Right then, here we go - let battle commence!

Games yet to be confirmed:

These dates will change during the season - for cup games and weather cancellations - the most up to date fixture list will always be here (http://www.deepingrangersfc.co.uk/index.php/junior-teams/junior-fixtures) but I'll try to keep a fresh copy on our pages as well.

Dave.

Last Sunday was a valuable experience for us all – we didn’t set the world alight with slick, one touch football (that will come), but we’ve now got 4 games under our belt and we’ve seen how tough & physical the game is at this level. I will never encourage my team to be violent or purposely look to harm another player but I do need them to play with controlled aggression and have the desire and will to challenge for every tackle and loose ball. It was also apparent on Sunday that we need to improve our fitness and speed and this is something that the boys must work on in their own time. A 20 minute session over the hurdles and through the poles with Jason on a Wednesday does not constitute an adequate fitness programme so I need every player to take responsibility for improving their first touch, their speed over 5, 10 & 15 yards and their stamina.

Anyway, that was last week – bring on this weekend when we travel to the wilds of East Cambridgeshire for the Wisbech St Mary 11-a-side Invitational Tournament.

We’ve been promised a minimum of 5 group games so again, it will be invaluable match time for the lads that are going.

Speaking of which, we only have 11 players so please wrap them up in cotton wool after tonight’s training session! I have also invited a couple of under 13 players to join us as cover – but that’s only to allow for rest periods as U14 injuries are strictly forbidden!

The squad is ...

1.    Callum
2.    Rowan
3.    Ashley
4.    James
5.    Jacob
6.    Simon
7.    Luke
8.    Jimmy
9.    Jack
10.    Josh W
11.    JJ

Again, please bring boots, mouldies, astros, jackets, food, drink, gazebos etc etc – no BBQs! Those that still have an away kit please bring it – those that don’t I’ll bring one for you. Everyone to wear the new Nike kit. BTW – it’s probably a bit late but those kits should not be put on a hot wash, you shouldn’t use fabric conditioner and they should never be tumble dried. They need to last us at least 2 seasons so please loot after them. They are for match days only – never for training or for playing in the park! We will be organising a Saturday morning photo shoot at Marshall Peugeot in early September as our obligation to our new sponsor. We will also be inviting Marshalls and the whole squad to a first team game at Outgang Rd for another photo opportunity – more details soon.

Back to Sunday – please meet there (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=PE13+4SS&hl=en&t=h&z=16&vpsrc=0) at 09:15 at the very latest. First game is at 10:00 so again, please assume a mid/late afternoon finish.

And finally, we round our pre-season preparation off with a game against our Under 15 squad on Wednesday 31st August at Outgang Rd. More details about that next week.

It seems like last season only finished last week, but here we are, on the eve of the new season and looking forward to 3 very competitive tournaments in 3 successive weekends as part of our busy pre-season schedule.

We start with a trip going west along the A47 to Oadby on Sunday 14th, followed by a trip going east along the A47 to Wisbech St Mary and we round the month off with our home tournament on Bank Holiday monday.

I've also got a friendly game arranged against our under 15 squad on Wednesday 30th but more on that nearer the time.

We've made a few changes to our squad over the summer and we welcome 6 new players - all of whom are extremely talented footballers and I am sure, will help Jason, Stuart & I take the team to where we feel we belong.

Those that know me, will know that there will be much more added to these pages during the season so I'll stop now and wish all of the boys a happy and successful season as a Deeping Rangers Under 14 player!