GrassRoots Magazine March 24 Issue 17

Team Message

So here we are in March, a great month in the season as we see some of the 1st Cup finals take place. During my playing days I was very much a Cup man, I loved the big occasion & it's still great to see how teams embrace the day so if you are lucky enough to be part of these finals make sure you take time to enjoy yourself, win, lose or draw & thank those around you that work so hard to get you to this point.

I would like to thank Rochford sports & Social for their hard work in producing this moths team feature.

If you would like to feature your Club, please email us at: grassrootsmag@btinternet.com

Good Luck

GrassrootsTeam

Stelling urges fans to get behind Prostate Cancer UK’s 10-year milestone celebration with Non-League Day

• Prostate Cancer UK celebrates 10 years working with Non-League Day during the annual grassroots event on Saturday 23rd March

• Presenter and charity ambassador Jeff Stelling hails “important and influential” campaign as his Hartlepool side travel to his local club Eastleigh

• Clubs to receive limited edition pennant to make the milestone

• Football fans wanting to attend NonLeague Day can find a match by visiting nonleagueday.co.uk and those wishing to support on the day can email football@prostatecanceruk.org

Prostate Cancer UK will celebrate a 10-year milestone working with Non-League Day on Saturday 23rd March 2024. Always scheduled to coincide with an international break, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

For the last decade, the leading men’s health charity has worked side by side with the popular annual football matchday experience, raising money to fund lifesaving research and to increase the knowledge and awareness of prostate cancerthe most common cancer in men.

This year ten focus clubs including Eastleigh, Hartlepool United, Southend United, Altrincham, Gateshead and many more who come forward ahead of the day itself will receive a limited edition matchday pennant marking the 10-year anniversary, showcasing their support for Prostate Cancer UK and continuing a theme of activity with the charity on the annual day since 2014.

From wig-wearing, branded armbands and a unique match ball inscribed by men affected by prostate cancer, to multiple match day collections, ‘Man of Men’ badge-wearing, branded clubhouses, crossbar challenges and epic walks to games, Non-League Day has always caught the imagination among the grassroots game for those wishing to support Prostate Cancer UK.

Presenter and Prostate Cancer UK ambassador Jeff Stelling MBE will see his club Hartlepool United visit Eastleigh in the National League, one of 10 focus matches across the UK to mark the 10 years.

“While I was hugely disappointed with Hartlepool’s relegation last season, there are some bright spots, and being back in the National League means we are part of Non-League Day once more. Even more impressively, it’s against my local club Eastleigh, so the football fixture Gods have been smiling on me!

“Non-League Day is a really important – and influential campaign – something I always get behind.

“For the last decade they have been proudly working with Prostate Cancer UK. It’s such a good partnership which allows a brilliant charity which means so much to me to continue their lifesaving work across the football landscape. Non-League Day is the perfect platform to do that. See you there!”

What’s more, fans from Aylesbury United to Yeovil Town – and everyone in between – can get involved on the day, from shaking a bucket, walking to the game or wearing the iconic Man of Men badge. Football fans can also check their risk of prostate cancer on the Non-League website ahead of day as well as finding a local fixture to attend.

Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive, Laura Kerby, said: “We are excited to be marking our tenth anniversary this year with Non-League Day. This is always an important day on the football calendar, particularly for us, as the spotlight falls on the grassroots game, and our collaboration with NonLeague Day will not only put us at the heart of the action but will be a gamechanger for those men and their loved ones affected by prostate cancer. We thank James Doe and the Non-League Day family, all the clubs, staff and players, and of course the fans for all their support.”

Non-League Day founder James Doe said: "It's been great working with Prostate Cancer UK over the last 10 years. We originally chose them as we knew they did great work throughout the football community. It's been very satisfying to see non-league clubs and their fans so willing to engage with the charity, and we hope they can do so again to mark this milestone year.”

Visit the Non-League Day website to find a fixture near you. For clubs and fans wishing to support Prostate Cancer UK on the day, email football@prostatecanceruk.org to find out more.

NOTES TO EDITOR

For more information, please contact Gary Haines, Sports PR Manager at Prostate Cancer UK, on 02033107079 orgary.haines@prostatecanceruk.org alternatively email pressoffice@prostatecanceruk.org or call 07984 325001

About Prostate Cancer UK

o Prostate Cancer UK is the largest men’s health charity in the UK, striving for a world where no man dies of prostate cancer.

o The charity works to give every man the power to navigate the disease: by helping men understand their risk through our award-winning online risk checker; by providing them with trusted support and the information they need to make the right treatment choices for them; or by empowering them to make improvements for their path ahead, and for the paths of generations to come.

o Prostate Cancer UK is the driving force in prostate cancer research in the UK. Investing millions into the best researchers in the world to unravel the complexity of the disease, the charity has improved how men are diagnosed through funding cutting-edge technology like more accurate MRI scans. The charity works to give men precise and personalised care with the right treatments at the right time, for the best chance of living the full life they want and spending more time with those they love.

o Prostate Cancer UK also supports men living with and after prostate cancer, providing services like a Specialist Nurses helpline to give expert advice, and working with the NHS and its Clinical Champions to change the healthcare system so men are more involved in decisions and empowered to navigate prostate cancer.

About prostate cancer

o Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.

o 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer.

o Around 475,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.

o More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – that's 143 men every day.

o Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 12,000 men every year.

o Prostate cancer is curable if caught early, but early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, so it is vital that men know their risk.

o Men are at higher risk if they are over 50, Black or have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer.

o To help men check their risk in 30 seconds, Prostate Cancer UK have an online risk checker available here: prostatecanceruk.org/nld10-risk

o Contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383, or via email, webchat or WhatsApp at prostatecanceruk.org/nurses

o Access online and printed health information at prostatecanceruk.org/information

o Speak to trained volunteers with experience of prostate cancer at prostatecanceruk.org/one-to-one

MEGA INFLATABLES PROVIDING BOUNCY

CASTLE HIRE IN ESSEX FOR MEGA FUN FOR EVERYONE!

