A History of Fry Club JFC U’13s

 

 

 

Fry Club JFC U’13s have been together since 1999 when Steve Murray formed an under 8 squad, which at the time was the earliest age group Fry Club JFC began at. Many of the teams we played had already been together for a season so results to begin with were not in our favour. However, through Steve’s skill and efforts in management, individual and team performances improved dramatically over the following season.

 

Due to the number of players available, we were able to introduce a ‘C’ team at under 9 level in 2000 / 01under the guidance of Steve Knight.

 

A change of manager was forced upon us in Oct 2000 as Steve Murray was reluctantly unable to continue. Sam McLeod was installed in overall charge of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams supported by Steve Tucker and Steve Curtis.

 

One of Steve Murray’s legacies was to hold training on grass on Saturday mornings, something we still continue to do. A natural playing surface in daylight can only enhance any training session.

 

The Player of the Year at under 9 was Reece Tucker and Sportsman of the year was Sean Smith. Our penalty prize winner was Ross Mcleod.

 

The results gained during the under 9 season were used to grade us for the Hanham Minor League at under 10 level and we were included in Division 3.

 

Unfortunately we didn’t enjoy too many successes during the under 10 season (2001/02) only winning one game and drawing one game and consequently we suffered relegation. However, many of us who were at the fixture on Sunday 16 Dec 01 away at Downend will recall the incident whereby Sam McLeod was so frustrated by the team performance during our ‘A’ team game that, at half time, he duly announced he was resigning! Fortunately, he calmed down and remained to enjoy the rest of the game and continue as manager.

 

The under 10 player of the year was Oliver Randall and sportsman of the year was Kyle Curtis.

 

During the summer of 2002 we attended tournaments at Corsham and Warmley as well as our own without success. However, in August 2002 we entered the Oldland sixes and promptly won the subsidiary cup, our only success to date. This also coincided with the supply of a brand new kit and training tops kindly sponsored by ‘Foster Care Associates’ a company that Sam McLeod’s wife Kate works for. As the name suggests, they are involved sourcing suitable parents to foster children. We are extremely grateful for their very generous support.

 

At under 11 level, we were finally able to select and play to what we believed was our strongest asset, and that was 11 a side. So season 2002 / 03 began with our first two league games not being played due to team raising difficulties by the opposition.  We therefore ‘started’ our campaign away at St Nicholas on 22 Sept 02 and won 3 – 1. Our next league on 6 Oct was home against St Nicholas and we won 5 – 0. We had more points in 2 league games than the whole of the previous season and suddenly the optimism came flooding back of just how good we could be.

 

 Well the rest of the season was one everyone involved with the team will remember for the rest of their lives, and not just on the pitch. Sadly, on Tues 25 Feb 03 our manager Sam McLeod suffered a brain haemorrhage and a stroke during the subsequent operation. Thankfully, Sam survived and is today back at work, albeit office based. Needless to say, the early days proved very difficult as the football took a back stage. It was during this time that everybody connected to the team really came together to support each other. This culminated in unprecedented success for the team as they won Division D of the Hanham Minor League under 11, which was only the second time any team from Fry Club JFC had won a title in the HML since it began in 1976. The most pleasing part of this was that Sam was there to witness the final two home games which we had to win.

 

 During the season, there were too many successes to list but one that is worth mentioning was an Evening Post Star Match award to Reece Tucker. Our player of the year was James Hurrell-Smith and the Sportsman of the Year was Craig Francis. Penalty prize winner was Bradley Monelle.

 

The under 11 winning squad. 

 

We again entered tournaments at Corsham and Warmley as well as our own during the summer of 2003 but without success.

 

It became obvious as the new season approached that Sam would be unable to return as team manager in the foreseeable future so Steve Curtis continued to act as ‘caretaker’ manager. We were of course promoted to Division 3 and were now to compete in the Avon Youth League under 12’s. With the continuing help of Richard Boulton, Kevin Baber, Nick Francis & Steve  Tucker the task for the new season was to try and keep the success going. However, the opposition proved a lot tougher and we finished the season in the lower half of the table. The Player of the Year was James Hurrell-Smith and Sportsman was Michael Payne. Our penalty prize winner was again Bradley Monelle.

 

There were still though many positives during the season as we found the boys developing into stronger players. Two notable achievements were that a new lad called Craig Andrews, who had only joined us at the beginning of the under 12 season, and Oliver Randall, who had been with us since under 9, were both selected by Bristol City to sign up as youth academy players. Craig accepted but Oliver took the hardest decision of all by not accepting and staying with Frys where he wishes to build up his experience before progressing. We all feel very honoured that Oli chose Frys before Bristol City and I believe this speaks volumes for the standing this club has within the football community and also to Oli himself who is a very naturally gifted player.

 

And so to the under 13 season 2004 / 05. As it unfolds no doubt further history will be recorded and with it, we hope, one or two more success stories. In the meantime our best wishes are extended to Sam McLeod and his family as we hope to see his return to management and coaching before too long. His wit and skills are missed.

 

The current under 13 squad are as follows:

 

·        Craig Francis                -           goalkeeper

·        Michael Payne              -           defender

·        James Boulton              -           defender

·        James Hurrell-Smith       -           defender

·        Ben Bowden                 -           defender

·        Jake Vye                     -           defender / midfield

·        Jordan Knight               -           defender / midfield

·        Kyle Curtis                   -           midfield / defender

·        Ross Mcleod                 -           midfield / defender

·        Reece Tucker               -           midfield

·        Oliver Randall (capt)      -           midfield

·        Bradley Monelle             -           midfield / forward

·        Mohamed Bouaziz          -           midfield / forward

·        Conor Box                    -           midfield / forward

·        Matthew Baber             -           forward

·        Oliver Boon

·        Louis Nicholl

·        Craig Rafferty