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bedwell rangers fc
UNDER
16 GIRLS BECOME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Bedwell Rangers U16 Girls have continued their success in
the Tesco Cup by winning the All England Finals which were held on Saturday at
the Walkers Stadium home of Division One side
Leicester
City
.
Playing
as Southern Champions, the team managed by Steve Jones started the competition
nervously against Manchester Utd Ladies who represented
Lancashire
. The Man Utd Ladies started well, but dogged defence from the Jones sisters
ensured that Bedwell restricted the Man Utd side to only one chance when a
deflected shot rebounded off the post. The score at half time was 0-0.
The
second half saw Bedwell shake free their nerves and they dominated the second
period, with striker Becky Day and winger Cally Cardines a constant threat to
the United defence. Eventually the deadlock was broken when a long range strike
from Becky Day looped over the United keeper. With six minutes to go, Bedwell
held their lead for a place in the Final.
Playing
the last game of an extremely long day Bedwell were up against St Nicholas Youth
from Gloucestershire. With the experience of their semi final fully behind them,
Bedwell dominated the match from start to finish and look the lead after 38
seconds with Day on the score sheet again tapping in after an accurate corner
was not cleared by the St Nicholas defence.
Bedwell
continued to dominate with midfielders Gunn and Payne constantly pushing
forward. The pressure eventually told and Day struck her third goal of the
tournament from the edge of the area. The second half continued in the same vein
and Day missed her opportunity to complete her hat trick
missing from the penalty spot. More opportunities followed and with the
exception of one attack, Bedwell finished the stronger team and run out easy 2-0
winners.
The girls
received their trophy from England Legend goalkeeper Peter Shilton and he
commented on the high standard of play that he had witnessed during the day. As a
reward for scoring three goals, Becky Day was also named as the Under 16 striker
of the tournament.
Manager
Jones was overcome by the achievements of the girls and the parents that had
travelled to
Leicester
were ecstatic with their performance on the day. Jones commented hopefully we
have proved girls can play football and we are pleased that Bedwell have given
the girls every opportunity, this puts girls football and Bedwell Rangers firmly
on the map.
Chairman
Gary Dempsey joined the enthusiastic and dedicated parents who had travelled to
the Walker Stadium and he agreed with his manager that Bedwell Rangers will
continue to support and develop girls football and as the club starts its 50th
season we and we proud of the structure that is in place that allows all players
to mature in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere. The Under 16 girls are a unique
squad and when so much bad is written about the youth of today it is reassuring
to see that the girls are so dedicated to the club and as a group they have such
a fantastic team spirit, they are a
real credit to the club.
However,
it is said to think that this squad will now be disbanded at the end of the
season due to the appalling decision that has been made by the Football
Association restricting girls in such a way that they can only play for FA
Schools of Excellence as from next season. As a club we have spent considerable
time nurturing these girls and teaching them loyalty to their junior club.
Whilst we are aware that some of the girls have been training at FA Schools of
Excellence and playing for Bedwell we are angered that no consultation has taken
place with the clubs, this shows a complete lack of understanding of grass roots
football. The parents of the girls that have been affected by this decision are
absolutely livid and they have taken the time to write to FA and in short the
answer they have received is ‘tough’ if you want your girls to progress then
accept the decision.
Furthermore
with a majority of our girls already attending the FA School of Excellence at
Watford, we understand that Watford were only made aware of the decision at very
short notice and as yet the only notification that we have received is a hastily
arranged e-mail from Watford. I have already been informed by parents that they
would love their daughters to continue to play for Bedwell but unfortunately we
have not reached the school of excellence status. I now have managers reluctant
to send any girls to trials at the schools of excellence in the knowledge that
the girl would have to leave the club if they are successful. Naturally the club
wants every girl to succeed and there are a number of girls in our under 16
squad who stand a very good chance of playing top flight ladies football and the
last thing that we want to do is stand in their way, but when this ends up in
the complete destruction of a single squad the FA need to realise that they have
got it wrong. Unfortunately football is littered with a history of ill conceived
ideas and in my opinion this is yet another one that will not benefit this
football club.
Now that
the U16 girls have been crowned English champions they will go onto to represent
England
at the National finals to be played at The City of Manchester stadium,
Eastlands next Sunday May 18th
Squad:
1. Demi
Hobson
2. Josie
Green
3. Leanne
Jones
4. Megan
Jones
5. Holly
Butrimas Gair
6. Terri
Gittings
7. Kate
Natkiel
8. Megan
Wynne
9. Chloe
Payne
10. Shanice
O’Sullivan
11. Becky
Day
12. Chloe
Gunn
14. Cally
Cardines
15. Nicole
Hogan
Picture
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Bedwell
Rangers FC would like to acknowledge and thank Stevenage Borough Council and
Sports Stevenage for their generous donations towards the development of the
Under 16 girls team.
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