Besides playing some great football and getting good results this season and last, our U13 Girls squad have set a fantastic example with the enthusiasm and sportsmanship with which they play.

Their brilliant attitude was recently recognised when they won the Somerset FA’s Fair Play award for girls’ teams. The photo shows Brendan Dix from the Somerset FA having presented the award to the girls who were able to attend the presentation at the clubhouse.

Pictured with Brendan are: Romany Lowe. Becky Kersey, Becky Sartin, Ellie Lyne, Freya Howard and Frances Davies. Also very deserving of a mention are those girls who could not attend the presentation event: Stacey Wall, Emilie Noad, Laura Hopes, Rebecca Jacobs, Ellie Marden, Becky Roper, Izzie Dowling and Abby Bullock.

Special mention and thanks are also due to Sol Lowe, who wrote the nomination which lead to the girls winning the award. As well as a certificate for the team and an individual medal for each player, the team also won a £200 prize, which was used to buy each of the girls a Larkhall Athletic training top.

Dear girls, parents/carers and coaches,

It has been suggested to me that some players, or their parents/carers, are struggling to manage the Wednesday 8pm to 9pm training slot at St Marks. I have therefore been asked if it would be easier to move to an earlier slot.

I would have preferred an earlier Wednesday slot, but currently one is just not available: I have asked the men who train from 7-8 (and who are nothing to do with Larkhall) if they would prefer the later slot. Unfortunately they wouldn’t! Larkhall does hire the astro from 6-7 on Wednesdays, but this is for our U9s and I’m sure you’ll agree that the 8-9 slot would be even less suitable for them than 11-12 year olds.

There is an available slot at St Marks (sharing with the U14 boys) on TUESDAYs from 6.00 to 7.30. Personally, Wednesdays are easier for me given the other coaching commitments I have (though, ideally, I would prefer it earlier in the evening). However, if the overwhelming view from the players and other coaches is that Tuesdays would be better, we would be able to move to that slot. I will text everyone about this and would be very grateful for early replies.

I would, though, be loath to move from a Wednesday to a Tuesday if that meant that girls who can currently make Wednesday would not be able to train on Tuesdays. That would not be fair.

Many thanks, Tony Day

U15 Girls: Tony Day, 07833133031

U13 Girls: Chris Lowe, 07882972707 and Martin Lyne 07970148975

U11 Girls: Richard Stone, Bath 444794

Tony Day, Co-chairman Larkhall Athletic Youth FC

Just to clarify the current arrangements for coaching and managing our U15, U13 and U11 girls squads..

U15s: I had lined up a very nice lady called Sue Smith to coach and manage the U15s. Sue was very keen to do this. Unfortunately, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, she is no longer able to get involved - at least for the next few months. In the meantime, I will coach and manage the U15 girls. My efforts to find one or more lady coach to work with the girls continue….if anyone knows of anyone who might like to get involved, please let me know.

U13s: Chris Lowe (Romany’s dad) has kindly agreed to become the girls’ manager and coach. And, as I think most of you will know, Martin Lyne (dad of Ellie’s and Alice in the U15s) has agreed to take on much of the administration connected with arranging fixtures, etc. Martin is also very keen to help with coaching whenever he can (though this can be difficult for him as he often commutes to London).

U11s: Richard Stone, my Co-chairman is the Youth section, is also very keen to help develop girls’ football in our club and he coaches U11 girls on a Saturday morning on a pitch in Upper Weston. If you know any girls who were U11 on 1 September 2008 and would like to join his training, please get in touch with Richard (Bath 444794).

Best wishes, Tony Day - Co-chairman Larkhall Athletic Youth FC