Fry Club JFC had a fantastic Christmas party over the weekend before Santa's travels.  On the afternoon of Sunday 21st December 2014, the U5's, the U6's, the U7's and the U8's all came together for a great afternoon of music, fun and games (see the video below, or via YouTube), topped off by a visit from Father Christmas.  Then in the evening, the U9's, the U10's, the U11 Colts and the U11 Juniors followed suit.  All of those teams would like to extend a huge thanks to Welfare Officer Sandra Yeoman for the hard work that she undertook organising everything.  The U7's had already gotten into the mood on the Friday before at training, everyone training in some form of Christmas attire! Fry Club JFC would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  See you in 2015.

Fry Club JFC U7's continue to progress and learn their trade.  A few games into their first season and they faced a nice team from Chew Valley, and photos of that game can be found via the Match Photos link. The FA have changed the rules on reporting youth football, so no results will be published until they are U12's, however photographs can so for more on the U7's click on their Team Page

Fry Club JFC wish Aaron Sutton the best of luck in his world title fight on Saturday 6th December at The Park venue in Knowle, Bristol.  Aaron, who plays for our U18 Colts has fought his way up to the level of World Title in his class, and long may he rise.  For more on Aaron's development, take a look at his Boxing Page. #Addendum# Aaron won his contest in a 2nd Round KO to become World Champion.

Fry Club JFC have been nominated as one of December's Community Matters recipients at the local Waitrose branch in Keynsham.  Every time you shop you will receive green tokens to drop in to one of three boxes, with our Club benefiting from one.  For more information open the Waitrose Community Matters Flyer.  We would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and especially Waitrose for this kind opportunity.

Frys held a free two day programme Soccer School in the recent half-term. Manager's Andy Edwards, Dave Francis and Bernie Grimes were ably assisted by the Fry Club U16 Girls. Players of various ages attended and had great fun across the two days with training games such as Scooby Snacks, King of the Ring and Killer, along with other fun skill sessions, helping the young players develop.  If you are interested in joining any of the Fry Club Teams then please navigate your way to the relevant age group via Team Navigation.

After looking backwards last week, we peer into the future this week, as the new Fry Club continues to develop.  The roof is now on and internal walls gives shape to what once was just a carcass.   If you follow the link to the Site Redevelopment page, you will see the full redevelopment history.

Today we look back at one of the unsung heroes of Fry Club, or Somerdale Wanderers as it was back then.  Between 1987 and 1992, Martin McAlpine was responsible for introducing young players to our Club.  He would have the players for the U9 and sometimes U10 season before passing them on to the Manager that he had brought onboard to take the team to completion.  Between 1988 and 1997, Somerdale were the powerhouse team of the Bristol Junior League, winning Leagues and Cups at all ages for Managers such as Craig Buxton, Malcolm Trainer, Dave Sheppard, Jeff Bruton, Andy Walker, Clive Stallard, Mike Brice & Bernie Grimes, and the one thing that all of those teams had in common were that Martin was there at the start of all of them.  Now running a Hotel in West Wales, we are eternally grateful for the role that Martin played.  For all of the past teams, please click the Completed Teams link.

Fry Club JFC U11 Juniors continue their progression as an independent team and here we look back at their first summer of tournaments where they followed up their medals at Thornbury with a good showing at the Portishead 6's. For more on the U11 Juniors click on their Team Page.

Every now and then, we at Fry Club JFC like to take a look at issues that are wider than just the Club itself.  Today we look at the FA Youth Development Review and the impact that has had on the way Clubs now operate. On 28 May 2012, The FA formally ratified some of the recommendations of the Youth Development Review. These amendments to the youth game can be found in the individual guidance booklets; Youth Leagues, U7/U8, U9/U10 and U11/U12 as well as the changes to the laws for those age groups U7/U8, U9/U10 and U11/U12.  The overarching ideal is to improve enjoyment, fun and development of young players allowing more touches, on a better proportioned pitch with an increase of involvement in the game as a whole.  We at Frys see these changes as positive for the game, however there are still issues over operating teams, especially when teams have to change from two teams of 7-a-side, to one team of 9-a-side, and only time will tell as to how this is achieved to the benefit of all players.  In the meantime we recommend that you follow the above Development links and watch the videos to help gain a better understanding.

With Phil Spencer standing down as one of the U18 Managers, Frys took the step of looking forward and building towards the U18 Floodlit League.  The first step saw the arrival of Dexter Miller & Clint Richards who through the summer held trials as part of launching Frys into the Bristol & Gloucestershire U18 Football Combination Premier Division.  The team have made a shaky start, but results are improving as a disparate group of players learn to play with each other, against teams who in some cases have been together for years.  One game recently saw them play Emersons Green, and Photos are available of that game.  For more on the U18 Juniors, and the already existing U18 Colts under Dave Gooding & Tony Harper, visit the U18 Page.

