Preparations underway for the new season
Story: Mick Ashman
The World Cup may be over but the teams of local Pitsmoor and Burngreave-based football club, Earl Marshall Juniors, are training regularly as they prepare for the new season.
Promotion last season for the Under 11s means they will play their Under 12s Football in Division B. Manager Shane Bramhall said,
“At the start of the season we had a small squad but the success is a testament to the kids' resolve and perseverance and also the coaching input from Patrick Turner. Our sequence of nine victories helped to turn the season around and ensured a well-earned runners-up finish.”
The Under 12s consolidated their Division A status with some impressive performances and hard-fought victories against established teams. From September, as Under 13s, they will step up from 9-a-side to 11-a-side football but at a recent training session there was no doubting their fitness.
The youngest players, Earl Marshall Under 9s, played with tons of enthusiasm every week throughout their first season and can't wait to start again as Under 10s. Manager Garfield Walters joked that his young players are so keen they are asking him to arrange tournaments and friendlies so that they can play every week!
For the Under 13s, it was a tough season and despite a decent Cup run, they will drop down to Division B for next season’s Under 14s campaign.
All four teams will be looking to develop their squads over the summer.
If you would like more information on Earl Marshall Juniors – a football club that is proud to reflect the diversity of our local community – then please contact
Shane Bramhall on 0781 8551110 (for Under 12s);
Garfield Walters on 07462 918 029 (for Under 10s and Under 13s) or
Saidi Msigiti on 07941 601 1483 (for Under 14s).