2003/04 Under 10,s
18 Jun 2007

2003/04

Under 10’s

Although we weren’t able to reach the great heights of the previous year’s season. We still qualified for the Premier league.

In the Divisional cup we lost in a close battle with Blyth Spartans 3-2. This was our first battle with Ashington’s close rivals, and we were to meet again, next season!

In the league Cup, we battled our way through to the Semi-Finals again. Once more we were paired against North shields away. We played well and created enough chances to close the game off but missed the target. In the end this cost us. We lost the game 2-1. North Shields went on to win the Cup against Wallsend in the Final.

The team was under pressure every week to perform, as they were now seen as a great scalp. But we had a different target! As a manager I was preparing our guys for 11-a-side football which was just around the corner. The basics where still the same. But we started working on off-sides, and other changes to the game for them. I started this training programme, only after we had qualified, for the Economist U10 Premier League.

With 7-a-side football running side by side with 11-a-side training, we carried on playing great football. We finished 3rd behind Wallsend and North Shields Juniors. Beating Whitley Bay Boys Club 4-1 away, and North Shields 2-1 away to overhaul Whitley Bay. It had been a great season in many ways, difficult to follow what we had done the previous season, but we had winner’s medals in the cupboard again.

We were invited to Burradon Festival with only a days notice. A team had pulled out. After phone calls to parents I managed to gather a team of 8 players and off we went. Teams we faced were good, Grainger Park and Red House Farm from Newcastle and home team Burradon. We won through to the final on penalties in a tough match against our great rivals from Newcastle, Red House Farm

In the final we faced Heaton Hawks, another top Newcastle team. With only 2 minutes gone Heaton found themselves 2-0 down and never recovered. We held on for the win to collect the trophies. It was a wonderful day totally unexpected. It was a great way to sign off from Mini- soccer.

Cup History in Mini-soccer

League Cup Semi Final’s - 2002/03 & 2003/04

Divisional Cup Final – 2002/03

Ashington Football Festival Final – 2001/02 – 2002/03 – 2003/04

Kingston Park Festival Winners – 2002/03

Cotgrave (Nottingham) 5-a-side Tournament Semi-Finalist’s – 2002/03

Burradon Summer Festival Winners – 2003/04

Wansbeck 5-a-side Tournament winners – 2003/04

2002/03 Under 9,s
20 Jun 2007

2002/03

Under 9’s

When the fixture list came out, away to Cramlington Juniors on the opening day of season, was the one we wanted to avoid!

By the time we left Astley High School, 3 points safely tucked away, it was the start off something very special. A 3-1 away win was a great start. But it was only the beginning, week after week, we won, home or away, it made no difference. But, we had North Shields Juniors breathing down our necks. Before long we had pulled well clear. To make things worse, we had our match postponed due to cup commitments. When we finally met up, there was nothing between us, and only a point blank save by their keeper, kept the score 2-2. We still had to go to North Shields Whites to finish top of Division 1. We went and won 8-1, and with North Shields winning at Morpeth, the league was shared.

We did well in cup competitions as well, reaching the Divisional cup Final. We lost to Alnwick Town, 2-0 after extra time.
We also reached the Semi-final of the League Cup, only to lose on penalties away to North Shields.

Overall, our football was at a great level. Passing and movement was our game plan. It is something I believe is the key in great sides. At the end of the season we had scored over 100 goals, and conceded less than 30 in all competitions!

Players from that great side where; Glen Tear, Jordan Caldow, Jordan Nichol, Reece Farrell, Jake Walton, Scott Maddison, Gareth Rose, Aaron Goldsbury and Lewis Tanney.

They went through to February unbeaten, which was a great achievement.

Jordan Nichol won U9 Premier Division Player of the season, the trophy was a surprise to the player and family. I knew so it was a tough couple of weeks keeping this big secret to myself.

The story so far
24 Jun 2007

Team History

Nick Newcombe started managing the side in 2001/02 when as U8’s we were entered into the Economist League. The kids were playing above themselves as we had mainly 6 year olds in the side. And with only a few weeks notice we had to mould a team, when we had only been concentrating on basic skills, not positioning, and 7-a-side tactics.

We got off to a great start, and won our first match ever as a team, against Blyth Town 4-2! Then the following week we won again against Cramlington Cobras 3-1.

Then we faced Wallsend Greens and Cramlington Juniors, back to back. To say lessons were learned, is an understatement.

We lost to Wallsend 17-0, and to Cramlington 12-0. From that week we trained twice a week, it was the turning point of the side.

Players of the correct age were now joining Ashington U8’s. They were stronger and able to hold their own in matches. We trained hard got back to wining ways beating Cramlington Juniors second team 3-1. Then the return games against the big two came round again. First up was Cramlington Juniors. We started well, and scored first. They came back strong and equalised. With 2 minutes left they squeezed a shot inside post, and from re-start won possession and scored again. Final score was 3-1. Wallsend we lost again, but 2-0 was the score. In a matter of months we had turned two heavy defeats, into close fought battles. We had played so well, we ended in the top Division in the final part of the season. A credit to the players, and all their hard work. The final part of the season was tough, and was the beginning of great rivalries which continues today.

Red House Farm, Cramlington Juniors, Wallsend Boys Club, North shields Juniors, and Ashington AFC made up the league. Going into the final game of the season against Cramlington, we had lost against Red house and Wallsend, but beaten North Shields. We were playing good football, the team was being noticed especially after the start we had in September. With the heavy defeats a distant memory, we were determined to finish on a high. At the final whistle it was Ashington players and parents cheering and celebrating.

With a 1-0 win, we as a team had come of age, and from that day we became one of the top teams in local football.