Sean the Blade
Member
“Okay Speedo, I want you to take today’s training session”
“Oh, great, cheers boss, I’ve worked out some great routines, something that’ll stretch the guys physically AND mentally, give them something to think ab…”
“I want you to concentrate on kicking”
“We did that yesterday boss”
“And every day for the last month, but not all the boys are getting the message, we’ve got to get them out of the habit of playing the ball on the deck…”
“But…”
“No buts Speedo, the ball is full of air, so that’s where it’s most at home, we can’t fight nature, I want all the boys to be able to kick the length of the field by the start of the season, we ‘re not going to do that with fancy footwork and dribbling”
“These guys are capable of so much more boss, I’ve played with some of the best in the game and some of those boys aren’t far off”
“Listen Speedo, when I won the Bedfordshire under thirteen’s five-a-side runners up medal, we didn’t do it with grace and guile, we did it with hard work, aggression and getting the ball forward quickly”
“Okay boss, after all, you ARE the boss. Where will you be?
“I’m off to see a couple of scouts, maybe do a bit of business before the big spenders get wind, if you know what I mean” Blackwell fired up the Tansit mini-bus, put the ‘tax in post’ notice in the windscreen and chugged out of the car park, Speedo sighed and pushed open the door of the players’ entrance.
The players sat on the training ground, warmed by the morning summer rays “Today boys, okay, okay, settle down boys, settle down, Wardy, put the DS away, now!” A muscular arm reached over his shoulder and removed the mini console “Tha’s been teld!” Morgan’s other hand cuffed the diminutive winger around the ear, sending him rolling across the grass “CHRIS! I’ve told you before, be careful with the little ones, you’ll break them, and we can’t afford new ones”
“Sorry Speedo, won’t ‘appen again”
“Right guys, today, we’re going to practice… kicking!” The whole group collectively moaned “AWWWWW”
“Now, now boys, I promise, if you try hard at the kicking, I might let you have a go at some ball skills”
“That’s not fair!”
“Okay Monty, you’re excused ball skills, you can carry on with kicking practice if you like”
“Ta!”
The training ground rang to the ‘thump’’thump’ of footballs being leathered long distances, only young Ward struggled to make the distance, his short speedy legs would only launch the ball three quarters of the length of the pitch “Don’t worry Wardy” comforted Speedo “You’re only a fraction of the size of the average boy, so I’ll give you a note saying you’ve only got to kick it a fraction of the distance” Wardy wiped his nose on his sleeve and his mood brightened immediately “Does that mean we can play ‘keepy-uppy’ now Speedo?”
“Yes, Yes, go on, have fun!” In front of goal, Ched was giving Monty a few tips on shooting “Look, Nick, when YOU are in front of goal, don’t think “shoot”, try thinking “pass” and try to pass to their keeper’s feet, that way the ball should end up in the top left or top right corner and you’ll be well on your way to double figures!”
A loud chugging noise signalled Blackwell’s return. He jumped from the Transit and frowned as the players enjoyed playing with the footballs “You weren’t long boss”
“Yeah, I’ve only been to Hesley Wood Speedo”
“Hesley Wood? I thought you were going to see some scouts”
“I did, and here they are. Meet Andrew age thirteen and James age fifteen, James is a ‘sixer’ as well!”
“When you said ‘scouts’ I thought you meant…”
“Don’t underestimate these boys Speedo, they’re very versatile, just look at all the badges James has got, this boy can tie you in knots, literally!”
“But, but”
“AND! They only charge a ‘bob’ per game, the chairman’s going to be well over the moon!”
“Oh, great, cheers boss, I’ve worked out some great routines, something that’ll stretch the guys physically AND mentally, give them something to think ab…”
“I want you to concentrate on kicking”
“We did that yesterday boss”
“And every day for the last month, but not all the boys are getting the message, we’ve got to get them out of the habit of playing the ball on the deck…”
“But…”
“No buts Speedo, the ball is full of air, so that’s where it’s most at home, we can’t fight nature, I want all the boys to be able to kick the length of the field by the start of the season, we ‘re not going to do that with fancy footwork and dribbling”
“These guys are capable of so much more boss, I’ve played with some of the best in the game and some of those boys aren’t far off”
“Listen Speedo, when I won the Bedfordshire under thirteen’s five-a-side runners up medal, we didn’t do it with grace and guile, we did it with hard work, aggression and getting the ball forward quickly”
“Okay boss, after all, you ARE the boss. Where will you be?
“I’m off to see a couple of scouts, maybe do a bit of business before the big spenders get wind, if you know what I mean” Blackwell fired up the Tansit mini-bus, put the ‘tax in post’ notice in the windscreen and chugged out of the car park, Speedo sighed and pushed open the door of the players’ entrance.
The players sat on the training ground, warmed by the morning summer rays “Today boys, okay, okay, settle down boys, settle down, Wardy, put the DS away, now!” A muscular arm reached over his shoulder and removed the mini console “Tha’s been teld!” Morgan’s other hand cuffed the diminutive winger around the ear, sending him rolling across the grass “CHRIS! I’ve told you before, be careful with the little ones, you’ll break them, and we can’t afford new ones”
“Sorry Speedo, won’t ‘appen again”
“Right guys, today, we’re going to practice… kicking!” The whole group collectively moaned “AWWWWW”
“Now, now boys, I promise, if you try hard at the kicking, I might let you have a go at some ball skills”
“That’s not fair!”
“Okay Monty, you’re excused ball skills, you can carry on with kicking practice if you like”
“Ta!”
The training ground rang to the ‘thump’’thump’ of footballs being leathered long distances, only young Ward struggled to make the distance, his short speedy legs would only launch the ball three quarters of the length of the pitch “Don’t worry Wardy” comforted Speedo “You’re only a fraction of the size of the average boy, so I’ll give you a note saying you’ve only got to kick it a fraction of the distance” Wardy wiped his nose on his sleeve and his mood brightened immediately “Does that mean we can play ‘keepy-uppy’ now Speedo?”
“Yes, Yes, go on, have fun!” In front of goal, Ched was giving Monty a few tips on shooting “Look, Nick, when YOU are in front of goal, don’t think “shoot”, try thinking “pass” and try to pass to their keeper’s feet, that way the ball should end up in the top left or top right corner and you’ll be well on your way to double figures!”
A loud chugging noise signalled Blackwell’s return. He jumped from the Transit and frowned as the players enjoyed playing with the footballs “You weren’t long boss”
“Yeah, I’ve only been to Hesley Wood Speedo”
“Hesley Wood? I thought you were going to see some scouts”
“I did, and here they are. Meet Andrew age thirteen and James age fifteen, James is a ‘sixer’ as well!”
“When you said ‘scouts’ I thought you meant…”
“Don’t underestimate these boys Speedo, they’re very versatile, just look at all the badges James has got, this boy can tie you in knots, literally!”
“But, but”
“AND! They only charge a ‘bob’ per game, the chairman’s going to be well over the moon!”