• Bouncy castles

• Assault courses

• Activity castles

• Inflatables games

• Slides

• Adults Bouncy castles

• Disco Dome

• Photo Booth

• Mega Marquees

• Wedding packages

For all you Signage Solutions

Clothing Printing

Shop Signage

Interior Design

Vehicle Signage

Window Graphics

Logo Design

ROCHFORD TOWN SPORTS SOCIAL CLUB

About Us: With its origins dating back to the early 1900’s, Rochford Town Sports and Social Club is set in the heart of the community of Rochford, providing a wide variety of sporting and social activities to members of all ages.

On a sporting front the club continues to go from strength to strength with nine football teams representing the club across the open age, youth and veteran’s divisions. This includes:

2 Saturday teams playing in Southend Borough & District Combination.

4 Sunday teams (2 in Sceptre Sunday League, 1 in Southend & Basildon Sunday Football League and 1 Veterans in Southend Borough Combination)

3 youth teams in Southend Junior League (1 U11 and 2 x U13’s)

We currently run a free weekly soccer school for children aged 5-9 years which has been a huge success and are an FA Weetabix Wildcat centre offering free girls only football sessions for girls aged 5-11 years old.

Home football fixtures are played at Rochford Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoons (Adults), Sunday mornings (Adults) & Sunday afternoons (Youth). In addition to the football, the social club host several social events including weekly darts, bingo nights and quiz nights which are open to all the community.

The club committee is made of approx. 20 people with key roles being performed by the following:

Chaiman Fred Pettitt: Has represented the club as player, manager and now Chairman taking on the Chairman role in 2019. Fred is heartbeat of the club, fulfilling multiple roles including bar manager and will be first and last person to leave the club every weekend. Despite being a blue nose Everton fan if you were to cut him open, he would bleed “red and yellow”

Secretary Sheryl McCrae: Despite being fairly new to the club, Sheryl is long serving and well-respected figure within the Essex football circles fulfilling a number of roles as secretary across multiple leagues including Southend Borough Combination. She is also a board director with Essex FA.

Treasurer Tom Eede: Coming up to 10 years as Treasurer, he initially joined the club as a player before taking on the Treasurer role and picks up a number of roles within the club including coaching, kit man, groundman and player. Has an eye for spotting a grant and been successful in securing a number of funding opportunities for the club over the years,

Sunday Fixture Secretary Rob Ellis: Probably nicest man in football, and another who would do anything for the club. Rob has been Sunday secretary for coming up to 10 years winning Sceptre League secretary of the year on multiple occasions. Is the clubs BBQ expert and can often be found walking his dog Ted around the rec on a Sunday morning whilst cheering on the teams and doing his litter picks.

Honory Life President Granville Hicks. One of the founder members of the club in current format even designing the club badge, Granville had taken on number roles over the club including managing and Chairman for number of years and can be seen supporting the club throughout the season,

Honory Life Vice President Mark Liddell. One of the most capped and decorated players in the club's history (with at least 50 medals in his collection), Mark represented the club as player on both Saturdays and Sundays featuring in majority of the winning teams throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Can name and remember nearly every player and memorable moment in the club's history.

Life Members Lol & Kim Greenfield: Lol and Kim served as Chairman and Secretary of the club from 2012 serving for 7 years and were instrumental in turning around the clubs’ fortunes when the club was close to disbanding. They brought stability and helped to grow the club with changing rooms being enlarged and clubhouse refurbed during their time in charge .

Club History

The earliest record of a Rochford team is way back in 1906/7 when Rochford Town were shown in the Southend and District League handbook winning Division Two. Since then, the club have continued to pick up honours throughout their history.

Under the banner of Rochford Athletic the club won the Charity Shield B and Division Two titles in 1926/27 and 1928/29 respectively. After the war the club won the French Cup in 1950/51 season, the Division Two title again in 1953/54, the Division One title in 1956/57 and doing the double winning the Division One title andRamuz Cup in 1964/65. The third team won the Division Five title in 1968/69 and the last cup won under that name was in 1971/72 when the first team won the Charity B.

From then on, the Club were known as Rochford Town or just Rochford. In the 1970’s the only success came when the Second team won the Sanders Cup in 1973/74. However, the 1980’s was a different story with multiple success experienced. In 1980/81 the First team won the Division Two and Sanders Cup. Following this up with the Premier Title and French Cup in 1982/83. The second team won the Division Two title in 1983/84 and then Division One the following season. In 1985/85 the club ventured into the Essex Intermediate League where the firsts went into Senior Division Two and Seconds in Reserve Division Two. The First won the prestigious Senior League Cup beating Rayleigh Town in the final 2-1 in their first season, but alas nothing else in the League. Both teams returned to the District League after three years in the Intermediate League.

In 1987/88, Rochford Sports won Division Seven of the Southend Sunday League, which is the earliest record of Rochford having a Sunday Side. In 1988/89 the Sunday Firsts won Division Five and the Seconds won the Charity Cup C.

The 1990’s saw even more success than the previous decade with both Saturday and Sunday teams winning numerous honours on a regular basis. The Sunday team picking up the Division Three title in 1990/91 and continuing this success winning the League Cup B and promotion to Division One the following season. In 1993/94 the Sunday firsts won promotion to the Premier Division of the Southend Sunday League whilst picking up the League Cup A in 1996/97. The following season they followed this up with the double, winning both the Premier division and League Cup A. The club also won the Sunday Division 3 in 1997/98.

