Our Guard of Honour when the U's welcome Bristol Rovers on Saturday are Carterton under 9s.
Carterton FC were founded in 1918 and have a long and interesting history, across Hellenic, Oxfordshire Senior and Witney & District Leagues. The club provides grassroots football to kids aged 5 upwards from the local area as well as having two current senior teams. Carterton FC are in the midst of exciting development plans with a link up with OSAA to offer football education opportunities at the club from next season.
The age group representing the club on Saturday are the Under 9s who are managed by Mike Davies alongside Dale Houghton and Chris Herbert as coaches, and helped by Jack Davies who plays for the U17’s but also loves being involved with the younger team.
The players have come from several different schools and live in both Carterton and Witney but have formed strong friendships with many of them playing together since they started at the clubs mini soccer sessions as 5- year-olds.
There’s a fantastic team spirit across both the players and the parents, with a lot of fun and enjoyment included along the way as well as the football. The parents have been fantastic support for the team, getting involved in volunteering roles around the club, including Dale and Chris stepping up to join the coaching team this season, which has coincided with a great run of success on the pitch as well with the team moving up through the divisions of the Oxford Youth Football League.
Mike said “I’m really proud of our little group of parents and players, and feel really privileged to manage the team and encourage and help them develop their love of football. They’re all so excited to be on the pitch at Oxford United, and I’m really thrilled for them as it’s such a great opportunity which they all really deserve.”