Ken's Bulletin Number 1 - Season 2009/2010
Well it's been quite busy so far this close season! Great that you are using the site to advertise for players for the coming season, and whilst in reality there is a short break for everyone, all Managers out there will be keeping in touch with players to make sure they come back again next season and planning friendlies, trials etc!
My post season end was focusing on making a few changes to the site and to make sure the fixtures were ready to go up on the site nice and early. Some of our website work is ongoing but we are dealing with little new features all the time which appear to have been well received.
On the County side, we are preparing for next season already, and we are sorting out trial dates for both the Under 16s and the Under 18s. We are quite fortunate that at Senior level we have a decent squad from last season, but we would always look to bring in players that are better than we have already. The current squad has set the benchmark which is high but it needs to be for us to compete.
The Under 16s is a whole new ball game. All clubs affiliated to Kent will be asked to supply up to 4 players for trials and we start very much with a blank sheet of paper!
Last week we had the Sky programme trials over in West London. This is reported elsewhere on the site, but good luck to Ben in the final 40 which I understand is whittled down to the final 12 this coming weekend.
My eldest lad is going to University of Kent in September so naturally felt he wanted to trial out for Canterbury City! We have driven the 120 mile round trip Saturday, Tuesday, and Saturday last week, and we are off to Margate tonight for a 144 mile round trip! My thanks to everyone at Canterbury who have made Ian feel welcome and for me it has been good to catch up with a number of the County players who I have bumped into!
Mrs B is coming along tonight although she thinks we are having a night out! I am sure fish and chips on the sea front (probably in the rain) followed by 90 minutes of football and a 90 minute journey home may not have been what she is expecting!!!
I am sure that many players are training with the first teams and reserves of the clubs and this is a really good way of seeing whether you have what it takes to step up. Some clubs do this better than others, but I am sure that those clubs who do reward their youth players will see how good the quality of player is around Kent.
My only advice to all young players is to try not to get overplayed, and to make sure you have good recovery periods between games. It is still most important that you get good coaching and I would put that at the head of any priority for choosing a club. The very best will be courted by all during the season, but whatever happens make sure you have good training. It will pay dividends in the end.
I am asking for clubs to send me Team Photos for the season ahead. It would be nice to feature on the gallery section, and is good for your shirt sponsors. Keep an eye on our League Welfare new part of the site, which Julie will be running. It will be up to date and helpful and will I am sure be a good read.
I hope to be producing bulletins through the season. If any of you have a topic out there that you would like to debate please don't hesitate to email me. You will of course be receiving details through so that all Managers and Coaches from each team will take part in a pilot scheme we are running called "Know Your League Rules". There will be a written test on the rules so make a start during your summer hols by downloading our rules from the site!!!
I have installed Liam from Dartford, Matt from Canterbury and Grant from Fisher as early favourites!
Enjoy your preseason and more soon!
Ken
