The team train together on a weekly basis where individual and team development is at the heart of each session, along with plenty of effort, energy and enjoyment! Emphasise is placed on being brave on the ball, not being afraid of making a mistake and becoming the best footballing version of themselves possible.

Matches are played on Sundays under the stewardship of the EDMSL (Eastleigh District Mini Soccer League), a very well run challenging league, at the age groups central venue location, this year split between places leisure, Eastleigh and the Wide Lane Sports pitches. This season will see a mixture of matches being played on traditional grass and the impressive 3G playing surfaces, maximising the chances of being able to fulfil fixtures during the winter months & periods of bad weather as well as giving the squad the very best facilities to develop on.

Advancing through the foundation stage of their football development the squad are provided with the opportunity to play and to learn, praised on the performance rather than the result, focusing on long term development over a quick win! Players are given the opportunity to play in a number of positions and to be set a variety of challenges on the pitch.

With little opportunity to participate in summer tournaments this year due the COVID restrictions we have brought our pre season forward, so as from the 8th July the squad are back to training, in anticipation for the return to football ahead of the 2020/2021 season.

Always ready to learn, have fun and play football - this is a great bunch of players.

Pre-season

Our preseason started in early July, a few weeks earlier than normal - given the amount of time off due to restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID pandemic we thought it was important to get them back to something familiar. The new normal for the first few sessions called for social distanced ball mastery in small groups with no opportunity to set game related practice sessions - quite a change to what the squad have been used to but it was great to get the group back together and seeing them enjoy their time with the ball.... More recently we have been able to introduce some meaningful games related small sided games to get the players thinking about the decisions they need to make.

The combination of summer holidays, cancellation of summer tournament events, risk assessments and clashes with other events has meant the squad are heading towards the start of the new season on the 6th September with just one friendly fixture being played, a little under prepared but we are confident that the good habits developed last year will shine through - if not a little rusty to start off.

We start the season playing two divisions higher than in the 19/20 season - so its going to be a really good test of both the skill and character of the team, as individuals and as a group.

September Round up...

Excitement, nervousness, and that familiar feeling of butterflies in the stomach on Sunday mornings returned this month as the EDMSL started back up – and that was just the coaches! After nearly six months since going into lockdown and with Covid risk assessments complete, QR codes in place, enhanced first aid kits & socially distanced spectators, everyone; the players, coaches and parents were thrilled for the return of matches.

With a new sponsor and new kit the squad looked very smart for the start of the season and after a longer than normal preseason were well prepared for the opening fixture in the higher division. It was encouraging to see the style of football had not been lost during lockdown, that their muscle memory soon kicked in and the team started the season as they finished the previous one; getting off to a strong start, competing with the opposition, working together, winning their battles and creating chances.

On three of the four occasions we had just one sub, sometimes playing against teams with four or five so it was great to see their fitness, stamina, and ability to compete against the squad rotation tactics being adopted by others. Remaining calm under pressure and being brave on the ball resulted in some excellent team performances this month and plenty of opportunity to develop in training.

Fingers crossed for the continuation of the settled weather and a full fixture schedule being played in October.

October Round up...

Four more fixtures were played in the October as the squad continued to compete in the league. Coming up against some tough teams this month the match day teams were faced with plenty of challenges and encountered some very different styles to play against. The four matches resulted in two defeats and two draws, including a thrilling 0 - 0 with both sides matching each other throughout and also fantastic second half comeback to achieve a draw - showing real desire and determination right to the final whistle, a characteristic in the players we hadn't seen before demonstrating real togetherness and team spirit to achieve the best they could. A high standard the coaches will now expect from the players in every match.

Very much looking forward to the onset of winter - the rain, the cold and waiting confirmation of games being playable, fingers crossed.

November Round up...

COVID COVID COVID Lockdown 2.0!

The team met up on zoom to take part in a interactive kahoot quiz to test their knowledge and memory on what we have been focusing on in training sessions this season and looking ahead to U11s. This was a good chance for the players and coaches to see each other socially before the recommencement of football post lockdown heading into the festive period.

December Round up...

With Lockdown 2.0 ending on the 2nd December, fixtures resumed on the fisrt week of December. With two strong performances, one on grass and one on the 3g surface and despite the final match being called off due to the wet weather the Whites ended the calendar year on a high. A fantastic effort by all players and parents in managing attendance at different venues and adapting positively to the measures deployed to crreate a safe playing environment. Fingers crossed for a return to play in the New Year.

January Round up...

Covid Lockdown - Grassroots football suspended - no training or matches permitted

February Round up...

Covid Lockdown - Grassroots football suspended - no training or matches permitted

March Round up...

Covid Lockdown - Grassroots football suspended - no training or matches permitted

April Round up...

With the return to training on 31st March the team had four matches this month. With adherence to the COIVID measures and with restricted spectators the whites took to the pitch for their first match in a looooooong time. Looking understandably rusty in their first match back the Whites fought their way back into a game with a goal in the last quarter to draw the fixture. Fantastic for parents and coaches to see the squad back together and the player's really enjoying their football.

The second match of the month was played out on a pitch which was far from being conducive to the passing style of play - very long, thick lush grass, with the ball getting stuck under the feet and passes falling short the whites lost out to a team who were physically stronger, wanted the ball and took their chances more clinically in front of goal. A reminder of the energy, effort of concentration required to compete.

An immediate reverse fixture played out in perfect spring conditions on a prepared pitch lead to a strong dominate display by the Whites, soaking up some early pressure but using some great combination play and counter attacking to create an score. An increased desire from the team and better decision making lead to dominate display from the whites limiting the opposition to few crossing and shooting opportunities. An excellent all round team performance - setting the standards for what is expected from them for the remainder of the season.

For the final match of the month we returned to your not so favourite surface - 3G. With a depleted squad size, the late Sunday afternoon KO time and the unfamiliar playing surface the team struggled with the smaller playing area, the precision needed on an unforgiving surface for which the opposition simply outplayed the Whites on the day. Thankfully that is the last fixture of the season on 3G, we look forwards to the remaining nine matches to played in May and June.

May Round up...

Fully back into the swing of things, the team had five fixtures to fulfil during the month of May, but with start of other traditional summer sports, the squad were a little stretched on occasions. Despite the reduced availability of players to choose from the players came together, worked extremely hard for one another and put some together some really good phases of play during the matches, ending the month with a record of played five and being victorious in three scoring goals and looking stronger in defence.

June Round up...

Final count down to the end of the longest season.... Four fixtures to play in June, three of which were in blistering heat, akin to playing 8min summer tournament matches rather than full 60min matches. Sun cream, red faces and plenty of drinks and a very competitive run in of fixtures against some of the stronger teams in our league - where the team challenge was to simply improve on the performance against each of them compared to earlier in the season. Ended up all four matches being very close score lines with two wins out of the four and the other two being lost by a single goal.

Season summary: Twenty matches played over a ten month period when taking the lockdown period into account. Winning ten matches, loosing out in ten and drawing three matches. Nine of the eleven outfield players scored, each of which played in at least four different positions and for a minimum of 75% of the match time. Some super individual performances and excellent team efforts during the season which we look to further develop when the squad return in August after having a well deserved rest and reflection period in July before the restart at Under 11s, with off sides, nine a side format, larger goals, balls and pitches, in September to go and do it all over again!