On Friday 10th June, Crawley Green Sports & Social Club held their annual Sports Awards Evening. This is a chance for the Club to show their appreciation for all the hard work the various Committee members put in all year round. It is also a chance for all the managers of the football teams to nominate a Player from each team as the Sportsman of the Year, with each nominated player receiving a trophy.

Congratulations to all the players, teams and officials who were nominated for awards and to all the winners of the main awards. The winners for the 2010-11 Season were:-

Young Sportsman - Jordan Bates

Sportsman - Glen Freeman

Francis Bradley Memorial Award - Tysie Gallager

Team of the Year - U10 Kestrels

Club Official of the Year - Andy Hettle

Clubman of the Year - Andy Meyrick

Click Here for pictures of all the winners and nominees

A new video has been released by the FA to promote their Respect programme within youth football. The video announces the launch of a new football team, Respect United FC and stars Crawley Green's Cole Younger as the unfortunate player berated by his oaf of a dad, played by Neil Ruddock!

Cole joined the Crawley Green Development Centre when he was four years old and now plays for the U8 Foxes. Cole looks certain to be a star on the pitch as well as off it! Cole tells us his dad Owen, who runs our U9 Comets team, is nothing like 'Razor' Ruddock (he never ever played like him...). The video is currently running on our home page. Or you can Click Here to watch the film and visit the FA Respect website.

With the 2009-10 season run-in now taking shape, it's time to take a look at how Crawley Green Youth teams are progressing...

Whilst our newest teams to come from the Development Centre, Owen Youngers U8 Comets and Zia Ehsans U8 Aces are enjoying their first experience of organised football in the Chiltern Junior Sevens league, the U9s are going from strength to strength. Rob Weirs U9 Kites are going well in their first season together, sitting fourth in Division 2... while two other Crawley teams are due to meet each other in the League Cup Final! Gary Kings U9 Falcons, currently in second spot in Division 1 will meet Colin Neufvilles U9 Kestrels, currently in fourth spot, in the League Cup Final, to be played at 9.45 am on Saturday 6th March at Crawley Green - please come along to support both teams and help create a great atmosphere for all the players who will be enjoying their first experience of cup final football.

In the Under 10s age group, Iain Blacks Lions are top of the table and focussing on the Division 1 championship, with an impressive record of having scored 39 goals and only conceded 3 in nine league games. John Oxleys Tigers are currently sixth in Division 1, while Nigel Teakles Crusaders are sitting six points clear at the top of Division 3.

The new 9-aside CJ7 league for the U11s is going very well, too. Johnny McCauslands Thistles are currently second in Division 1, five points behind the leaders with two games in hand and have also reached the League Cup Final, which is due to be played at 9.30am on Saturday 27th February at Crawley Green - all support welcome! Meanwhile Scott Mitchells Owls are putting in a great effort, sitting in eighth spot in Division 1.

Crawley Green Girls continue to make great progress. Vic Falciolas U12s are in fifth place in CJ7 Division 1, as are Andy Hettles U14s in the Home Counties Girls League. Tony Talbots U15s are in fourth spot in the Mid-Shires Girls League Division 1 and have also reached the League Cup semi-final.

Things are also looking promising for a number of Chiltern Youth League teams throughout the age groups. John Oxleys U11s are third in Division 1 and have reached the League Cup quarter-finals. Paul Westropes U12A are sitting top of Division 1, while Chris Pearsons U12B are currently fifth and have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.

Rob Nappers U13B currently occupy eighth spot in Division 2 and continue to work hard. Meanwhile, Alan McCabes U13A are chasing honours on all fronts, sitting third in Division 1, three points behind the leaders with two games in hand and having only conceded three league goals. They have also reached the League Cup quarter-finals and the Bedfordshire County Cup semi-finals. Lorenzo Fraters U13C, currently seventh in Division 1 are having a great season, having also reached the League Cup quarter-finals and the Beds County Cup semi-finals. Fortunately, both teams managed to avoid each other in the County Cup semi-final draw and, should they both progress, we could have the first ever all-Crawley County Cup Final! We wish both teams well...

In the U14s age group, Adam Rowlatts U14A are currently doing very well at third place in Division 1, while Steve Oathams U14B are sitting second in Division 5, having scored 63 goals in only 13 league matches.

Luke Marzuolis U15A are fifth in Division 1, still in the League Cup and have also progressed to the Bedfordshire County Cup Final, after winning their semi-final 4-2 after extra-time last Sunday. They will be playing Barton Rovers, date and venue for the final is yet to be confirmed - details will be published on the website and club notice board as soon as they are confirmed.