Rochford Town had similar rich vein of form on Saturdays becoming District Champions in 1992/93, picking up the Sanders Cup, French Cup and Challenge Cup in 1996/97 and completing the treble of Premier Title, French Cup and Carradus Cup.

Having celebrated its 100-year anniversary the club returned to the Southend Borough Combination in 2006/07, picking up the League one title to reach the premier division in its first season and going one better the following year and winning the Premier Title at the first attempt. In 2011/12 the first team went undefeated to win the Premier Title and winning the Premier Division again the following season, by winning a final game title decider against Railway Academicals. The first team subsequently joined the Essex Olympian League picking up the Division Three title at the first attempt, with both the Reserves and newly formed A team winning Division Two and Five respectively. Both the A and B teams won promotion the following season, with the Reserves then carrying on in tradition winning the French Cup in 2015-16.

Apart from a solitary EJ Gladwin Memorial Cup win in 2017/18 for Saturday Reserves there has been little success on Saturdays with the First team dropping out of the Essex Olympian League a fter 8 consecutive years in Division Two and rejoining Southend Borough Combination in 2022/3 season.

There has been varying success on Sundays with several cup final appearances and League titles being won across the Sunday Open Age, Veterans and youth teams since 2008, with notable appearances in County Cup Finals from the Sunday Veterans in 2008, Sunday First in 2018 and Sunday Veterans in 2023.

In 2017/18 the Sunday Firsts won the treble of Southend Sunday Division 2, Charity Cup C and The Roy Plummer Cup as well as reaching the final of Essex Junior Trophy.

Despite a covid disrupted 2019/20 season the Sunday Reserves reached the Sceptre Sunday Division 4 cup final sadly not getting chance to play the final. However returning as the newly formed Sunday First team they reached the Barry Smith Division 2 final in 2021/22 season losing to a very good Thundersley Rovers team 5-nil.

The most recent success came last season with Sunday Reserves winning Sceptre Sunday Division 3 League Cup

Future Development

Due to continued increase in membership numbers and additional teams the club are looking to redevelop the facilities at Rochford Recreation Ground, expanding the size of the Clubhouse and renovating the existing facilities into a modern community hub for use by local residents in Rochford.

Phase 1 of this development has commenced with the club being granted planning permission to extend the existing pavilion floorspace which will allow the club to create a bigger members area with toilets, an additional 2 unisex changing rooms and storage space.

The club are in ongoing negotiations with Rochford District Council to take full ownership of the pavilion on a longterm lease with control over the playing pitches which will allow us to work with Essex FA and Football Foundation to modernise the changing rooms including fitting of new showers and toilets

On playing side the Saturday First team are looking to re-enter the Essex Olympian League in 2024/25 season with increased focus to grow the Youth side of the club across all age ranges from U6 to U18. In particular the club would also like to create a girls' team in near future.

Our Sponsors:

The club would like to thank its sponsors who have supported the club over past few seasons:

❑ Jewson (club sponsor)

❑ Denise Wood “Woody” (club sponsor)

❑ JMK Tiling (Sat First)

❑ TW Road Haulage (Sat Reserves)

❑ Moos Gym (Sundays)

❑ Salon 65 (Youth Sponsor)

❑ Badgers Den (Youth Sponsor)

❑ KAB Installations Ltd (Youth Sponsor)

❑ Skinner & Sons Removals & Storage (Youth Sponsor)

Lorem Ipsum dolor sit

Chris Berry Media

"Chris Berry Media, Freelance Videographer & Editor available to hire in the. I specialise in all things nonleague, with 6 years of football media experience, and I'm looking to help promote teams at all levels! I'm based in Essex, but I am willing to travel for the right opportunity.

If you want your game filmed and a highlights package, put together afterwards, then please get in touch by emailing cberrymedia@gmail.com or text 07447 458405"

https://twitter.com/messages/media/1716932374142083238

Goalkeeper Corner

by Andy Corton. Head Senior Keeper Coach at the Carl Pentney Keeper Academy (CPKA) in Colchester.

Following on from our last article, I wanted to raise several issues that we wrestle with, both on behalf of our keepers and issues we face setting up sessions and also touch on the psychological side of the game for keepers.

In our last article we referred to Panic Managers and those who want their teams to play like City or Arsenal. The first is the Managers issue not the keepers and the second is as unobtainable as going to the moon. A coaching qualification is terrific, but to develop your style of coaching takes many years of grass work and experience and eventually you understand how to deliver a session that caters for the different personalities of the keepers and players you work with. One size does not fit all.

Both expectations put extra pressure on the keeper. With 10 outfield players trying to score and it’s well documented that a forward can miss 10, score one and is a hero. A keeper saves 10 and lets a soft one in and he / she will feel like they’ve let the team down.

What can be done?

Match realistic training, repetition in drills, phase of play with the team for defensive situations. There is a lot on the physical side that can build confidence, and this includes technical and tactical drills as well. But how do you, the coach, build mental confidence in your keeper?

Match reviews, talk about the good, talk about areas to work on, coaches, avoid using negative words. Praise and treat errors just the same as great saves, set your coach expectations, talk them through with the keeper. Ask the keeper to set development plans of their own. Short term targets, season long targets and reassess them regularly.

These are some of the things the coach can do. Remember the ball has gone past 10 players before the keeper is engaged in the play. There were probably errors before the ball arrived in the 18-yard box.

What about the keeper? Every keeper is different, and some things work for some and not others.

We ask our keepers to take an imaginary box into the goal, any errors are put in the box and only open the box at the end of the game. Develop a specific movement that will be the only acknowledgment of an error, it might be clap your gloves together once and then forgive yourself and move on. We ask them to “stay in the now”, deal only with what’s happening now, not what has or what may happen later. Work through your development plans mentioned above. Ask a parent to video you and assess, subject to Safeguarding rules. If you're lucky enough to have a video recording system at your club, that will help, watch the game through.

