| Manager: Kenny Philbeam: Scholars Cottage The Ridgewaye Southborough Kent TN4 0AA United Kingdom Telephone |
Assistant: Anne Withers 10 The Grange Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 0HR Telephone     01892 864045 Mobile 07500 059 683anne.withers@ridgewaye.co.uk |
Welcome to Girls football at Ridgewaye. Each week we aim to give you, amongst other things, a roundup of the last weeks matches and events:
Tournament Latest
Since the last update a quantum leap has taken place in the girls football throughout the Club so hers is a general report for you all. Many thanks for your continued support and keep going, whatever happens.The under 14's went into the Kent Cup Final with high hopes and swarmed over the opposition for much of the game, failing to convert any of the 15-20 chances created on the day. Leaving with another lesson in finishing after losing 1-0 to a quality first half strike from Hugin. Well done to you all for training hard and, again, we were unlucky but will continue to work hard for the future.
The tournament season has been successful with two wins and two semis out of four, coming up trumps at Ditton with both teams into the final and at Castle Colts. Having beaten Hugin 2-1 at Lordswood, we lost in the semis, However there is a new challenger in Meridian and the games are now being real royal affairs. Well done to you all and keep training and playing hard.
I am particularly happy with the under 13's, who since the end of the season have played two tournies, finishing third at Castle Colts - great effort - and then having two equal sides out in the Ridgewaye tournie, finishing runners-up in the Champions trophy and the other side runner-up in the Shield, having beaten both of the winners in the group games, the Finals were noticeably tiring affairs.
This does mean, though, that all the girls, yes ALL the girls at Ridgewaye this year have won medals which is an utterly fantastic thing to be able to say - just great and Well Done to you after a hard season. Keep going, keep improving.
The under 11's Won the TM Kent Cup in a thrilling final against Rainham Kenilworth, 4-2 after extra-time. Having been two-nil up, we let it slip but regrouped and stormed home in the end - a Huge Thank You to All the girls who contributed magnificently. Since then, we finished fourth at the Castle Colts, tourney, got to the semis at Ridgewaye and Won against some excellent Sussex sides at Broak Oak, managed by Dave. Thanks to Kenny too at Ridgewaye and for Jamie, Richard (Emily), Richard (Jess). Of course, to Anna also.
24th June 08
Three-way Mini Tournament at Meridian!
Again, just the one outing since the last report, with a three way mini-tourney at Meridian involving Mer and Walderslade, where Katie Gough made her debut! We lost to Meridian 3-1 but held the lead towards the end, (Georgia Pilbeam scoring), not tackling their best player who was allowed to walk the ball into the net twice in three minutes. We will address the way to deal with that in training. The opposition coach praised us however which is nice and thanks to Brett for inviting us over, which will be repeated soon. Many of the players looked as though they had had three weeks off in that game, but performed much. much better in game 2, with Paul Brown in charge as I reffed and the passing and moving was excellent in a 4-0 win over Walderslade Angels, who played good football themselves... Goals from Sophie Brown 2, Georgia Pilbeam and Phoebe. Very well done to all and the same applies as for all the others - play and be available for the next four weeks prior to the TM Under11 County Cup Final in May.22nd April 08
Latest News...
Friendlies, tournies and the Cup Final to look forward to, so please play as much as you can as we will go stale if not and then we will not be ready for the Cup Final at all... training will be held on Saturdays 10.00 - 11.30 until the Cup Final and then we will just play the tournies. So...CUP FINAL DAY 18TH May - watch this space...
FRIENDLIES - Sunday 6th April Home v Meridian 2pm k/off
Sunday 20th April Away v Meridian, time tba
and watch this space for more...
TOURNIES -
Monday 5th May - Ditton Minors
Sunday 11th May - Footie Chicks, Beckenham - winners and runners-up qualify for National Finals in Brum
31 May or 1 June - Lordswood
14 June - Broad Oak
22 June - Ridgewaye - 2 teams
19 or 20 July - Tonbridge Juniors
May be more, watch this space... these are great fun and a good time had by all, weather permitting! Also new players welcome and existing ones will get better too.
09th April 08
Our First TM Kent Cup Final!
