Each week we ask Academy Manager Dan Harris for an update on the young U's.
Academy: Uncovered
January 2018 has seen the Academy continue to take steps forward across all of our eleven age-groups squads and behind the scenes at the training ground.
Last weekend saw our U15 squad travel up to the home of the England National Team, St George’s Park, to compete in a combined 11v11 and indoor Futsal tournament. In the week leading up to the event our young players benefited from a master-class session with a Spanish Futsal specialist and, after a number of competitive games against some strong Academy programmes, were able to come out as tournament winners – congratulations to all staff and players involved on their performance and conduct during the day.
I’d like to welcome Josh Bednash and James Gibson to the club who have both joined our Academy coaching staff in recent weeks. We look forward to working with them as they help us write a new chapter in the future of the Academy. In a similar vein I’d like to officially put on my record my thanks to Les Taylor who has moved into a new “Head of Coaching” role within the Academy. Les has been a fantastic servant of the club for over 20 years and I know his experience and expertise will be hugely valuable as he begins this new mentoring and coach development role.
Our match day experiences have continued, giving our young players the chance to rub shoulders with the first team. Our Under 10 midfielder Josh Holton was the latest winner of the club’s keep-up challenge to cap another memorable day for our young lads.
In finishing I would like to offer my condolences on behalf of all in the OUFC academy to the families of both Cyrille Regis and Jimmy Armfield who both passed away in recent days. We have spent time this week talking with some of our young players about the legacy they would like to leave on the game and these two great football role models have certainly been wonderful examples of high character men that have set a standard for our youngsters to aspire to.
Thanks to all for their continued support – we are always looking to connect with high quality football people in Oxfordshire so please get in touch if you feel you can help the Academy in any way.
Proud History – Bright Future!
Dan Harris
Academy Manager