Confidence and a positive attitude can be practiced. Match day routine, a good night’s sleep the night before. Proper breakfast and start visualisation. Here we imagine scenarios in the game, run through what you’ll do and when it happens in the game, you're ready. Make the warmup your warmup. As a keeper coach I always give the keeper the choice in warmups. “Do you want me to do the warmup you want? Or one I think will work for you?” Let them decide. Don’t wear match gloves for the warmup.

One of the issues we face as coaches is that we coach keepers who come to us. We don't have on field players, so it’s tough to practice some phase of play stuff and I don’t think our keepers want to come to training and for half the session be an on-field player. We certainly work on how to defend corners and free kicks though and work on distribution and the keeper’s responsibility at these times. This is one of the reasons why we’d love to see forwards come to a session and work on finishing with us, try and score past a CPKA keeper, if you can!

We’d also welcome visiting coaches, all you have to do is drop us a note.

When we are unable to train, what do we do? Weather wise we train on 4G, so rain is not a problem. Recently we were unable to use our facility at The Sports Park, Northern Gateway, Colchester, we did some thinking outside the box and took our keepers down to East Essex Elite Amateur Boxing Club, just outside Colchester. Huge thanks to Danny and Harry. The movement and core / upper body strength workout was terrific for our keepers and our coaches even joined in. If you can’t train, it doesn’t mean you can’t do something if you think outside the box.

As we say at the CPKA, it’s all about the keeper. All the best to all the keepers playing in Essex for the rest of the season. 0 - 0 is a brilliant result in our opinion

Thanks Andy

Grassroots gives back

Grassroots Magazine is committed to giving back to grassroots football and we are excited to sponsor a talented young player Kaci Crook & an equally talented youth team in Broomfield Lions U13’s for this season.

Lorem Ipsum dolor sit

LEAGUES LOCAL YOUTH

CLICK THE BADGE TO VISIT LEAGUE AND VIEW THE LATEST NEWS AND RESULTS.

ESSEX FA

BBC ESSEX SENIOR CUP FINAL COACH AND REFEREE WORKSHOPS

Limited Spaces for Invaluable CPD Training Events

It's more than just a match! As well the hugely-anticipated BBC Essex Senior Cup Final on Tuesday 19th March at Colchester United FC’s JobServe Community Stadium, the Essex County FA are staging referee and coach workshops. The FA Cup silverware will also be in attendance, too, providing an incredible photo opportunity!

Places are available to book now, subject to availability, and, for the coaches workshop, attendees will gain insights from West Ham United FC Academy Manager, Kenny Brown. A match ticket and stadium parking are included in the booking cost - all attendees are invited to enjoy the match from the West Stand after the workshop has finished.

Coaches Workshop: Open to all coaches (no qualification necessary), this session qualifies as accredited FA CPD (Continuing Professional Development) hours for Level 1-4 coaches. Kenny Brown, a current UEFA Pro License holder, has had a large impact on the game within Essex not only as a coach and academy manager, but also as a player.

His experiences, to name a few, include being Academy Manager at Dagenham & Redbridge and Head of Coaching at West Ham. As a player, Kenny has also made over 350 appearances with clubs such as Norwich City, Plymouth Argyle, West Ham United, Millwall and Southend United. Essex County FA Coach Development Officer, Tom Sibthorpe, is looking forward to the event.

He said: “This is not one to be missed out on for coaches and fans alike. We’re delighted to be able to bring in such an individual who shares rich connections with Essex, and I’m sure there will be many a coach and fan - especially West Ham supporters - who can’t wait to hear his stories, coaching insights from the academy environment and ideas from and around the game he loves!”

Referees Workshop: From 6:15pm, a special guest speaker from the Premier League will share their knowledge and experiences as well as how to progress, develop and improve your refereeing skills. Find out about life as a professional referee, along with a ‘question and answer’ session.

Book one of a number of limited CPD workshop places at www.essexfa.com. Registration for the Coaches Workshop is open until 5:00pm on Thursday 14th March, while booking are being taken for the Referee Workshop until 4:00pm on Friday 15th March. You can also interact with @EssexCountyFA on Twitter/X and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL AWARDS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS Who Will You Put Forward for a Well-Deserved Award?

Essex football has an opportunity to pass on appreciation for volunteers within their club through this year’s Grassroots Football Awards, which say thank you to all the people and organisations who give their time to make the game happen.

Awesome local volunteers give so much, week in, week out, rain or shine. And they contribute their time and energy for the benefit of parents, coaches, clubs, leagues, fellow volunteers, match officials and more. The Essex County FA want to highlight these amazing people, share their story nationally, celebrate them and say a huge thank you. The nomination deadline is Wednesday 3rd April.

You can nominate as many times as you like, in as many categories as you like. This year, it’s easier than ever to nominate. You can now tell their story in a way you want, simply by detailing:

o what they do, and how it impresses you

o how they make a difference to others’ lives

o where they’ve had an impact in their community

The more detail you give, the better. Lana Gillard, Essex County FA Football Development Officer, is encouraging local nominations, commenting: “It’s always a positive time of year when the Grassroots Football Awards come around. We know there are countless volunteers who deserve recognition across the county, so we’re really encouraging nominations in all categories this year, to give our volunteers the praise they deserve.”