Well done to you all last Sunday when we defeated another first division team, Gravesham by 2-1 - very hard fought encounter in very wet conditions - soaking number one last Sunday for the coach and all. Finals Day on May 18th will feature two Ridgewaye teams for the first time and that is so very good for the Club. Goals from Phoebe and Hannah (I believe, looking through the rain) and a strong defensive display with a quality goalkeeper in Jamie-Leigh giving the whole team real confidence. Jamie, you will play on the pitch so rest easy. Friendlies only now and perhaps a tourney or two before the Finals Day, so much to look forward to and Attend Training regularly otherwise we Will lose our flow. Also get as many girls that you know would like to play involved, that's very important. See you...18th March 08
1-0 Win in TM Cup Quarters
This refreshing bunch of footballers continue to set new performance achievements. Last Sunday, a Home TM Cup quarter against Div 1 Fulston was a hard match and we came through 1-0, with a second half Georgia Pilbeam goal. Onwards to the semi-finals day on 16th March v. Gravesham, another Div 1 outfit - but we are bouyed by recent success yesterday too. Away at Castle Colts in our last League match, we held on to record a really professional 1-0 win against the hitherto unbeaten League Champions (I believe), a goal knocked in by the massively improved Georgia Pearch. Positionally very good in the main and we have to be, playing those who would take advantage of running at goal unchallenged. Castle play ground football extremely well and we were clearing aerially to the front speedsters, but will work when it is right to pass out more from the back. As I said, a fantastic year thus far and more to come we hope.Take nothing for granted.
10th March 08
Good 7-0 Win at Barming
Thanks again to Richard/Jamie/Kenny, ref Ricky Pring and everyone for being there as the girls won 7-0 yesterday v Barming, another fantastic result which keeps us 2nd in Div 2. Eirlys 2, Georgia Pilbeam 2, Phoebe 2 and Hannah I believe were the scorers - let me know if not. Last week we won 5-0 at Aylesford with Georgia Pilbeam 3, Phoebe and Eirlys scoring - just mightily impressed with the structure of the side and how you are working hard. A Cup quarter final this week v 1st Div Fulston so all to play for and BELIEVE then we will succeed...See you all soon26th February 08
Good 8-0 Win at Walderslade Bluebell
Almost impossible to predict what these girls will do from week to week - playing with only 6 this week they won 8-0 Away from Home v Walderslade Bluebells and without one of the usual goalies... Georgia Pearch showing the way with four goals and Georgia Pilbeam with three, Jemma with one. Thanks to Richard and Jamie for running the show, you are hired!! Next week it will be best probably to have the whole weekend off as I am not about at all on Saturday - have a medical appointment with one of the family and no match on Sunday - but Anna will let you know.Keep up the excellent progress, keep believing and keep making yourselves available.
28th January 08
Hard Work at Rainham
A very tough and typically OTT encounter with Rainham ended in a 2-1 defeat, but we are still 3rd and can still challenge for 2nd. We went into the game with many of the youngest girls exposed to a real hard-working team and I am sure lessons in motion were witnessed and taken on board, normally and basically referred to as Up and Down - attack and defend in equal measure. It can be hard work sometimes as oppo teams look to utilise physical strength to their advantage. Well done for fighting back in the 2nd half and we nearly snatched the 2-2... next time we will win, that is the spirit.Phoebe Leitch scored the goal and was Player of the Match for 2nd week running!! You are all doing the Club proud and keep on training and playing - this is the Way.
21st January 2008
4-1 Success Story at Long Lane
A real success story is unfolding here. Yesterday a rampant and thrilling performance saw us overwhelm second placed Long Lane, who have just themselves beaten Tottenham to reach the LFA Cup Final.. we won 4-1 and the nature of the attacking play was fantastic, just superb and you are now reaping the benefits of all the listening and learning we have done. Thank you also for bearing with me and trusting me to help you the best, very much appreciated. Never forget that each game is different and that it is there to be won/lost/drawn - it is that simple and we Must continue to defend sensibly as well as attack creatively. A special mention for Jamie-Leigh who is fantastic for us in goal and although she likes to play on the pitch too, never complains about going between the sticks - Manager's like that attitude!! So see you all next weekend for Ripping Yarns next episode...14th January 08
GIRLS U11s 2008 UPDATE
The hard working and keen u11s are beginning to carve a name out for themselves. You are third in your Kent League Division and this time next year will be much the better for it. The whole shape and awareness of match football is vastly improved and I thank you all for your efforts, much appreciated. We are also in the Tina Marshall Trophy as a result of a quarter final defeat to Long Lane - a game of two halves as they went 3-0 up to be pegged back by us to 3-2 - downhill - a ' wind and rain behind us sort of game' according to coach Kenny Pilbeam (thanks mate)...... From what I have seen there are six or seven good under 11 teams and we are one of them, so keep going.Before Xmas, sickness and other committments meant we had only FIVE against Aylesford, which is always frustrating....... However the girls played a blinder to win 3-0, worked very hard and were very disciplined in defence and attack - Game of the Year for me!!! Post-xmas, we played at Barming and another thoroughly professional unit performance saw us triumph 6-1 - its getting good, so All of you, the next step is to win the matches against Long Lane and Castle Colts, then we can say we have improved - Keep Going.........
