Thetownend.com

Ex-Town keeper's praise for Wray
           
           


  FORMER Town keeper Phil Smith will always be grateful for the way outgoing chairman Jeremy Wray handled his departure from the County Ground at the end of last season.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/9988416.Ex_Town_keeper_s_praise_for_Wray/?ref=rss
           
           
           

I'm surprised he's out of work and he was a decent league 2 keeper.

Say what you want about him, I think he's a top bloke (never met him). He is still helping out with the football in the community goalkeeper training my lad does on a Thursday.

Ha! The keeper in my youngest lad's team did that last season, really enjoyed it and really liked Phil Smith. As you say, really nice bloke.

Where is that at Batch? My lad hasn't had any proper goalie training since James Bittner went to Hereford.

Its Haydon somewhere  (Haydon Wick school I think) :-[ the Mrs takes him to it hence not being 100% certain. She's in class now so can't check age group/locations.

No idea on general coaching standard other than being good enough for an 8 year old :), or whether Smith is permanantly involved (I assume not).

Don't worry - looking for something closer to Devizes.

Yeah, makes sense :)

wiggy, it's run by the FiTC lot and they may do something out that way as well - I know they do the half-term stuff out in the 'shire. Worth contacting them anyway - [email protected] is the chap you want I believe.

Steve hale-youth-cofe keeper coach does stuff around the county I think. Google him it may come up with something

The Junior Premier League/Wiltshire FC lot are doing trials for his age group soon.

For those of you that remember Elite, this is like a well run version that actually has games!

Jesus! Are you Jimmy Savile?

if they pick kids then ask for money avoid. Most of the promises of scouts-links to pro clubs is bollocks.

Refreshingly, they are not claiming links to any clubs, and are completely upfront about providing additional, higher quality training at a cost. Whether in the long term thay can maintain the level of coaching, or indeed maintain the standard of kids attending rather than take anyone who is willing to pay will remain to be seen.

Both my lads did Elite. One chose to leave himself as the standard of coaching gradually diluted, the other stayed in as his coaching from James Bittner was fantastic.

STFC invited the younger one, the goalie, to pre-season training last year but we turned them down - I felt at 10 he was just too young, and would be better off enjoying playing for Devizes with his mates.

It remains a mystery to me why no club has ever approached my older son - I have reached a conclusion that they just aren't interested in defenders. His club coaches and the Wilts FC coaches all say that he is better than players who have been taken up by centres of excellence. I am not overly worried as he also plays rugby and would have to give this up if he signed for a club, but I know he dreams of playing professional football and gets frustrated that some of his friends (all strikers) are at STFC when he is every bit as good as them.

If he's good enough he will get picked up eventually.

Clearly you are not in the right clique Wiggy ;)

You might be right Batch!

If anyone is interested here is the Junior Premier League website:

http://junior-premier.co.uk/Home.aspx