So, let’s find the people who make football great in our county. Nominations are open until Wednesday 3rd April via www.essexfa.com. There are twelve different categories and nominees could win a national award and have the chance to go to be celebrated at Wembley Stadium. You can also interact with @EssexCountyFA on Twitter/X and ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

ESSEX FA

COUNTY CUP FINALS

MATCH OFFICIALS APPOINTED FOR ESSEX’S COUNTY CUP FINALS

Performance and Commitment in 2023/24 Rewarded

25 Essex County Cup Finals will be staged throughout March, April and May, and local match officials have now been confirmed for these showpiece matches as a reward for their performance and commitment throughout the 2023/24 season so far.

Dates and venues for each of the showpiece occasions, from the Under 12s through to the Veterans age groups, have recently been announced. And, at a ceremony on Wednesday 7th February at Chelmsford City FC, Essex County FA Referee Development Manager, Lukas Wood, revealed this season’s highly-anticipated appointments.

“A cup final is a special occasion for everybody involved, including the officiating team, and they deserve these accolades,” he explained. “It’s a huge privilege to be able to present our best-performing officials with a County Cup Final appointment, which is a deserved reward for everything they do. Hopefully they’ll be able to enjoy more as their careers develop.”

“These individuals have shown a considerable level of commitment throughout the season and have displayed high performance levels to earn these appointments, which were assigned according to the type of game that they referee. As always, it was really difficult to select the officials for these finals, with such a huge number of referees to choose from.”

To find out more about refereeing in grassroots Essex football, or for an update on the respective competitions, visit www.essexfa.com. Updates are also shared by @EssexCountyFA and @EssexReferees on Twitter/X and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup

Wednesday 17th April 2024, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Billericay Town FC

Referee: Richard Baker (Colchester)

Assistant Referees: Daniel Squibb (Chelmsford) and Robert Willcocks (Braintree)

Fourth Official: Joe Wise (Basildon)

Essex Sunday Junior Trophy

Friday 19th April 2024, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Heybridge Swifts FC

Referee: Christopher Rammell (Harlow)

Assistant Referees: Lewis Sibbons (Chelmsford) and Moises Amoes (Waltham Forest)

Fourth Official: Richard Ramjane (Chelmsford)

Essex Rosser Under 15s Cup

Sunday 21st April 2024, Kick-Off 10:00am, Saffron Walden Town FC

Referee: Yaron Woolf (Redbridge)

Assistant Referees: Stephen Dadds (Southend-on-Sea) and Jack Falco (Brentwood)

Fourth Official: Liam Judd (Thurrock)

Essex Cassels Under 16s Cup

Sunday 21st April 2024, Kick-Off 2:00pm, Saffron Walden Town FC

Referee: Liam Dawson (Thurrock)

Assistant Referees: Daniel Goodman (Colchester) and Pierce Campbell (Colchester)

Fourth Official: Rasmus Adamah (Thurrock)

Essex Under 12s Cup

Sunday 28th April 2024, Kick-Off 11:00am, Hullbridge Sports FC

Referee: Etanas Sapezinskas (Havering)

Assistant Referees: Giles Norbury (Castle Point) and Kian Mason (Colchester)

Fourth Official: TBC

Essex Under 12s Girls Cup

Sunday 28th April 2024, Kick-Off 2:30pm, Hullbridge Sports FC

Referee: Aurelia Janus (Southend-on-Sea)

Assistant Referees: Emma Parkinson (Southend-onSea) and Lily Jones (Southend-on-Sea)

Fourth Official: Lawrence Jones (Southend-on-Sea)

Essex Women's Trophy

Wednesday 1st May 2024, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Billericay Town FC

Referee: David Dice (Redbridge)

Assistant Referees: Billy Stevens (Basildon) and Amaan Ramzan (Havering)

Fourth Official: Daniel Axente (Colchester)

Essex Cordell Under 13s Cup

Sunday 5th May 2024, Kick-Off 10:00am, Aveley FC

Referee: Daniel Carpel (Thurrock)

Assistant Referees: Daniel Falvey (Castle Point) and Loui Motley (Chelmsford)

Fourth Official: Jonathan Dalton (Colchester)

Essex Under 13s Trophy

Sunday 5th May 2024, Kick-Off 1:00pm, Aveley FC

Referee: MD Sahedul Islam (Redbridge)

Assistant Referees: Jake Osbourn (Rochford) and TBC

Fourth Official: TBC

Essex Andrews Under 14s Cup

Sunday 5th May 2024, Kick-Off 4:00pm, Aveley FC

Referee: Stephen Hull (Chelmsford)

Assistant Referees: Reuben Blanc (Havering) and Isaac Islam (Chelmsford)

Fourth Official: Gerald Tyler (Barking & Dagenham)

Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup

Wednesday 8th May 2024, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Billericay Town FC

Referee: Matthew Pointer (Castle Point)

Assistant Referees: Joseph Greenleaf (Colchester) and Simon Brickwood (Castle Point)

Fourth Official: Stephen Vieira (Braintree)

Tolleshunt D'Arcy Memorial Cup

Date, Kick-Off Time and Venue TBC

Referee: Craig Charles (Harlow)

Assistant Referees: Adekola Adeyemi (Chelmsford) and George Lowe (Colchester)

Fourth Official: Steve Tovey (Colchester)

Essex Thames-Side Trophy

Date, Kick-Off Time and Venue TBC

Referee: Fabio Roque (Redbridge)

Assistant Referees: Matthew Rowling (Harlow) and Benjamin Horne (Castle Point)

Fourth Official: Craig Wood (Thurrock)

Football Fitness Club

Evaluating Your Football Condition: Essential Questions to Ask Yourself

Introduction:

Achieving peakperformanceon the football field requires more thanjust skilland strategy;it demandsa thoroughunderstandingof your physicalcondition.Assessingyour football condition goes beyond merely considering endurance;it involves a holistic examination ofvarious aspects crucialfor successon the pitch.Here are essentialquestions toaskyourselfto evaluateand enhanceyour footballcondition.