Frys U16 Girls are happy to unveil their new kit, kindly provided by their new Sponsor.  Perfect Fit in Keynsham supply female underwear of all varieties, and we see this sponsorship deal as a perfect fit for Frys Girls.  They are also wearing our new Pink colours, a development targeted specifically for our girls teams.  For more on the U16 Girls, please see their Team Page.

U18 player Aaron Sutton continues to make a name for himself in the Kickboxing world, and has now branched out into White Collar Boxing.  Aaron won the NWBA English Title on the 13th September 2014 against James "Lightsout" Livesey in a 3rd round knockout.  His next fight is on the Platinum Kickboxing Battle of Britain card on November 15th in Staffordshire. For Aaron's Kickboxing and Boxing page on this site, click AaronKB.

Fry Club JFC U7's have set out on their long journey of matches together.  As with all Frys teams we hope that they run through to completion and this one has ten years ahead before the transition to U18's.  Their first game was away to Brislington on Sunday 7th September 2014.  Not every player was available, and a full Team photo will be published once they are.  The FA have changed the rules on reporting youth football, so no results will be published until they are U12's, however result aside, everyone had a great time in the sun!  For more on the U7's click on their Team Page.

Fry Club JFC U11 Juniors continue their progression to an independent team in their own right.  Born out of last season's large U10 squad, this "new" team under the leadership of Mark Yeoman are getting into the swing of things with friendly games, and you can see photos of their game against Warmley Rangers.  For more on the U11 Juniors click on their Team Page.

Following on from two weeks ago, there are some more photos of the new Fry Club.  If you follow the link to the Site Redevelopment page, there are now images of all sides of the new build, and if you hover over the images, they each have a descriptor of what they portray.  As our Chairman recently paraphrased from the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', "For up from the ashes, up from the ashes, grow the roses of success!" The future of Frys looks rosey.

Fry Club JFC U7's are getting ready for their inaugural season of matches.  Although they began training two years ago, they have only recently risen to numbers enough for matches, which start in September, and on Saturday 16th August, 10 players formed two teams and took part in the Somerset FA Charter Standard Festival, their first taste of action and click here for some photos.  Every player had a great time, and all were rewarded with medals for their participation (click to watch a video of the presentation).  For more on the U7's click on their Team Page.

The skeleton of the new Fry Club is starting to take shape as building at our site develops apace.  There are now show homes at the top of the site and full details are available on the Taylor Wimpey Website.  The plans for our site include:

* Up to 700 new homes including affordable housing
* A new Fry Sports & Social Club facility
* Conversion of former factory block A to apartments
* Partial retention of factory blocks B and C for employment uses
* A new local centre which could include retail, community and leisure uses
* A single form entry primary school
* A children’s crèche
* A new 70-bed care home
* A new medical centre
* A café / restaurant
* Replacement playing fields and pitches associated with the Fry Club
* A new riverside walk with a new cycle/pedestrian bridge over the River Avon
* Substantial areas of public open space, including a wetland area for wildlife
* The extension of Keynsham Railway Station overspill car parking to encourage sustainable travel.

To read more on the changes occurring at Frys and to see some more photos, click on the Site Redevelopment link.  You can also download the official Site Plans, as well as the Taylor Wimpey May 2014 Newsletter and the June 2014 Newsletter.

Fry Club JFC U15's are another Frys team having a great Summer as witnessed by their victory at the Bridgwater Wolves tournament.  That was not the only tournament of the Summer, nor their only victory, more of which to come! For more on the U15's click on their Team Page.

Fry Club JFC U11 Juniors are quickly finding their feet.  Born out of last season's large U10 squad, this "new" team under the leadership of Mark Yeoman are quickly finding their feet, evidenced by their runners-up position in the Thornbury Town 6's Plate competition and photos of the day can be found by following the link.  For more on the U11 Juniors click on their Team Page.

Fry Club JFC U7's are having a great time this summer, entering numerous tournaments and fun festivals ahead of their U8 season.  One such tournament was Stoke Lane, and as you can see from the photo, the team had a great time.  For more on the U8's click on their Team Page.

Fry Club JFC are committed to offering the best possible opportunities for young people involved in football, and as part of our evolving methodology, we are pleased to showcase one of the ways.  The Fry Club JFC Player Development Plan is a 17 week structured approach to coaching which encompasses all of the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) ideals which underpin our coaching ethos.  Whilst we do not claim to have created this document, we have added our stamp to emphasize our commitment to offering Frys players the best that we can.

Fry Club JFC will hold their AGM at Fry Club on Monday 7th July 2014, starting at 8.00pm.  Any nominations for selection to the committee must be forwarded to the Club Secretary no later than Friday the 4th of July 2014. Any Resolutions to be considered at the AGM must also be with the Secretary by Friday the 4th of July 2014.  The Club Secretary can be contacted via e-mail. All Club members are entitled, and welcome to attend.

