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Keeping you up to date and informed.

Tournament Success for U13 Girls (Blacks)

Twelve girls teams from all over deepest Kent entered, first two teams of each group progress to the Championship and 3rd and 4th go into the Shield Cup. All these teams are established teams and provided stiff competition.

Group stage:
After drawing two of our first three games we were lying third in the qualifying group needing to win our last two games to have a chance to progress. We were on 5 points, 1st and second were on 11 points and 9 points respectively, so it was step up to the plate time for our team.
Focussed and determined they achieved their goal of winning their last two games to reach the next stage of the championship format as runners up.

Championship Semi-Final:
We were now on the front foot and as a team were up for this game knowing that one more win meant at worst we would go home with a runner- up medal. Two first half goals ensured our pathway through to a third successive final in the tournament.

Championship Final:
A quick turnaround meant we had little recovery time. The whistle blew and the team continued to play strong pressing football. The girls didn't want golden goal or penalties to come into play. This showed as the defence did their job by playing high up the pitch to allow our quartet of talented girls up front to find their combination play. A cracking goal ensured that everyone played their part in winning this competitive competition for a creditable third year in a row, but the first year, under our new name as Crayford Arrows Black.

In hot conditions (80 Degrees plus) and under such pressure to achieve, this has to be one of, if not the teams best achievement to date.

Congratulations goes out to those lucky players selected for this tournament: Katie Saunders (Captain), Mary Tweedy (GK), Issey Lewington, Jess Oldfield, Lilly Matthews, Laura Midson, Giorgia Murrell and Daisy Monaghan.

This follows on from our success of being crowned Selkent League Champions (third year in a row) and Selkent Shield Cup winners (2nd year in a row).

The team and squad of players will be up for next seasons challenge of being entered into the Kent League as an 11-a-side outfit.

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Thanks to Simon Lewington for the report, and congratulations to everyone involved.

U14's Win the League

Congratulations to Scott Venus and his U14's side who recently won the Bexley League 'C' Division. The boys have had a great season winning 12 of their 15 games played. Well done everyone for a great effort!!

CASC Funding Award

Great news this week when we received THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION offer to award us £16,000 towards the replacement of the fencing around the training area. We still need to find £4,500 ourselves but more about how we can do that later. Colin Harvey and I have already met with the approved contractor. The new fencing will provide better security and training conditions and will include 1.2 metre high rebound sections a double gate and single gate at the far side to retrieve ’lost’ balls. If all goes well we shall commence the removal of the existing fencing at the beginning of July with completion of the project within a few weeks ready for start of training in August. The lighting will be looked at again in the summer and depending on time and funds may be brought further up to date as well. Our grateful thanks to Josie Clifford at the London FA for her support in application and of course to the Football Foundation for the award.

Chris Rust
Chairman

Skye's the Limit

Once again for the fifth year running, a girl from Crayford Arrows has won the Bexley Sports Award for Girls Football. Congratulations to Skye Willis-Barrett who won the award this year. The ceremony was on Saturday and was attended by over a 1000 people including the Mayor and numerous dignitaries.


Skye has played for Crayford Arrows Girls Football teams for over 3 years. She has been awarded, Managers and Players Player for 2 of those years. This season is the first season, where Skye has played in goal, having volunteered due to no one else wanting to play at that position. As expected, she has excelled at this, and is one of the the best keepers in the League. Skye plays a year up also, so all the other girls in her team and the opposition teams, are a year older.

She took this as a challenge and again has excelled and learnt a lot from playing with the older girls, as well as learning some new skills. Crayford Arrows ran a Community project this year, to introduce Girls into Football. Training Sessions were ran on a Saturday morning for any Girls of any age group to participate in training, learning the skills and ethics needed to be a good footballer, with the potential to join a club and play in a league. Skye volunteered to attend these training courses, and with the help of the FA coaches at Crayford, trained and demonstrated many key skills/manoeuvres for the girls. She helped run personal 1-2-1 sessions with the potential budding Goalkeepers, displaying her skills and attitude needed to be at this position.

With the help of Skye and the Coaches, Crayford Arrows were able to select enough Girls for a team in the U12 league. Skye also plays in 2 Teams for the Girls at Bexley Grammar School, and while at her Primary school was key in helping girls football get off the ground with her Teachers at Upland Primary. Skye is also a polite and very well-grounded girl, always the first to help an opposition player / applaud them and "gee " the girls up if they have lost a game. As they say the future is at her feet!

