Fleetwood Town "academy". Whats the craic? 

Actual poster better later than never; cheap child care across the hols 

great pricing, Dave.

 

13 hours ago, Dr Faustus said:

Actual poster better later than never; cheap child care across the hols 

2 of mine will be there 💪🏻

Sorry, I know it’s me pushing this thread- the lads just qualified as a ref; if anyone needs one U15 and younger let me know.

I should add mainly around Bolton and Salford, and likely Sundays due to him playing

😬

Class this Dave. He'd be a top ref. I can just see the look of bemusement on his face when some 12 year old who can hardly kick straight calls him shit 😄

I'll speak to E's coach to see if we can use him mate. What will his fee be?

Been told of a 14 yr old left city for Chelsea on £5000 a week till he’s 17 signs contract forms then on £80 grand a week with a £60 thousand a year sports firm contract bloody hell 

This 15 year old at Arsenal is meant to be the next wonder kid.

15. Same age group as my lad, couldn't imagine any of them playing men's football.

 

3 hours ago, gonzo said:

This 15 year old at Arsenal is meant to be the next wonder kid.

15. Same age group as my lad, couldn't imagine any of them playing men's football.

 

Is that this weeks wonder kid after the Liverpool 16yr old who “amazed” everyone in B team friendly last weekend?

Another thing social media and content creators have made worse. Just let them get on with developing till ready for first team

39 minutes ago, green genie said:

Is that this weeks wonder kid after the Liverpool 16yr old who “amazed” everyone in B team friendly last weekend?

Another thing social media and content creators have made worse. Just let them get on with developing till ready for first team

Tbf that Rio looked absolutely dynamite the other day.

Long way to go like you say.

Who remember Sonny the Ajax kid head to toe in Mizuno?

24 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Tbf that Rio looked absolutely dynamite the other day.

Long way to go like you say.

Who remember Sonny the Ajax kid head to toe in Mizuno?

Sonny Pike? Head fell off and he stopped playing. Kicked about with his mates on a sunday instead and didn;t even enjoy that

29 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Tbf that Rio looked absolutely dynamite the other day.

Long way to go like you say.

Who remember Sonny the Ajax kid head to toe in Mizuno?

He's no Emanuele Morini

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Tbf that Rio looked absolutely dynamite the other day.

Long way to go like you say.

Who remember Sonny the Ajax kid head to toe in Mizuno?

Remember Chelsea fans wanking over Josh McEachran 

That one quickly nose dived 

On 05/08/2025 at 10:18, boltonboris said:

Class this Dave. He'd be a top ref. I can just see the look of bemusement on his face when some 12 year old who can hardly kick straight calls him shit 😄

I'll speak to E's coach to see if we can use him mate. What will his fee be?

He’s doing friendlies for £20, leagues/local FA dictate after that bud

16 hours ago, green genie said:

Is that this weeks wonder kid after the Liverpool 16yr old who “amazed” everyone in B team friendly last weekend?

Another thing social media and content creators have made worse. Just let them get on with developing till ready for first team

It’s worse than that- been tapped up by shop assistants who are ‘agents’ and ‘influencers’ offering freebies, discounts, representation etc when they find out there’s a potential customer in front of them.

its ruthless, borderline child exploitation; Kai Rooney is another- has a deal with Puma and Daily Mail posts videos of him moving to the 18s- the clip is about 5 years old. Ridiculous amount of pressure on a lad

 

Anyway, I’ve 5 hour round trip for 40 mins of football in non competitive fixture against Newcastle!

On 05/08/2025 at 10:18, boltonboris said: shit 😄

 

After some help

For the first time since taking over I've got to let someone down gently. He's a nice lad who has been training with us for the last month or so but, frankly, he's diabolical and is nowhere near the level of the others. If we signed him on he would be firmly last when it comes to being picked.

Have any of you got experience of this and how did you let the lad down? 

I feel for you. But although it’s a horrible thing to do, politely making the difficult call now will be the right thing to do in the long run. I help look after a year group of 90 boys at our club and we have 5 streamed teams. I’ve sometimes wondered if it’s the best thing to do, but at the moment I’m in the camp that says it’s good for kids to be playing with and against other kids of a similar ability. The problem is that many (most) parents don’t feel the same way. I’ve always tried to be honest with those conversations but they’re not easy. Good luck.

Kids should really play in a team and against opponents that match their ability. 
 

just tell the parents, either in person, or over the phone (not message) that whilst he’s a nice lad and you’ve enjoyed coaching him, you think he’ll get more opportunities, more development and more confidence playing in a team more suited to his current level, where he can thrive. I’m sure it will hurt the parents and they may get a bit pissed off or offended, but will eventually see that you’ve done them a solid. You do need to (and I’m sure you will) help them find a new team though using the league contacts 

Good luck. You’ll be doing the right thing.

Edited August 16, 2025Aug 16 by boltonboris

Cheers. Not a nice conversation but shared some links to other local clubs and sent him with my best wishes 

3 hours ago, Kane57 said:

Cheers. Not a nice conversation but shared some links to other local clubs and sent him with my best wishes 

just catching up bud- how old?

its never nice; i never turn a child away from football- if they dont make the cut with the 'team', i keep them in development. i have had to limit it to foundation stage, and (thankfully) my last U12 joined a team this month, albeit as a squad player. its a luxury i am lucky to have- for every 10 kids i have playing for my grassroots team, i have 1 at another club, and a couple just having fun and developing with me

i have seen fallouts and parents in tears to me over the silliest of things- you have handled it well though, be honest and open and just guide them as best you can.

They're 9 and tbh his parents are realistic and took it well

On 16/08/2025 at 18:07, Kane57 said:

They're 9 and tbh his parents are realistic and took it well

It's always been the weakest point of my eldests manager.

I'll be forever in his debt for the work, time and effort he's put in to running that team from under 5s to now under 15s. 

But he's never had the ability to move players on if they're not good enough and giving folk fair game time etc.

He threw two cup finals taking off better players and making it fair. Made the team weaker and we got beat. That's not good for the rest of the kids.

It's a difficult balance isn't it.

 

 

I coach my son's team but am just a fan for my daughter's team. I wish I was a bit tougher on some lads cos we still carry a few lemons but with the girls team it's even harder because the pool of available players is very shallow 

2 minutes ago, Kane57 said:

I coach my son's team but am just a fan for my daughter's team. I wish I was a bit tougher on some lads cos we still carry a few lemons but with the girls team it's even harder because the pool of available players is very shallow 

Chap at work was asking my advice on a cup final for his girls team and I didn’t envy being asked with no knowledge. Fair play to all of you that do it. I’d be with Gonzo though that winning is important but not at all costs

i got roped in and ending up doing u7s to u13s

 

at 7s i had one kid who was proper away with the fairies

ball went past him ' comon xxxx chase it'

next he pulls this funny pose, shouts superman and sets off

another day hes picking fucking daisies

 

another one wanted to go in goal another day

4 or 5 down, could get out of our box, let alone our half

he just tucked it under his arm and wouldn't kick it

'they're only going to shoot and score another'

36 minutes ago, Casino said:

i got roped in and ending up doing u7s to u13s

 

at 7s i had one kid who was proper away with the fairies

ball went past him ' comon xxxx chase it'

next he pulls this funny pose, shouts superman and sets off

another day hes picking fucking daisies

 

another one wanted to go in goal another day

4 or 5 down, could get out of our box, let alone our half

he just tucked it under his arm and wouldn't kick it

'they're only going to shoot and score another'

The lad I've just binned was asked the other week "are you here to play or to mess about"......you can probably guess his answer