With a lot of focus currently on Youth Development and the way to turn our young stars into stars of the future, we look this week at the coaching philosophy that Frys are committed to. The 4 corner model outlines the factors that need to be considered as a young player grows and develops in the game. Each of the corners is connected and relies on support from the other three areas. The corners are Technical, Physical, Psychological and Social. The ideal scenario for both short and long-term player development is to meet the individual developmental needs of the players as often and as realistically as possible.  At Frys, we strive to follow this ideal.  For more infomation you can download the both the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) booklet, and the 4 Corner LTPD Model booklet.

At the end of each season, the eldest team (not including U18's) play the Managers for the Ron Williams Cup, also known as the Manager's Match.  With no U16 team, it fell this season to the U15's to play the game.  It was a competitive game, however the Manager's experience shone through.  Ryan Auchterlonie with a hat-trick and both Tom Pitt and Scott Janes with a brace, was answered by a brace from Josh James.  With no U16's this year, the U15's will get a chance at revenge at the end of next season.  Well done to all who took part!  For more on the U15's visit their Team Page, and for past Photos and Match Reports of the Ron Williams Cup, click the link.

Ex-Frys player Aaron Sutton continues to make a name for himself in the Kick Boxing world.  Aaron won the WRSA Commonwealth Title on the 17th May 2014.  On Saturday 24th May, Channel Sky 203 broadcast this fight. For Aaron's Kick Boxing page on this site, click AaronKB.

Fry Club would like to wish Kev O'Neill and his family all the very best for their future, and thank them for all that they brought to the Club in their short time with us.  Sadly Kev has had to step down as U13 Manager for personal reasons, and unfortunately ends his association with the Club immediately.  Kev joined in 2011, bringing a team to fill a vacant slot, and in the three years with us has seen them narrowly miss promotion as U11's in 2011-12, but then storm to the League Title as U12's, dropping just two points all season, and winning the AYL Plate Final as well.  With this season almost over they are firmly established in Division 2 and are looking to go higher next. Jason Knight takes over the role until a permanent decision can be made. For more on the U13's, click on their Team Page.

The Summer is almost upon us, and a few of our teams are already planning for next Season.  Amongst those teams are the U13's (Year 8), looking for a goalkeeper, The U15 Girls (Year 10), looking for a few new players to enhance the progression from this season, and the U11's (Year 6), looking to grow on the positive start to their team.  Also looking for players are the U8's (Year 3) who are entering the League structure for the first time, and finally the U6's (Year 1) preparing to play games for the first time.  If you are interested then please click on the various team pages for more details.  The advert on the right is the a joint venture of the U6's & U8's.

With most teams and Clubs looking for a sponsor to assist them through kit and training equipment, we look back at the original Frys Sponsor.  Back when we were Keynsham Wanderers, a local businessman supported our Club by lending us a lorry each weekend!  That lorry would transport the players to their various games back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, children playing in the back wagon (could you imagine the uproar now if that happened?) and then after the game, bring them back to Frys.  That Sponsor was Dick Ollis of Ollis Transport.  As well as the transport support, Dick kindly lent us the use of a field near his haulage yard called Pixash Lane, and that became our alternative pitch when needed.  The date we gave up Pixash is unclear, but it was still in use in 1987 as this webmaster was still playing there!  Eventually we had enough pitches at Frys, and more parents had cars, but Dick is still fondly remembered in this club and is always welcome at Frys if passing. For more on the early years of the Club to 1988, take a look at the Club History as well as the Archives page.

Ex-Frys player Aaron Sutton continues to make a name for himself in the Kick Boxing world.  Fighting Sam Joyner of Pershore on the 16th March 2014 for the World Ring Sports Association (WRSA) Super Welterweight (Over 67 - 70.kg) English Title, Aaron, now fighting with Highlanders KB, won the five round fight with a unanimous decision.  Up next is the Total Full Contact (TFC) Night of Champions on 26th April 2014, at Hutton Moor, Weston-S-Mare.  This fight will be televised a few weeks later on the MY Channel - Sky TV 203, for the TFC KB Area Title.  If all goes according to plan, Aaron hopes to fight for the WRSA Commonwealth Title on the 17th May 2014.  For Aaron's Kick Boxing page on this site, click AaronKB. ##UPDATE## Due to a cycling injury, Aaron's fight on the April 26th is off, however 17th May continues.

