No rest for Northend United Youth officials

In the busiest week of the year for the progressive Ballymena Club, the Northend Blues had no sooner finished with their Junior and Senior Prize Nights last weekend, than they were straight into two nights of Trials Matches in midweek for next season’s teams, followed by the Football Development Centre’s Awards Night on Friday night.
Northend Legends with Team Manager Johnny Sayers.Northend Legends with Team Manager Johnny Sayers.
Northend Legends with Team Manager Johnny Sayers.

On Saturday, Northend’s 10th Anniversary Fun Day was held at the Michelin Club, with the highlight of the day, an end to end football match of Northend Legends verses Parents.

The match saw the stars of yesteryear turn back the clock to take on the parents, who took the lead through Jason Stevenson, before Jamie Spiers equalised with a penalty.

The game went to penalties with the parents emerging victorious by the narrowest of margins.

Legends: P Hampshire, R Adams, U Magill, J Devlin, A McGarry, M Lecky, J Speirs, J McKenna, C Kinney, C Connolly, N Swann, B McCluney, S McLees, G Speirs

Parents: S Turner, D Bamford, R Campbell, S Dobbin, P Bristow, D Millar, G Murphy, B McGonigle, A McDonald, J Stevenson, C McPeake, M McKillop, S White, S Boyle.

This was followed by various afternoons’ activities including a number of Bouncy Castles and a Penalty kick competition to name but a few.

Northend would like to thank Josh Mark and Richard Sloan for keeping nets for the Junior and Senior penalty kick competitions respectively. Harry Wylie was the winner of the U12 competition, while Matthew Willighan won the senior competition.

This event was one of a number of functions planned for 2013 to coincide with the Northend Blues 10th year anniversary celebrations, which will have events for all ages.

FDC PRIZE NIGHT

On Friday night the Northend United Youth Football Development Centre came to a exciting end with a fun packed night of games and small sided matches played at the Ballymena North Centre.

This was immediately followed by their Prize Night were all the boys and girls received awards for participating in the three off 8-week programs which has been the biggest and most successful Football Development Centre season to date.

In front of a packed hall full of parents, grandparents and friends of Northend, each child received a great applause on their way up to collect their award from Ally McGarry and Glen Speirs, the Development coaches.

On the night John Devlin spoke highly of all the players and how much they had progressed from the first time that they came through the doors of the Northend Development Centre and wished the 2004/05 players all the best, as they will be progressing into the small sided games at Ballysally in Coleraine next season.

John Devlin went on to thank all the parents for sending their children to Northend United Youth FC as they are the life blood of the Club. He also thanked all the coaches Ally McGarry, Glen Speirs, Ciaran Ferris, Jack McKenna, Matthew King, Jamie Speirs, Uel Magill, Robert Adams and Chairman Johnny Sayers for all their help through the year.

Prize Winners were:

Most Improved P1/P2 – Aodhan McGarry, Conan McKeown, Jack Patterson, Oliver Maka

Most Improved P3 - Pol Pius Donegan, Pearce McAuley, Lewis Devlin

Most improved P4 – Pearse McGuckin, Niall Devine, Lewis Hextor, and Ben O’Neill

Overall FDC Player of the Year – Jay McKeown

FOYLE CUP DRAW

Wakehurst U17s have been drawn in a tough group in the forthcoming Foyle Cup Festival, taking place from Tuesday 23rd July to Saturday 27th July.

The Ballymena Boys have been drawn against the hosts Derry City in a match which promises to draw a huge crowd of spectators and visiting scouts alike. In addition, the Wakehurst Boys have been drawn against Strabane Athletic and top USA academy side, Everton America, who hail from Connecticut, just north of New York and who are an affiliated Everton FC feeder club.

Wakehurst U17s are holding an open Trials Night for their Foyle Cup Squad and next season’s Elite National League Team on Friday 7th June at the Ballymena Showgrounds 3G pitch from 7-9pm, where everyone attending will be made most welcome.

U17s Manager Glenn Speirs would encourage any boy interested in attending the Trials Night to get in contact with him on 07799895213.

U15 TRIALS NIGHT

As the U15s prepare for their transition from the Northend United Academy into the Wakehurst ranks, they are holding an open Trials Night on Wednesday 5th June at Ballymena Rugby Club, Eaton Park from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

U15s Manager Mark Herbison would encourage any boy interested in attending the Trials Night to get in contact with him on 07850669727.

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