8th January 2008
Seasons update.....
GIRLS U11s
Since the last report there have been a few enterprising weeks, either in terms of exciting games or lessons learnt.We had a bye into the Cup quarter finals, which is always nice and we play Long Lane at Home on 2nd December. Games-wise, we had a match against Barming at Home and we ended up drawing a match 4-4 which we had in the palm of our hands many times - lessons in defending leads and working on covering the goal area at all times were mentioned after the game. Thrilling match though, totally end to end stuff which all the spectators enjoyed.
Then a double header against Castle Colts, league leaders. Now you know me, I will back our players all the way as I think we are as talented as anyone else. In the first game, a very tired and disjointed performance ushered in a huge defeat, 7-1 and frankly it could have been 15.......... So we worked very hard on defensive positioning and covering gaps in front of goal, getting tackles in etc. The re-match the following week was much better, a 1-0 loss which should have been a draw on balance. Lessons again in working hard for each other and finishing our many chances.
We had a friendly against Div 1 Bearsted which was very sporting and friendly indeed, thanks Richard the Bearsted coach. We won 3-0 with goals from Hannah C, Phoebe and Georgia Pilbeam but the performance was much better and showed that we are learning all the time. Great defensive work from Hannah G, Jess and Zoe, well done.
We have speed, drive and good goalies, so add to that positional awareness and covering for each other if we get dragged out of position - let's try and win the games instead of drawing or losing, a fun target for all. Well done and keep going to everyone, All your efforts are appreciated.
1st December 07
Season Update......
The season is now two weeks old and it is certainly On with the Old and On with the new. The Club is ambitiously trying to grow the strongest girls section in Kent/Sussex and we are very grateful for all the girls, parents and supporters in joining up with us. Time is key to these developments.Naturally, having worked extremely hard to have new membership, it is always impossible for one person to run three sides. The logistics, time and working 24/7 to get things up and running has been worthwhile as immense pride is felt at the current status. As in all brave, new developments, it will take - without question - Time and Understanding on all sides to make it all work. We should not worry about the results of the new teams too much at this stage, but ensure that solid progress - in match play and also in training - happens. This time next year we will be in a far better position to judge how everyone has improved and we will be in a far better position to challenge for titles and cups. However, this season we will all give it our best shot given our hallmark determination to succeed.
HELP is required! I am unable to run three sides and Sundays are taken up flying from pillar to post managing two sides - these may differ dependent on who is playing where and when of course. We have every desire for everyone to succeed equally and this will happen in time. For now, though, have patience please and help out with training if you can (just Ring me), transport, goal erection/dismantling (Home matches), player availability for training and matches (the latter being more vital but the former being most worthwhile for development purposes) and giving all the girls the best chance to be successful. Without these things, progress will be much slower.
There is a huge amount of talent out there in the Club - coaching, playing, supporting - and I would like to thank the parents who have already been a great help, so others get involved if you can please. There are new coaches inclusive of two lady coaches, who will be on board when things settle down in other areas, and we have Rod Dyer who will be helping with the u13s together with Derek Flint/me and things will become clearer and stronger as we go along. Rod looks after Spartans u13s in the local Crowborough league and they play Saturday AMs. As he is helping out, together with girls from Spartans Alice and Melissa who have joined up with our u13s, the opportunity to play Saturday AMs with Rod is there too. I will be giving him the contact details of the u13s in case you want too. This will help him know you better and will ultimately help all round in the development stages.
The intention is to put the girls' development first and this will never waver or change, so please give us time. Training will be offered at the Ridgewaye for u13s and u14s on Wednesdays (5.30 - 7pm) and Saturdays (10 - 1145am) - one attendance would be fine - as they are closer in age. The u11s will always be done on Saturdays, together with the u13s and u14s who want to come then. This will hopefully give more even splits on both days. The u13s may choose to play on Saturdays, Rod will let me know.
Any problems Please Call me and they can be discussed and sorted I'm sure. So good luck for 2007-08 and see you soon.
Ian Wright
Manager, Ridgewaye Girls Football
17th September 07
