Saturday 20th February
Kingweston Playing Fields, Millfield School, Street, Somerset.
Somerset FA organised the festival at Kingweston Playing Fields which is an idyllic setting with all the pitches spaced around the golf course. Festivals make a good change to playing games as they pose different and important challenges for the players. Playing against many teams throughout the day meant that their fitness and concentration were tested to the full.
The under 10s visited Strode college, a short coach drive from Kingweston, for a session headed by the FA Skills coaches from Dorset & Somerset. Players from all the Centre’s were mixed together in a group and experienced sessions focusing on technique, skills & 4 v 4 games.
The older age groups kicked off at 11am with good opposition from Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset & Gloucestershire in our pool. The under-12s played 9v9 and the under-14s and under-16s played 11v11. It was very pleasing to see such good flowing football being played by all teams. Alan May, England’s chief talent scout for women & girl’s football was present all day watching some great football.
For me the biggest factor to come out of the day was seeing our Dorset players developing into intelligent players; the fitness training the players have put in this season showed as they maintained a consistent level of performance right through to the last game. All the staff, players & parents did themselves proud with the under 12s/14s/16s playing fourteen games in total & losing only two.
Looking back at the day everyone enjoyed the trip to Kingsweston, the sun shone all day, the pitches where like bowling greens for good football to be played on. Over all I was very happy with the commitment, desire & attitude of everyone at Dorset Girls Centre of Excellence.
Well done
Robbie Yates
Dorset FA Girls Centre of Excellence Director