As part of the redevelopment of the Somerdale pitches, part of the factory has been demolished.  Frys had four iconic "Blocks", 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D', with D Block the last built and where the Crunchie bar was made.  That Block has now been demolished, although the rest are staying up to be redeveloped.  The factory was originally built in the 1920's and has been part of the Keynsham landscape ever since.  Its closure was announce in October 2007, and the last bar to roll off of the production line was a Double Decker in January 2011. Taylor Wimpey are building 700 new homes, a school, cafe's and restaurants as part of the redevelopment, and most crucially, first of all a NEW CLUB!  To read more on the changes occurring at Frys, and to see detailed plans, click on the Site Redevelopment link.

With the weather finally turning, and games finally being played after a 10 week break, thoughts turn towards the approaching end of the season, and possible Team Tours.  In the past, teams from this Club have toured Minehead, to Holland recently both in 2004 and 2012, as well as back in 1989, Dawlish in 2010 and 2011, Barnstaple in 2004, Brixham in 2007 and Warmwell in 2004 and 2005. One of the most recent involved our U14's, who last Easter toured the Isle of Wight, meeting ex professional footballer and current Radio 5 commentator Steve Claridge, who presented them with their medals for finishing in 3rd place.  A big well done to them, and if you would like to see more photos of the tour, visit their Pitchero page (log in or register to view), or to find out more about the team, visit their Team Page.

Some more historical photographs recently uncovered help to highlight to ongoing life of Fry Club JFC. In 1994, an Under 8 team began and ran through to Under 16 before joining our U18's and then the Senior Teams.  In that final year of 2002-03, a new Under 6 team began and they ended last year as Under 16's, some going into the U18's and the Senior Teams, whilst the current U5's began.  Hopefully these players will take us through to U16 and the Circle Of Life (apologies to the Lion King) continues.  The photos are below, left to right, the 1994 U8's, then nine years later in 2002-03 that team as U16's, then in the same year the new U6's.  To the right, those U6's as U16's 2012-13, and then finally above right, one of our new U4's.  For more on the History of the Club and Past Teams click on the links, as well as the general Club Archives.

   

On the 10th August 2013 as U15's, Frys Girls entered the Bristol Academy U16 Tournament, reaching the semi-final, and meeting the Women's Super League team Bristol Academy Women, who later that season played Liverpool Ladies for the Super League title. Unfortunately Bristol lost 2-0, but for the girls from Frys it was a great experience and view of a possible future pathway.  For more information on the day, follow the Tournament Report link.  For more on the U15 Girls, visit their Team Page.

With lots of villages cut off by rain water, it's perhaps no surprise that the football fixture list has also suffered, with no Frys teams playing since before Christmas.  Our Under 9 team decided to tackle this problem head on, and in early January organised an indoor mini tournament amongst themselves.  Splitting into three teams, it was a great way to keep fitness up and friendships continuing.  The three teams were named Red Rockets, Blue Flames & White Lightning and at the end of it White Lightning came out triumphant.  For more Photos of the day please click the link, and for more on the under 9's please click on their Team Page.

   

For many, the whole idea of playing football is about competition.  But does this ideology miss the sheer joy of playing, and of playing for an ideal, that Football is more about fun and friendship?  With the debate still ongoing about the FA changes to youth football (no competitive games before U7, no results published before U10, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, smaller pitches, etc) this 10 minute documentary about an U8 Spanish side called Margatania FC, who hail from Vilanova i la Geltrú about 10 miles south of Barcelona, is a reminder that there is more to football than just winning.  L'Equip Petit (The little Team) is about a team who have never won a game, nor even scored a goal, but they play each week with a smile on their face, and a joy that is mirrored by the parents and coach watching.

There has been a massive upsurge of interest and membership of our Facebook page as more photographs of old teams are posted, and those players reconnect.  The very first team have been the subject of one of the conversations, with just one player left to be identified!  Les Stroud and George Hacker stand at the back managing the team, and then players in the back row from left; Craig Bingham, Mark Parsons, Unknown, Steve Fry, Terry Templar, Mark Groves, Wayne Bamfield and Steve Jolliffe. Front row from left; Phil Tucker, Steve Stroud, Gary Stroud, Mark Hacker, Steve Fream and Steve Shorland.  If you know the last player, or indeed have any history which you can add to this site then please e-mail the Webmaster!

Yes it's that time of year again.  When lakes rejuvenate, when trees grasp life, when 71% of our planet's surface decides to fall on us! We at Fry Club have a rather unique visual representation of this circle of the seasons, we flood!  Photos of the latest event can be found by clicking the 2014 Flood link, or you can see back through the past few years of rainfall by clicking the Yearly Flood link. Oh what happy memories!

We kick off 2014 with news that on Saturday 4th January 2014, six members of Fry Club U9's were picked to play for BANES Football Development Centre in a three-way tournament at Churchill in North Somerset.  As well as BANES, the other two teams were FC Wiltshire Development and North Somerset Development Centre.  We are proud of all Frys players who are picked to play Representative football and beyond, so well done lads.  For more on the Under 9's, click on their Team Page.