Endurance and Stamina:

How well do I perform during thelatterstagesof a match?

Am I able to sustain a high levelof intensity throughout theentiregame?

Do I incorporate specificendurance drills intomy training routine?

Speed and Agility:

How quickly can I accelerateand changedirection on the field?

Do I focus on speed and agility drills toimprove my on-field mobility?

In what ways can I enhancemy explosivenessoff the mark?

Strengthand Power:

Do I engagein strengthtrainingtoimprove my physicality in challenges?

How effectiveam I in aerialduels and physicalcontests for possession?

Can I generatesufficientpower in my shots and passes?

Flexibility and Injury Prevention:

Am I incorporatingflexibility exercises tomaintain joint health?

Have I experiencedrecurringinjuries,and what preventivemeasuresam I taking?

Is my body agile and responsivetovarious movements on the field?

Recoveryand Regeneration:

How well do I prioritize recoveryafter trainingsessionsand matches?

Do I get enough rest between intenseworkoutstoprevent overtraining?

Have I explored methods such as ice baths, stretching, or massagefor recovery?

MentalToughness:

How do I handle pressuresituationsduring a match?

Can I maintain focus and decision-making quality throughoutthe game?

Have I developedmentalresiliencetobounce backfrom setbacks?

Nutrition and Hydration:

Is my diet tailored tosupport my football performanceand recovery?

Do I stay adequately hydrated, consideringthe physicaldemandsof the sport?

Have I consultedwith a nutritionist tooptimize my dietarychoices?

Position-SpecificFitness:

Have I considered theunique physicaldemands of my playing position?

How well does my fitness align with the specific requirementsof my role on the field?

Can I tailor my training toaddressthe positionalchallengesI face?

Consistencyand Periodization:

Am I consistentin my training routine throughout the season?

Have I implemented a periodizedtrainingprogram topeakat key moments?

Do I adapt my training intensitybasedon the match schedule and rest days?

Self-Reflection and GoalSetting:

What are my currentstrengthsand weaknesses in termsof football condition?

Have I set specific, measurable, and achievable fitnessgoals?

How can I adjust my trainingtocontinually improve and meet my performanceobjectives?

Conclusion:

Asking yourself thesecriticalquestions aboutyour football condition is a proactive steptoward enhancing your overallperformance. By identifyingareas for improvementand tailoring your training regimen accordingly, you can ensurethat your physicalcondition alignswith the dynamic and demandingnatureof football. Regular self-assessmentand a commitmentto targetedtrainingwill undoubtedly contributetoyour success on the pitch.

Lorem Ipsum dolor sit

PRE-MATCH NUTRITION

Pre-match nutrition is all about fuelling-up to allow for the best possible performance for the duration of the game ahead, but which foods provide the most energy and when should they be consumed in relation to your match?

CARBOHYDRATES

A footballer’s main source of energy comes from carbohydrate-based foods. Carbohydrate is stored in the muscles (as glycogen), so the aim of pre-match nutrition is to ensure these stores are fully topped up before stepping out onto the pitch.

A common mistake made by many players is to consider the pre-exercise meal, eaten 3-4 hours ahead of the game, as the time to load up with extra carbohydrate foods, perhaps adding extra rice or potatoes or consuming a couple of bananas, but this one meal is not enough to maximise stores. Research indicates that carbohydrates consumed in a pre-exercise meal will boost the muscle stores by around 20%, but a much greater impact can be made by fuelling-up on carbohydrates 24 hours ahead of the match.

PRE-MATCH FUELLING

If you have a morning match, it’s recommended that you start your pre-match fuelling the morning before (24 hours ahead of the match) and the evening before if you have an evening match.

To fuel up in this 24-hour period, you should aim to consume around 25-50% more than your current carbohydrate intake over a 24-hour period. If you’re using a fitness and nutrition tracker such as MyFitnessPal, you can fine-tune your intake to ensure you take in around 8-10g of carbohydrates per kg of bodyweight within the 24-hour prematch period.

KEY POINT:

A player weighing 70kg would need to take in around 550-700g of carbohydrates to fuel 90 minutes of match play. This can seem an overwhelming quantity of food initially, so switching to carbohydrate dense sources of food (that you know you can eat a lot of) can be an efficient way to achieve your pre-match fuelling target.

For example, pasta or rice may be easier to eat in larger quantities than sweet potatoes, but as hitting the target is the primary goal, adding rice cakes, cereals, energy bars, fruit juice or smoothies may be necessary.

THE PRE-EXERCISE MEAL

The pre-exercise meal eaten 3-4 hours before the start of the match should be light on the stomach. High-glycaemic energy sources that are low in fibre and fat are good choices as these will be digested and absorbed into the muscle tissues faster, meaning they’ll be available to fuel your performance during the game. Good options include white bread with jam, sports drinks, energy bars, cereals, and some fruits.

For an evening match, white pasta or rice can be incorporated into a late lunch/early dinner. Foods to avoid include oils, red meats, and high-fat dairy as these will slow down the digestion of the meal.

KEY POINT:

Try to increase quantities of carbohydrates in the pre-exercise meal by around 25-50%, or 2g of carbohydrates per kg of bodyweight. If you are a 70kg player, you should aim for around 140-150g of carbohydrates in the pre-match meal.

You may be thinking “those food choices don’t sound very healthy”, but it’s important to remember that within 24 hours of a match, the primary goal is to fully load your carbohydrate stores to enable optimal performance. This may not be as efficiently achieved with “healthier” foods depending on what you have available for your pre-exercise meal. Remember that these potential options make up only 1 meal from an entire week’s worth of eating. Much healthier food choices will make up the rest of your week, ensuring you are getting all the vital nutrients you need to remain healthy.

