Festival and other dates

The League may be over but there are a few more activities planned before you can all get out the Factor 20 and head off on your holidays. These start this Saturday with the Waverton Festival. This has two purposes really.

Firstly it is a club celebration of being awarded FA Chartermark status in March, a tremendous achievement for the which is the result of years of hard work getting the right structure in place, coaches qualified etc. This puts us up there as one of the top junior clubs in the Chester area and potentially will mean we can attract more funding.

Secondly the Festival is chance to bring some money into the club with the aim of being able to keep subs for next season realistic. The costs of running this club are high and we need to have a good level of income to ensure we have kit, equipment, can hire pitches and pay for referees, can insure our girls and pay fees to the FA and the Leagues. For example each home referee for this season costs us nearly £2 per Waverton player and over a season it all adds up. The u16s and u12s girls squads are supported by professional coaches who are paid by the club for their services. Fortunately we don't have to incur those costs as Mike and Heather don't take a penny not even expenses, but for the girls set up as a whole there are significant costs.

The Festival will take place over the whole day, but all the girls will play together in mixed sides from 10:30 to 11:30. Please be there by 10:00 am. Olivia is away but all other girls are required to attend. Cost will be £5 each. For those girls who haven't paid yet, Mike will collect on Saturday. Even if you have to pull out for some reason, the club as a whole still expects a £5 contribution from each player.

We will run a mixed training session this Wednesday - 6pm at Waverton, where we will decide on the teams for Saturday.

Once the Festival is over, the key dates are:

Wednesdays in early June - Training for the 2009/10 u14s 6-7 leading into:

Sunday 20 June Poynton Tournament (£5 per player required)

End of Season night out for the u14s- a Friday night in June at Laser Quest and then a pizza. Date to be confirmed.

Robbie will be contacting Laura, Ellie M, Olivia, Nicola and Cara separately in the next few days about training sessions for next seasons u16s.

2010/11 pre-season training will start in August lead by Heather.

This is not a level playing field

Wirral Hawks 5 - AFC Waverton 3

A long and enjoyable League season came to a close in Victoria Park Birkenhead on Saturday. Sadly it was a defeat that marked the final game, but one in which the Waverton girls fought very well and were very much in contention for most of the game.

On a sloping pitch that would have been a great sledging spot in January, the Wavertonites lined up with a strapped up Cara in goal, a back two of Emma and Ellie R, a midfield of Kiera, Lily and Laura and Nicola up front. On the imaginary bench were Ellie M and Olivia.

Waverton took their place on the upper side of the pitch, kicking down towards the Mersey, whilst the Hawks played uphill. Our plan was to tire them out and get a 5-0 lead at half time thereby destroying their ambition to win. Sadly things didn't go to plan, but they started off brightly as it was the yellow shirts who grabbed the game by the scruff of its slopey neck.

Within the first couple of minutes a ball in the box found Lily in the centre and she was unlucky not to score, getting winded in the process. A short while later though it was Nicola who stormed through and smashed the ball home to take her to equal place with Caitlin in the leading goalscorers. Nicola had a great chance again when she broke through but her high shot was last seen heading into the Mersey. Cara was awesome in the Waverton goal and her strong kicks were setting us up each time. Emma was brilliant at the back alongside both Ellie R and Ellie M in turn. The Hawks though got one back but Nicola grabbed another before the home team got two more before half time including a well iffy 'did it really cross the line?' goal. 3-2 at the break and time for Ellie Riste's inspirational chocolate brownies.

Playing up hill in the second half didn't daunt our girls as Nicola once again got a goal to make it 3-3 scoring an amazing 22 goals and knocking Caitlin off the top spot by a clear two goals. Game on.

The Hawks took advantage of the slope and Cara was powerless to prevent one of the goals and unlucky to let the other go under her, but given the reduced mobility in her wrists, she is blameless. At the other end, a number of other players had great chances including Ellie R who ran the whole length of the pitch but just couldn't get the final killer shot in. Olivia too had a great mazy run but just couldn't finish it. Emma and Ellie M were solid at the back, Kiera was leading from midfield and Lily and Laura were excellent with their running and sublime passing. Laura took a knock and lay on the floor only for the concerned referee to find her laughing as the supporters laughed at the fist aid bag carrying coach running to her aid. We'll get you back Laura.

