IT ISN’T ONLY ABOUT THE 1ST ELEVEN

The above pretty much sums up the challenges of the last couple of weeks, though we have made great progress in other areas.

I continue to support our reserve team in their first campaign in the Essex & Suffolk Border League. We’ve managed another couple of victories and suffered only our second loss, but always a great learning experience for a relatively young squad. It amazes me how feisty these youngsters are.

At one game, one of our 16-year-olds got in a bit of a tussle with a much more senior opposition player. His dad was watching on the sidelines and afterwards I asked his dad whether he was going to step in; I loved his response: “If he’s old enough to get into that position, he’s old enough to get out of it” – brilliant.

It’s a big week for our Youth this week, too, as they start their FA Youth Cup campaign. The club is incredibly lucky to have two amazing coaches leading the academy in Mickey Spillane (ex-Norwich City) and Elliott Ward (ex-West Ham). Last year they got us to the second round, where we were beaten by eventual semi-finalists Ipswich Town, so here’s hoping for a similar push this year though we face some very tough early opposition.

It is interesting to talk to Mickey and Elliott about how important the FA Youth Cup is for players. Both remember very well how far they progressed and their experiences in the competition even beyond their achievements at the senior level, so it’s important that we back and support our teams to do well in the competition.

Hope your team’s had a successful weekend and for those of us in the next round draw for the FA Cup this week I hope you get a favourable one.