What’s most important in your pre-exercise meal is the glycaemic index score of the foods you are consuming, the lower the score the longer it will take to top up your carbohydrate stores.

PRE-MATCH HYDRATION

As a general recommendation, aim to drink 500ml to 1 litre of water with your pre-match meal. Electrolytes can help to ensure you retain more of this water intake and many sports drinks contain sodium to help with this. To check your hydration levels, check the colour of your urine. If it’s not pale in colour, continue to top up your fluids by sipping on water or an isotonic drink after your pre-exercise meal (until you step out onto the pitch).

WHISTLE

BY PAUL SMITH

Another month passes and we again have Referee decisions questioned ,VAR the wrong decision to re start a game.

I know at some of my Academy matches coaches will occasionally send me video clips of contentious decisions which I will review if I do believe I have made an error I will discuss in person with the coach on the next occasion I see them.

I recently worked on a cup final with a current Premier league Referee and asked him how does he feel when he gets home, and television and radio may be discussing his performance and decisions? The response was you just get used to it, not let it bother you, regrettably at that level Referees if they did speak out, they would be in a no-win situation. Why can't VAR be listened too? As in Women's World Cup the Referee went to loudspeaker to explain to all in stadium the decision.

At grassroots level we do not have to deal with such high pressure a couple of hundred people letting you know on a Saturday afternoon what they think of your performance can usually be spoken about in a boardroom/clubhouse after a match, it's all about opinions on which we all usually differ!! It is part of life but remember we all take part in the game for the love of it, some are more passionate about it some just do it for exercise and some just for the money!

The scope for opinions to be expressed is getting wider most teams have social media accounts now as do leagues the criticism needs to be fair and not derogatory to officials or opposition players where this all ends is anyone's guess everyone can voice their opinion straight after a game in the heat of the moment although more worryingly is the pre match posts regarding officials, and opposition players / tactics these can be inflammatory and add an extra spice to a match .

When will we all just remember it is only a game, enjoy it.

Smithy

Constant awareness and education is the only way to overcome the challenge of mental health in football

Seán McNicholas

Attitudes towards mental health have changed significantly in recent years, in society and particularly in sports The issue is addressed more sensitively these days and has come a long way from headlines such as ‘Bonkers Bruno Locked Up’ (The Sun, 2003), On the mental health challenges being faced by boxer Frank Bruno

However, there remains a journey to be travelled The best way to do this is to continue to raise awareness and educate on the issues sports people face and how it affects their performance on the field.

As any coach in football or any other sport knows, we've often gone to training our game and seen a player give the ball away or look disinterested. We blame this on a ‘bad attitude’, but do managers investigate properly what the cause of this bad attitude is or what is negatively affecting their attitude?

Many issues in mental health can affect the attitude of players. These include issues such as grief, anxiety, and eating disorders Each of these issues can cause significant distress to an individual and affect them in different ways. This can include showing a lack of interest in activities they had once enjoyed. However, they are still judged in the same way as the other players who are not experiencing such difficulty. This is something that all managers and coaches must be mindful of and aim to address

However, like many other issues in society today the issue of mental health continues to grow and continues to expand and spread Society in sports therefore needs to be ready to adapt to meet the challenges it brings

Having worked alongside Football League clubs as well as clubs in the non-league spectrum some, if not all, recognise some of the new challenges being faced, but they do not always understand what they are and how they affect players All coaches must make themselves aware of some of the issues as they may be necessary for any team of any level.

Some of those issues include catfishing. This involves the creation of a fake persona (usually online) in attempt to lure someone into an online relationship. In a recent research, 51 sports participants of 84 participants surveyed admitted that they had been catfished online. Catfishing has a major impact on the lives of victims as the pressure from catfish often becomes overwhelming and victims worry how it will affect their daily lives. This leads to great distress.

Gambling is another issue that needs to be constantly addressed Some years ago, football authorities banned players and coaches from gambling on football. While this has seen a welcome reduction in regulated betting, it has however seen an increase in unregulated betting, interpersonal or social gambling This afternoon includes young players placing a wager on training such as how many squats they can do, how heavy the weights they can lift can be or mainly how many goals they can score in training. This often spreads to gambling on video games. Gambling has a significant impact on mental health as some people often gamble personal items to recoup losses but are not successful This has a significant impact on other parts of their lives.

The use of Snus has greatly increased in sports over recent months and years It is thought that it helps players to relax However, one small pouch of Snus (0 5g) can contain as much nicotine as up to 5 cigarettes The effects of Snus use led to users becoming dependent on Snus which in turn leads to physical issues These issues can include oral cancer This is a significant impact on the mental health of the person and their loved ones

Other important issues include perinatal mental health and retirement

However, there are two issues that most football players will experience throughout their participation. These are rejection and injury.

Coaches and managers are aware, selection is one of the most important but difficult parts of the role. Telling players that they're playing or involved in a matchday squad is much easier than telling them the opposite. It is important to tell players as early as possible and as personally as possible to help them to come to terms with the decision. Some players will take the news well, while others may feel a sense of rejection, ‘Why does the manager not like me?’ or ‘What have I done wrong?’ Self-confidence could decrease as a result It is important also to note that some of those feeling rejected may have experienced rejection or trust issues in other areas of their lives or other relationships. Therefore, informing them of non-selection should be done on a one-to-one basis

Please set another crucial issue in sport which can negatively impact mental health As football is a physical contact sport injuries are always a possibility while muscle injuries are widespread in the game too While they are an accepted part of the game they can have extreme mental health consequences too Players who are injured, especially those who miss significant periods of time can face frustration (of being unable to compete), anxiety (when the next game will come or will they return to the same standards as before), and loneliness as they often spend much time away from teammates or are forced to train alone Therefore, it is crucial to ensure dozen injured player remains included in team activities

It is important to note also the mental health issues do not only affect players, but all of those participating in sport Checking in with coach's match officials is equally as important

It is this constant reminder and awareness that I hope to achieve with the book that is now available on Amazon.

