2011-2012 season

Rovers 2011-12 season carried on where the previous season had left off, with yet another successful season. The U11 Astros competed well in their group stages at the beginning of the season, becoming close runners up and gaining a position straight into Division 1, where they continued to do well.

The U12 Astros and U13s have both had another great season, albeit tense at the end. The U12 Astros finished top of their division after becoming runners up last season and will now compete in Division 1. The U13s did it again, finishing top for the second season running, gaining promotion to Division 1. The U14s finished in a close third position but have also been given promotion to Division 1 and the U9s received a well deserved Fairplay Award from the Mid-Cheshire Youth League.

Our first Openage team was formed this season, competing in the Staffordshire County Senior League and managed by John Greening, who has brought many of the players through from the age of 9 and who were presented with a Fairplay Award at the end of the season. Unfortunately, John has now had to hang up his managerial boots due to work commitments, but has handed over the reins to Andy Harding to continue with their development.

Three teams (U10s U11Astros and U13s) descended on Southport at the end of the season for a Bank Holiday weekend Tournament with the U11Astros getting through to the final and a good time was had by all!

Thank you to everyone involved with the club this year – parents, players, team officials, committee members and our sponsors: we couldn’t do it without you!

Congratulations to both Astros and Blades on another great season, ending in a great effort and performance in the Albert Steele Cup. Astro’s did a very good job in a tough group, and Blades were very unlucky to go out in the quarter finals to a deflected goal from a corner, against a good Sandbach team that progressed to the final.

This marks the end of 7-a-side for the boys and Phil and I are very proud of the way they have played and developed as a team…….onwards and upwards now boys as we move into “proper” football!!

Any concerns the lads had moving from 7 a side football over to 11 a side were soon forgotton as they salied through the qualifying rounds and took their place in the 1st division. Finishing a respectable 5th and reaaching the semi-finals of both cups represented a solid performance that was capped with the teams first ever tour. The lads ended up with the runners up trophy and some fantastic memories, the season finished with a 6-5 win over the dads.

The Astros played some fantastic football and scored some great goals, they are all a real credit to the club.

WELL DONE LADS!

After a slow start, the Blades had a good spell before xmas – getting results earlier than expected. The extended break due to bad weather didn’t help us and we suffered with match sharpness.
A good summer of training combined with a few friendlies should see a better start to next season.
Well done to all the players for their efforts.

Thanks
Tim/Steve

The Astros would have a lot to live up to for the 2011/12 season, with such a strong finish to the 2010/11 season which resulted in a runners up spot in the division. With a few new names on the squad sheet they certainly continued where they left off. The existing squad welcomed the new lads in fantastically well and this showed immediately on the pitch. All the lads showed real commitment to each other by adding another training session per week and working extremely hard to show that the previous season was no fluke. They started with a win and never looked back, eventually extending an unbeaten run to 27 games including last season and the start of this season. The Astros were eventually beaten and the post Christmas run in would be a testing time, with a couple of losses, a few draws the top of the table became very tight. The league looked like it could have gone to any 1 of 5 teams but the Astros showed their mental and physical strength to push on and to finish as division champions. It has been a great season for the Astros, showing determination and desire throughout, gaining praise from other teams managers throughout the season, praising their attitude and how they play their game. Congratulations Astros!

This was the Blades second season as a team. A number of new players had joined and this was going to be a challenge in itself as it was like a whole new team again. The league had changed so now there was only 2 division meaning a number of high stronger teams who had been a round for many years would now be facing the new look Blades. As always the Blades took this in their stride and began to beat and draw teams which they did not near last year.
Overall the year was a difficult one however very enjoyable with a great bunch of lads winning though important wasn’t the overall aim, enjoying playing football learning the game and getting better was what we wanted and this is what happened.
A review of how the team did based on the teams we played last year and the same teams this year based on the goal difference they have improved by 300%. This was an outstanding improvement and one which the lads should be very proud of.
The team going into 2012/2013 has a very good foundation and we hope we can build on this.
I would like to thank Jon, Adrian and Mel for their help and support throughout the season.
I would also like to thank all the boys for making our jobs very enjoyable.

League Champions by 3 points. Played 21, won 15, lost 5, drew 1. Lost in the quarter final of the league cup to Witton Albion.

After a solid start to the season , winning the first three games, the U15’s then slumped to three defeats including the game against Rudheath which was abandoned due to some of the worst kind of behaviour witnessed in Junior football. Enough said on this topic.

The form was then patchy at best, losing to newly promoted teams and beating the league leaders before a disastrous spell in December and January which left any hope of promotion a distant dream. The boys regrouped and ended the season playing the football which had not been seen since the early games.

Once again the team showed that they can complete with the top teams and at times played some fantastic football. As ever, if a greater level of consistency can be found throughout the whole season, we are all hopeful that next season will be their year.