Finally Ref Bill Downey blew his whistle and the 2009/10 League season ended. 5 hours later and 70 miles away, Mike witnessed a similar referee's whistle blow the end on 99 years of football league history, but that is a more personal issue.

The waiting lads moved onto the pitch. The Hawks voted Cara as MOM which was even more special as she had played with bandages on both wrists following a fall whilst out walking with her dogs on Friday. She is so brave and well deserved the accolade. Cara has been fantastic in goal in recent weeks and today she was a star.

Although she couldn't play on Saturday, we have to give praise to Caitlin who has only played 9 times but has scored a staggering 20 goals. Thats a better goal to game ratio than Drogba, Rooney and Torres all put together.

Well played girls. You have been a delight to coach all season. It's a shame the team has to be broken up again but we'll all meet again the season after next in the u16s. We have the Waverton Festival on 22 May then finally finishing the season at Poynton on Sunday 20 June.

Watch this space for details of our training schedule. Plus review of the season and news!

The final game of the season!

On Saturday we play our final game of the season, away at Wirral Hawks. It's been a great season too with some fantastic football played and some great moments. We'll be having a feature on the season soon on the website.

Will Nicola get the one goal she needs to catch up Caitlin as leading goal scorer? Will she score 2 and claim the top place?

So we're kicking off at 11:00 in Victoria Park Birkenhead. Please meet there at 10:40. Anybody who needs a lift call Mike on 07901552261.

Victoria Park is a really nice park near to Tranmere Rovers ground.

Take the M53 to the Clatterbridge junction (J4). Go up to the roundabout over the motorway and take first left. This is Mount Road the B5151. Follow this through Storeton past the Travellers Rest pub. Do you know this is where the stone for Chester Cathedral came from? Keep on this road for a while until you get to a funny little double mini roundabout. Take the right hand turn at the second mini roundabout onto Thornton Road. At the bottom turn left onto Borough Road and then first right onto the Wiend. Follow this through a junction and it becomes Mount Road again. Keep on this road and when you get to the end, you'll come onto a little funny roundabout. The park is on your right, but take third exit and park on the main road just after the roundabout thing or pull into Victoria Park Road on the right and park. The entrance is on the main road. If you get to the Black Horse pub on the right you've gone too far. If lost call Mike on 07901552261.

Training this Wednesday, final game on Saturday

Training with Heather and Mike this Wednesday 5 May 6-7. Final game away at Wirral Hawks this Saturday ko 11. more to follow.

Training Wednesday, no game Saturday

Training this Wednesday at Waverton, 6-7 with Mike and Heather.

The League have confirmed that our final game v Wirral Hawks will go ahead on Saturday May 8 or Saturday May 15 but certainly not this weekend. So NO GAME THIS SATURDAY.

Enjoy your Saturday off!

Red morning light

Wallasey Wanderers Red 4 - AFC Waverton 3

Football is like a religion to me. I worship the ball, and I treat it like a god. Too many players think of a football as something to kick. They should be taught to caress it and to treat it like a precious gem. Pele

8 Wavertonites downed their Weetabix and made the early morning journey up the M53 to Wallasey along with a number of parents, supporters and Emma's dogs. No complaints to UEFA from us about kick off times or travel arrangements.

The Delph was the scene of the first away game in the league back in September against Wanderers' other team and it took a few weeks to recover from the shock of that heavy defeat. Against the Reds though there was more hope give the close encounter at Waverton in the Autumn. Kiera took charge of the warm up and what an excellent job she did of it too with running, stretching and shooting routines all organised.

Waverton lined up with Cara in expansive Delph nets, a back two of Emma and Ellie M, Nicola in centre of midfield with Lily and Kiera alongside and Little Laura up front in the hope of bagging another couple of goals like she did last week. Ellie R was the super sub. The ground was very hard, especially in the centre, following the recent dry spell.

Straight from the start, unusually, the Waverton girls looked up for it. Cara looked bang on form with her goal kicks and it was from a long kick by Cara that the ball came to Kiera on the left who fired a great shot home. 1-0. Nosebleed time.