Hidden Beneath the Surface: Mental Health in Elite Sport: Amazon.co.uk: McNicholas,Sean: 9798877879003: Books

Emma Rushen from Chelmsford City Women & Girls FC tells us all about FALSE 9 a documentary about the reality of women’s football, the documentary is being screened on the 16th March 2024 at Chelmsford Civic Theatre and tickets are now on sale.

What’s it all about:

In the heart of Chelmsford, where dreams are born and battles are fought, the women of Chelmsford City Football Club find themselves on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the pitch. “False 9: The Reality of Women’s Football” takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, exploring the triumphs and tribulations of a spirited team striving for promotion in the unforgiving world of the tier 7 county leagues. The film unveils a powerful narrative, fearlessly tackling themes of women in sports, mental health, and the poignant issue of suicide, painting an authentic picture of what football can mean to people.

At the core of the film is the inspiring camaraderie among teammates, the indomitable spirit that fuels their pursuit, and the unspoken bond that makes Chelmsford Women’s Football Team a family. Ultimately the goal is to show case women’s football for what it really is at this level the struggles and battels we face every season along with getting to know the real people behind the players and how sport can play such an important role in our lives young or old.

We would absolutely love to create more noise around the women’s game and encourage more local companies to sponsor or fund their local female football clubs and teams. Who knows how far this will go, but I massively believe if we could get more funding, we could make a massively positive impact with it in the game we all love!

www.chelmsfordcitywomenfc.co.uk

Grassroots is proud to be supporting Farleigh Hospice

Grassroots Magazine is delighted to be supporting local charity, Farleigh Hospice. In each edition, we will be sharing with you their latest news along with upcoming events that you can get involved in!

Farleigh Hospice has been a cornerstone of our local community since 1982 when, following the death of a lady called Audrey Appleton from cancer, her friends Glenda Lance and Dr Gill Collier launched an appeal to establish hospice services in and around Chelmsford.

Since its creation later that same year, Farleigh has provided hospice care to thousands of people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across mid Essex. The hospice, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, continues to help people to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis to the end of their lives, by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge.

As a charity, Farleigh relies on the generosity of the local community to raise the £6 million it needs every year to care and support those who rely on its services. One of the ways that Farleigh engages with the community is through the range of fundraising events it organises throughout the year, which are listed on its websitewww.farleighhospice.org/events

Here we take a look at some of the exciting events coming up… the Annual Quiz, Sponsored Doggy Walk and Autumn Shopping Extravaganza!

Sunday League Day is a new concept to promote Sunday League football across the UK, piggybacking on the success of Non-League Day in recent years.

The overall objective is simple:to raise the profile of Sunday Leaguefootballand to get people out of their houseson a Sunday morningtogo and watch their localgrassroots footballteam.Teams usually play in public locations soit’s often free to watch,fresh air is great for physicaland mental health,and clubs really value seeingspectatorsat their games.Gettingmore people interestedand involved in Sunday Leaguefootballwill only helpto grow the beautifulgame in its purest form,and ultimately increaseparticipation too.

With entry tomost Sunday Leaguegames free,we are keen to bring a charity elementtothe occasion and encourage spectators,as wellas players,clubs and leaguesalike,to raise money towards a good cause.For example,spectators could donatea notional“ticket price” tocharity.

Another aim is to dispelsome of the misconceptionsof Sunday Leaguefootballfrom a previous era. Pub teams are stilla (great!) thing,and it’s good that people have an opportunity to play competitive,structured football.However,things havechangedon a Sunday.The likes of Palmers, SE Dons and HashtagUnited(who’venow switchedtostorming upthe Saturdaypyramid),have brought SundayLeaguefootballto people’s attention throughYouTube.SocialMedia has given clubs like CavershamUnitedthe opportunity tomake a name for themselves outsideof the local area.Sunday League is interesting topeople - a purer form of the game - without VAR for a start. Another misconception is the quality of the football. The standardofthe FA Sunday Cupteams would challenge the teamspushingupthe Saturdaypyramid.

The messagetopotentialspectatorsis simple:turn up, watch some strippedbackfootball, and enjoy!Sunday Leaguefootballis way more accessible topotentialspectators now,with fixtures online and a lot of clubs are on all the popular social media platforms and sharingfixturedetails.

Clubs can approach Sunday LeagueDay with the freedom and creativity tomarkthe occasion however they wantto.Sharing the #SundayLeagueDayand #SLD2024 hashtagson socials is a helpful start.Clubs should usethe opportunitytotry and attractspectators along,which can of course lead tomany benefitsas a result (more awareness,potentialsponsors,etc).

As an example,Reading-basedside Caversham Unitedhavecommittedtogettinginvolvedand have suggestedthey willlikely have a small programme available on the day and some form of refreshments (theyare sponsored by a brewery…),whilstraisingmoney for charity by “selling” tickets for a good cause.

We hope that media will engageand giveSLDand its teams some coveragetoo!There’s been a lot of frustration with the elite gamein recentyears,thatextends further down the pyramidtoo(see recently Reading’s ongoing ownershipbattleand #SellBeforeWeDaimovement).SundayLeague has an opportunity toshine,and the time is now!

We would like to encourageeveryonetoget involved!Ifthere are any volunteers out therewhowould like to get involved and support the #SLD2024 (and beyond) campaigns, please send

@SundayLeagueDay

a DM on X (formerly Twitter) or an email to sundayleagueday@outlook.com