Skye said winning this award would boost her confidence, but also the confidence of the other girls that play Football with her. Demonstrating that through hard-work and having a great personality - the Skye really is the limit!

U18 Trio Selected for Kent

The Erith & Belvedere U18's excellent start to the season has not gone unnoticed with the recent news that 3 players ( Harry Morgan, Sam Noller and Jay Hedges ) have been shortlisted for inclusion in the Kent County squad for this weekends FA County Youth Cup game vs Somerset. Well done lads!

The club has since learned that Harry and Sam have been selected for the final 16 and will travel down to Taunton for the match this weekend. Congratulations to everyone concerned and best of luck for the game!

U7's Visit to Park View Road

On Saturday 7th November Crayford Arrows U7's team, management and parents enjoyed a day out at Park View Road, home of Erith & Belvedere FC.

The lads took part in a pre-match coaching session, were escorted onto the pitch by the Erith & Belvedere first team at the start of their cup game vs Corinthians, and finished up with a penalty shoot-out at half-time with each boy having his name read out over the tannoy as they took their spot kicks.

Thanks to Frank May and the Erith & Belvedere Board for organising the treat for the lads, and thanks to everyone who turned up to support the Crayford Arrows youngsters.

Ps Erith & Belvedere went on to win 1-0 in extra time!

Award Winner

Crayford Arrows U16 Girls player Alanna Royston was recipient of a 2009 Young Persons Sports Award presented by Bexley Borough in recognition of her dedication, sportsmanship and commitment to sport. Well done Alanna!

LONDON FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED
CHARTER STANDARD AWARDS 2008

Chris Rust (Chairman) and Colin Harvey (Treasurer) were delighted to be invited by the London Football Association to the Football Association headquarters in Soho Square London on 6th November 2008 to collect two prestigious awards for the club. The first 'Charter Standard Community Club 2008' and the second 'Charter Standard Club Regional Winner'

Presenting the awards, Josie Clifford London FA Regional Development Manager, and Dave James, Senior development Officer commended our club on the fantastic development both in facilities and on the football field since recieving a grant of £775,000.00 in 2004 from the Football Foundation.

Our work with MENCAP and local community groups in Bexley among other attributes were highlighted as contributing factors in our awards success.

Chris Rust said " These awards demonstrate how our club continues to progress and how much this is recognised by those who are influential in the sport. Our thanks to Josie Clifford, David James and all at the London FA for recognising us in such a high profile way. We must now use this reciognition to market our club and attarct even more members to join us and be part of the best 'Charter Standard Community Club in London"

DON'T X THE LINE
Touchline indiscipline and abuse of referees is in the forefront of the news. The FA and our governing bodies are constantly looking at ways to stamp out this poor behaviour.

In the coming season Crayford Arrows Sports Club will be introducing on a voluntary basis a 'Behind the Line’ campaign designed to allow our youngsters to enjoy the game in safety and without interference from the touchline. Special tape barriers will be erected on one side of senior pitches. Parents and supporters will be asked to keep on one side of the pitch while the Home and Away managers, coaches and their players will be sited on the other touchline.

We have advised our League and Governing body what we are doing and we are sure all eyes will be upon us. Please help us to make the scheme a success for the benefit of your youngsters.

Chris Rust
Chair of Trustees

HALL HIRE
If you are interested in hiring the hall at Crayford Arrows for a party or event, please contact Terry Lovekin on 07885 638800 who will be able to check availability and let you know hire charges. Don't forget to book in advance as the hall is proving very popular for kids parties!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!
News of the opening of the new all-weather training area has spread fast with write-ups appearing in both the Newsshopper (16 Jan Edition) and Swanley Times (24 Jan edition).

CHARTER STATUS
This week The London Football Association confirmed Crayford Arrows elevation to ‘Community and Adult Club’ charter status. This is very welcome news indeed and recognises not just the work we are doing within the club but also our co-operation with agencies in the local community who are trying to help the less fortunate youngsters get into sport and football in particular.

The London FA has provided us with a number of training balls and equipment for use by the club. This will be available shortly. Once again this shows how Crayford Arrows Sports Club is well regarded in youth and senior football in and around Bexley.