Wallasey weren't going to lie down easily and grabbed one back to make it 1-1. Nicola was using her strength in the middle and Kiera and Lily were proving to be very tricky alongside. Ellie was looking very classy at the back bringing out the ball from the defence comfortably, whilst Emma was solid as a rock alongside her. Laura looked lively but just needed the ball on the ground to go forward. Wanderers got another goal and then another. Two decent free kick chances were given to Waverton, one given after Nicola was brought down in full attacking flow injuring her wrist, but in either case Nicola couldn't make it count.

Ellie R was thrown onto the left wing to use her speed and then other changes took place as the team was rotated. In the second half Kiera had a chance in front of goal but hit it at the keeper and then did it again soon after. Another chance looked like the same outcome except that the keeper lost control of the ball and it wobbled through her legs into the net just as Kiera had turned away angry with missing the chance. Nicola had a number of chances but just couldn't find the target and Ellie R deceptive shot was inches wide of the left post. Kiera completed her hattrick in brilliant fashion when excellent work by Nicola resulted in her shot being parried by the keeper but the captain was there to thrash the ball home. By that time Wanderers had scored a fourth and the last 5 minutes saw Waverton pressure to get the equaliser, but despite trying, it just couldn't come. Just before the end, Nicola banged her head with another player in a challenge and was a bit dazed but bravely carried on.

A good game all round, a great performance and one that deserved at least a point. There were so many positives, particularly at the back where Cara was a relevation in goal and Emma and Ellie M were as good as any defensive pairing in the League this season. It gets better with each game and it's a shame that this team only has one more League game to play before it is broken up.

MOM - Nicola Jones and for Wanderers Natasha Kearney.

Training this Wednesday evening 6-7 with Mike and Heather.

UPDATE - NO GAME ON SATURDAY MAY 1 BUT OUR ONE REMAINING GAME AGAINST WIRRAL HAWKS IS LIKELY TO BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY MAY 8TH.

Game v Wallasey Wanderers Red on Sat

Update Friday Evening-

Confirmed players are:

Cara, Nicola, Emma, Lily, Laura, Ellie R, Ellie M.

Directions -

Take M53 to end following signs for 'All Docks' not Liverpool (DO NOT GO DOWN THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE). Follow link road down to roundabout making sure you get in the right hand lane signedposted 'Docks', as the left one takes you back down to the Tunnel entrance. Turn left at the roundabout following signs to Wallasey (just in front of the big Tate and Lyle tank). This is Mill Lane. Go straight through lights at the Pool Inn pub (on the right) and follow road over the M53/tunnel link road below to Liscard Village centre. Follow the one way road system left then get in the right hand lane to head right at the junction following a sign for New Brighton.

Keep straight on through the shopping area and onto Rake Lane following the New Brighton B5143 signs. Go past the Liscard Chippy and the Vauxhall Garage. The Delph is behind the houses on the right soon after the Vauxhall Garage. Park on the main road just before New Brighton Bowling/Cricket Club and take the path on the right hand side of the road through to the Delph. If you get to the Cemetery, you've gone too far. If lost call 07901552261.

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This Saturday we play against Wallasey Wanderers Red at the Delph in Wallasey. The Reds lie just above us in the League.

Kick off is 9:30 and please meet there by 9:10 as we will need to warm up properly before the game and as the pitch is required for 2 games after us, we have to kick off on time.

Directions to follow later. If anybody needs a lift let Mike know on 07901552261.

Festival May 22 - We are assuming all of our girls, except Olivia who is away, will attend. Cost is £5 each player. We had a planning meeting on Tuesday and we just need a parent from u14 girls to volunteer to help with car parking duties 9-10. Our games will kick off at 10:30, but we this is the only slot that we have to fulfill. Parents from other age groups have volunteered to cover the other parking duties, set up the penalty shoot out, and do the catering. So we have got off lightly and need a parent to come forward to help with this important event. Mike and the other coaches will be down there from 8am setting things up so we can't do it! Volunteers please let Mike know on 07901552261 and he'll pass on your details to the Head of Car Parking, Andrew Thompson.