With four teams already reaching cup finals, another three gearing up to play semi-finals and nine teams currently in the top three in their respective divisions, this looks like it could be yet another very successful season for Crawley Green Youth FC. Well done to all the Players, Managers, Coaches and Parents for the effort all teams have put in so far - and good luck for the rest of the season!

As a Partner Club, Crawley Green Youth FC has been offered 20 free tickets for all of Luton Town FC's home games this season. 

If any Managers want to take their team to a game please choose a fixture from the list below and let John Oxley know (please note that all fixtures may be subject to change)

Saturday 27^th March – v Hayes & Yeading (3.00 pm) - Tickets allocated to U13C

Tuesday 30^th March – v Salisbury City (7.45pm)

Monday 5^th April – v Grays Athletic (3.00 pm) - Tickets allocated to U9 Kestrels & U10 Lions

Tuesday 13^th April – v Histon (7.45pm)

Saturday 17^th April – v Altringham (3.00 pm) – Tickets allocated to U9 Falcons

Crawley Green Youth FC pledges to be deaf friendly 

Crawley Green Youth FC have become one of Bedfordshire’s first 'deaf friendly' football clubs by signing up to the NDCS Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge. By signing the pledge launched by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), the Club has committed to opening up the sport to deaf people. 

The Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge is part of a ground-breaking NDCS project designed to make football more accessible to all deaf children. The pledge has been developed to ensure that FA Charter Standard Football Clubs are Deaf Friendly and are committed to creating equal playing and coaching opportunities for deaf people. 

Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager explains: “We know there has nee a severe lack of football opportunities available from grassroots to elite level for deaf children and young people in the past. Deafness makes it harder for children to communicate which can be very isolating. Many deaf children and young people find it difficult to participate in football because clubs are not set up to provide good communication. 

“This project is revolutionising the sport at all levels for deaf children and young people.  Every football club that shows its commitment to deaf children by agreeing to sign the pledge will meet with NDCS’ dedicated Football Development Officer and receive expert knowledge and resources to aid the club in being truly deaf friendly. We are delighted that Crawley Green Youth FC has signed the pledge, and committed to giving deaf people an equal opportunity to play football.” 

Billy McGarry says: “Crawley Green Youth FC is proud to have signed the Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge. We are looking forward to developing our playing and coaching opportunities for deaf people in our community and ensuring we help them reach their full potential in the sport. We are committed to supporting deaf footballers and ensuring that the Club and its officials are Deaf Friendly.” 

Resources that will be provided to clubs that sign the Pledge include the opportunity to take part in NDCS’ unique Coaching Deaf Footballers course, developed with support from the Football Association, a British Sign Language for Football course, a coaching DVD, practical support and assistance from NDCS volunteers, and help in promoting any deaf friendly football activities. 

Over fifty football clubs have already signed the DFFC pledge and are now working with NDCS including Arsenal and Manchester United. 

The NDCS Deaf Friendly Football Club Project is being funded with the help of a £211,608 grant from the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation, which invests money from its partners – the Premier League, The Football Association, and the Government – into good causes.  Funding for the project has also been provided by Phonak UK and Sportsmatch. 

Crawley Green Youth FC is currently actively assisting the Active Luton Disability coaching sessions held at Stopsley Sports Centre every Thursday from 6.00pm to 7.00pm 

If you would like to join Crawley Green Youth FC then please get in touch with Billy McGarry. Contact details can be found on the Committee Page of this website 

For more information on how you, your child or your club can get involved please contact NDCS Football Development Officer by email at football@ndcs.org.uk or phone: 0121 234 9820 (v/t). You can also find more details at www.ndcs.org.uk/football

On Tuesday 15th September, Crawley Green launched their new Development Centre in partnership with Luton Town FC. Luton Town coaches were on hand to help the youngsters with their football, while players Keith Keane and Tom Craddock came along with the Johnstones Paint Trophy and met the Development Centre players and coaches.

The Development Centre is designed to give all boys and girls in Reception Year and Years 1 & 2 a structured introduction to football, with an opportunity to join one of Crawley Greens football teams from the age of 7 onwards.

Coaches from Luton Town will regularly attend the Development Centre and carry out coaching sessions, which are designed to give all players the opportunity of progressing to Luton Town's Centre of Excellence

Alan McCabe's U12 team beat Bedford Town Colts 2 - 0 on Sunday and clinched the Chiltern Youth League Division 1 Championship, having won 15, drawn 2 and lost 0 in the league with one game still to play.

Then on Sunday 31st May they went on to beat AFC Dunstable 3 - 1 in the League Cup Final to clinch their second league and cup double!