pm. All those girls who have not yet confirmed please do so as so far only the following have: Lucie, Kiera, Ellie, Rebecca and Lily.

We will be requiring girls to complete registration forms for next season. We hope everyone will sign on again.

We have been talking to the FA about putting together an u18s team to play in the brand new u18 girls Cheshire League. This looks a real possibility for 2012/13. This is for girls aged 15-18. It is possible therefore that we could keep the same team together all the way to age 18. More details to follow.

The Festival

Thanks very much to all the girls and parents who supported the event this morning. It was a great turnout and we will have raised some money for the club but also shown to the other managers and the Chairman that we are a big part of this club and the girls set up is strong. This will benefit us with getting continued funding and support from the club.

In the tournament, congratulations to the orange bib side and thanks to all the girls who took part in the penalty shootout.

For some unknown reason, there was no section in the programme regarding the u14 girls, despite text being sent through. So here is what was sent to the programme editor:

AFC Waverton u14 Girls

Another good season for the u14 girls team in the 7 a side Wallasey Junior League. Because of the double age bands the team is made up of half Y8 and half Y9 girls and always takes time to gel as the composition changes every season. We've had some great games this season including a fantastic 7-7 draw with Upton in early October and a tremendous run in at the end of the season when we won at Wirral Hawks 5-1, drew with Greenleas in a thrilling 2-2 encounter and beat Ridgewood Rangers 5-4 in the last home game, a truly stunning advert for the girls game with football as good as you will see at junior level anywhere. The bad weather in the winter provided some challenging conditions but the girls stuck to the task admirably. In goal, Lucie Parkinson was a real star voted player of the match by the opposition more times than anyone else and her consistent bravery and agility showed she is clearly the best keeper in the League. Caitlin Brooks ended up leading goalscorer once again with 18 amazing since she can only play every other game and Rebecca Bower topped the most appearances table, missing just one of the 22 competitive matches all season. Lily Worden scored the goal of the season, a screaming long range effort against Upton, whilst once again squad captain Kiera Berry consistently dominated the middle of the park. Elia Williams demonstrated her tricky skills every week, Ellie Riste and Emma Harrison were solid at the back and new girls Lauren Walsh and Kate Pulford came on in leaps and bounds towards the end of the campaign. Don't let anyone believe the girls game is weak , three of our girls had to make appearances in A&E this season but all came straight back for more. They are real tough cookies. The girls have been an absolute pleasure to work with all season, have a tremendous spirit, and they should all be proud of what they have achieved.

Mike Worden and Heather Scheuber

Remember Weds 6 July is the Pizza and Presentation evening at the Ring of Bells. We're also looking at a day out before the end of term. Ideas were discussed this morning. Watch this space.

Waverton Festival This Saturday.

UPDATE - To clarify:

Girls are only required 10:15-11:30 as this is when our match is. Stay on as long as you like however.
Cost is £5 per player - reasons why below
Wear your kit - this is not a training event
Support the activities outside of our game time - buy the programme, food etc
Allow time - we will have hundreds of people there during the day and you may have to park some distance away
Parent volunteers still needed

Show that the girls set up is a big part of the club and that we support the fundraising efforts that we benefit from


The Waverton Football Festival will take place this Saturday, all day on the field. There will be a series of games and events for all registered club players. The purpose is to mark the end of the season, raise money for the club and our Romanian charity and to show off our diverse nature with over 300 players turning out in yellow shirts.

Our game will take place for an hour between 10:30 and 11:30. These times are strict other teams will be on after us. Please meet at 10:15 and be warned it will be very busy. There will be BBQ, games, food and drink stalls, penalty shoot outs, raffles etc. Cost is £5 per player payable on the day. A special programme has been produced.

Confirmed are Lucie, Elia, Kate, Lauren, Ellie, Rebecca and Lily. From the u16s Sophie, Ellie and Olivia will join us.

Tournament cancelled/Festival/Presentations/the future

Apologies for lack of texts over the last week and for not responding to any sent to me, but my phone was left in Wembley last Saturday. Its last ever text was 'Our u14s would not let in two soft goals like England have just done'. Would Lucie have done better than Hart? Definitely. Would Emma and Ellie watch the ball drift over their heads like Rio did? No chance.

Disappointingly the organisers have this week called off the Halesowen Tournament next Sunday (19 June) It was a great event last year and they hope to run it next season, but have had to cancel this time. We have tried to get into another tournament being run in Warrington on the same day, but that is full for our age group. We are sorry therefore that the 6 girls who had said they were on for it will be disappointed.

The annual Waverton Football Festival will go ahead next Saturday 18 June. All girls are asked to attend for a game between 10:30-11:30. Cost is £5 per player. Please meet at Waverton at 10:15, the timings are critical. The whole club will be turning out and it is vital that we show our faces and our skills to everyone. All girls are required to attend as it enables the club to keep our fees down. We have just ordered a brand new kit and training equipment for next season and these events mean we don't have to pass that cost onto you directly. Referees fees for the last year for the u14 girls have topped £200 plus we have subsidised the indoor training which cost us £24/week. This year too we will be making a donation to a Romanian Orphanage which we have a link to. Please attend and take part in the events - penalty shootout, BBQ, games, etc as well as our football match. We need a volunteer parent to do car parking duties 9-10. Any volunteers?

As a result of the tournament being cancelled, and that only 3 u14s came last week, we have cancelled this Monday (13 June) training session. That will be it for training until we start back at the end of August.

On Wednesday 6 July we have a Presentation and Pizza night at the Ring of Bells. Please let me know who is coming asap. Parents welcome. This will be the final formal club event and a way to celebrate the great season we have had.

Some of the girls have talked about a day out. Alton Towers has been mentioned, as has other places. Please let me know how much interest and support there is for such a trip, but weekends before school holidays are getting fewer.

Finally, next season. I'm trying to talk to parents regarding next season's plans. We have to register the team in the League and will need a minimum of 7 girls to have signed up before the start of the holidays for both u14 and u16. Please let me know what your thoughts and intentions are, but by the time of the Presentation night we could do with all signings sorted.