Uckfield Grasshoppers Summer Course

The players displaying their medals and certificates

Uckfield Grasshoppers held their first ever summer football school from the 11^th to 15^th August at UCTC in Uckfield. The course was a great success with 40-50 player aged between 5-12 attending each day. The course was organised to help all the players develop their skills in a structured and fun environment, with prizes and competitions being held each day. All the coaches were FA qualified (Coaching, First Aid, Child Protection) and gave the players the chance to use equipment normally associated with professional clubs.

Chairman Gordon Buckland explained it was all part of the clubs plan to gain the FA’s Charter Standard Community Club status, as well as to give something back to the local community. The course was run on a non profit basis with all monies raised going back into the club for coaching and training equipment, such as the purchase of two new soccer waves as well as mannequins and kickboards.

Using the SoccerWave to practice volley’s

We hope all the players enjoyed themselves and look forward to seeing them in the future.

We hosted approx 800 players in 94 teams and held over 150 matches across the Under 7’s to the Under 15’s age groups. We would like to thank all the teams for supporting the Sussex Sixes again this year and hope you all enjoyed the tournament and the Red Arrows fly past each day!

On behalf of the Sussex Sixes organising committee we would like to thank all the Grasshoppers managers, coaches, parents and players and all the supporting referees who once again ensured a successful event.

Event photos are available from DE Photo, please use the following link

 

The winners and runners up for each age group are as follows;

And finally we look forward to hosting you again next year, entry forms will be available early January 09.

The skills school is open to all with a discount for current Grasshoppers players, complete the following application form to reserve your place now!

Summer Skills School Application

Click Here To Be Taken Directly To The Site

A full report should also be printed in the Sussex Express on the 25th July.

If you are not already a member of Grasshoppers please contact us before completing the form and sending payment.

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The ‘Hoppers team celebrating a glorious 5-1 win!

The ‘Hoppers took a large crowd to give Wealden their biggest gate of the season, with all ages represented from mini-soccer to the highly vocal U15’s and U16’s, well done lads. It felt like a home game for the ‘Hoppers (that’s what you get with a big club) and the crowd eagerly anticipated the kick off.

This was the fastest Darren moved all night!

Managed by Gordon "Wengersson" Buckland the team were soon into the game after a couple of early Wealden chances were ably dealt with by keeper Phil "he plays for Northern Ireland" who was dressed in his best Orange shirt!!! It was clear that both teams were there to win but the deadlock was broken early in the half when Shearer-South ran into the left of the box and finished with a well struck shot in the right of the net, 1-0 the ‘Hoppers and the crowd went wild, well the U15’s and U16’s did at least.

The Uckfield strike force creating space with great movement off the ball……or is it just a lucky camera angle!

Some competitive play followed through the half with some surprising skills on display, not good….just surprising, it was a bit like a masters game only in slow motion…In fact it’s understood that Boots in Uckfield had quite a run on knee, thigh and ankle supports and broke all sales records in the build up to the game.

At half time the game was poised at 1-0, for what we didn’t know but the chance was taken to recover all the lost footballs from those not so accurate shots! As the smell of Ralgex hung in the air the second half kicked off, with some tactical changes from "Wengersson" the team got into their stride and started to turn on the style. O’ Ginola-Halloran made instant impact, with a run into the left of the box he scored from an impossibly tight angle, only to be rewarded with instant substitution! Further goals from Shearer-South, Heraty-Beardsley and Lineker-Westlake (after a great solo run) and the result never looked in doubt for the ‘Hoppers.

It was as this point that Wealden’s cunning tactical plan sprang into action to give their players a rest, a pair of streakers ran onto the pitch, albeit with boxers still being worn, to cheers from the crowd.  Not to be outdone "Wengersson" responded with a mass substitution, just like an England friendly, but so confusing were the changes that he nearly got away with playing 13 outfield players…However all shape was lost and after a sustained attack Wealden pulled back a consolation goal despite some acrobatics from Phil the Orange.

So 5-1 to the ‘Hoppers and some good play all round from Robinson, Chown, Wolvey, McManus, Rathborn, O’Hara and Harper to name a few,  well all actually as I dont know the names of the rest!

Congratulations to both teams for an entertaining game, see you next year…..by which time the aches should have gone!

Ian Bennett, your former Chairman, would like to say a very big thank you to all, who contributed to the wonderful presents I received at the Presentation Evening. I was delighted to receive a beautifully engraved glass bowl and Brighton & Hove Albion hospitality package for myself and family. It was a very memorable occasion  for me and one that I will always cherish. I’l now look forward to Gordon Buckland, our new and energetic young(er) Chairman remaining in the Chair for many successful years to come.