The new ISA arrangements

Last month, I posted an item about the proposed new Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) arrangements. My post explained that I was hoping to gain further clarification from the County Welfare Officer. That has not so far emerged. As soon as I have further information about how the ISA arrangements will affect volunteer coaches and officials at the club, I will pass this on.

Volunteer(s) urgently sought to assist with club Welfare Officer duties

So that I can scale down my volunteer commitments at the club and have more time to spend on my family and work commitments, I plan to step down as club welfare officer in mid December. I am therefore urgently trying to identify one or more volunteer (s) to take over from me as CWO. I believe that Richard Stone knows someone who may be interested, but the role is probably best shared, so if anyone else is interested in helping out with this role, please get in touch with me ASAP (tony@day1426.freeserve.co.uk). Further information about what’s involved can be found here.

Many thanks.

Tony

Tony  Day

BBC Breakfast News today broadcast an item about the new arrangements  - being progressively implemented over the next few years - for people working with children needing to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

The news item spoke, rather alarmingly, of parents-carers involved in giving children lifts to training or football matches being liable to fines of £5,000 if they were not registered with the ISA.

My understanding - which I am seeking to confirm with the County FA Welfare Officer - is that it has been agreed that the FA will not implement the new ISA arrangements until next year and that, in the meantime, the current arrangements for seeking CRB (Criminal Record Bureau checks) for relevant adults involved in children’s and youth football will continue.

I also understand that informal arrangements for lift sharing (i.e. agreed directly between parents-carers, rather than formally through a club official) would not be covered by the ISA arrangements (and so not raise any issues of anyone being fined!).

With the new season now upon us, I am arranging - with the help year group leaders - to update my list of adults who have agreed to volunteer to help coach or referee matches, etc so that I can arrange for any new or updated CRB checks to be done.

As soon as I receive a reply from the County FA Welfare Officer (hopefully early next week) I will publish it here on the website.

Tony

Tony Day
Club Welfare Officer

Well done to the girls again! 
The weather was fantastic at this year’s Lavington tournament and, with 11 teams competing, it was going to be a long hot day. We drew with Bath City in the first match, Trowbridge in the second and beat Lavington and Derry Hill to qualify for the semi finals.
We were drawn against Melksham in the semi finals who had won all four of their matches previously. The game was very tight and we went a goal behind. We then equalised to take it to extra time. With minutes to go Ellie Lyne picked up the ball, dribbled around every Melksham player and slotted the ball into the corner to win it for us! Pure Genius!
All of the girls played extremely well and gave 110% and that "Larkhall Girls" sprit was back and that was one of the games of the season for me!
We then met Swindon in the final and the first half ended 0-0. The game again was again end to end but unfortunately we went a goal behind and lost the game 1-0.
Another succesful tournament and the girls have shown this season that we consistently play well and I have no doubt we will do even better next season. May I yet again thank all of the parents who travelled to Lavington and supported the girls.

Regards

Chris Lowe, U13 Girls’ Coach
 

Hot on the heels of their recent success as Wiltshire County Cup Champions, Larkhall Athletic U13 Girls football team notched up another impressive win at last weekend’s Chippenham FC tournament. 

In terrible conditions, the girls showed great endurance and team spirit beating Trowbridge Wanderers 1-0 in their semi final and Portishead in the final.

Larkhall went ahead early through a well worked goal, Portishead equalised and the match  went into golden goal extra time and as deadlock ensued a penalty shoot out. Good penalties from Ellie Lyne, Becky Sartin and Freya Howard were matched by Portishead. Sudden death penalties saw a fantastic save tipped over the bar by Emilie Noad give Larkhall the advantage and the pressure was on Romany Lowe who stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner to win the tournament for Larkhall!

Well done girls and many thanks to all those parents and carers who supported the girls in the terrible weather!

Best wishes,

Martin Lyne and Chris Lowe, Coaches Larkhall U13 Girls

 In a fantastic week for Larkhall Athletic Youth, both the U15’s BOYS and the U13’s GIRLS have won their respective Cup Finals against tough opposition.

Under 15 boys

The U15 boys beat Chilcompton Sports in a pulsating final at Bath City Stadium on Wednesday evening.  A Larks corner led to the first goal of the night in the first half when Bradley Norris chipped the ball back into the area after it had been initially cleared.  Ginny Davies rose with a flicked header, and Ally Stone came round the back and chipped the keeper to put Larkhall 1 nil up.  However, Chilcompton, already the league champions this season, levelled in the second half through a controversial free kick, and with both sides deadlocked, the game went into extra time.  The stalemate continued for two extra periods and with both sides suffering cramp and injuries, the game finally went into a tense penalty shoot-out.  Larkhall Athletic keeper Eddie Ilic became the goal keeping hero after saving two penalties to help the Larks win the shoot out 5-4.  Everyone worked really hard throughout a long and tough match and in recognition of the work at both ends of the pitch, the Man of the Match award went to centre back Alex Battrick and striker ‘Ginny’ Davies.  This was the first major league trophy the boys had won since their great 2004/5 double winning season - so well done to the lads and to Lindsay Jacobs and his team of coaches - Nigel ‘Batty’ Battrick, Paul Salmon and Richard Stone.

Under 13 girls

The U13 girls beat Bath City in a very tight and even game at Chippenham Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon.  The girls took the lead early in the second half from a corner delivered by Ellie Lyne.  Romany Lowe and Beckie Sarten challenged for the ball in the penalty area, and Beckie managed to stab the ball into the corner of the net to put the Larks 1 nil up.  Larkhall continued to work the ball well against the previously unbeaten league winners, but clear cut chances were few and far between in a very even contest.  The girls however, had to weather strong pressure in the last 10 minutes and survived a couple of late scares but hung on to deservedly earn their first ever cup victory!  Well done to the girls and to their managers Martin Lyne and Chris Lowe. 

Here’s some film of the game, including the all-important goal!! (Thanks to Pete Dowling for providing this).

Great Supporters!

We’d also like to say a special THANK YOU to all the supporters of both teams.  The crowd at Chippenham Town seemed to be mostly Larkhall which was great to see, and the crowd at Bath City Stadium was counted at around 250 - 280, many of whom came to support Larkhall Athletic, which is outstanding support for a local club like ours.  We hope to continue to gain more success together as you all … follow The Blues.

Rich Stone & Tony Day, Co-chairmen LAFC Youth

Many congratulations go to Terry Buckley’s and Dave Marquiss’ U12 Eagles team, which has won the U12 Fair Play award in the Mid Wilts League!
Our club’s teams have enjoyed great success recently, with the Men’s first team gaining promotion to the Premier Division of the Western League and our U15 boys and U13 girls both reaching the final of their respective cup competitions.
The U12 Eagles’ success ranks up there with these successes and we are delighted and proud that all of the players, coaches, parents and carers have set such a great example of how to play and behave in a very sporting way, in accordance with our club’s PRIDE values.
Well done everyone associated with the U12 Eagles!
If anyone would like to support the Eagles in their Fair Play Final, it is being held at Leafy Lane, Corsham on Sunday, 3 May (from 12.30 onwards).