Chairman's Address - 2011 Prize Nights
Season 2010/11 has been a very successful season for Northend United Youth Football Club. Having six teams playing competitive football from Under 10 to Under 15 and the mini soccer squad playing small sided games in the I.F.A. East Antrim league is no mean feat. This doesn't happen overnight. The club was formed in 2003 with one team and now eight years later we hope to have eight teams playing from Under 9 to Under 16. Add in the mini soccer teams and we are without doubt the fastest growing football club in the Ballymena area if not within the county. We had success at almost every level last season and while it may not be fair to single any age group out for special mention, it would be remiss of me to overlook the performance of our Under 12's.
Why has the club gone from strength to strength over the past seven or eight years? Why? - because I believe we have good people in place. People who, over the years have devoted many many hours of their time to make Northend United Youth the club that it is today. Some of these people are still with us today, others have moved on. Some have just joined the club over the last few years and already we have seen the tremendous impact they have made and I hope will continue to make as we strive to take the club forward to bigger and better things.
We have good kids. Over the years we have moulded these kids, we have nurtured their talents and have watched them progress into good football players, good sportsmen and hopefully into good human beings. We can sometimes forget just how much influence we as coaches and committee members can have on these young lives. Certainly they can put us to the test at times but we have to strive to get inside their little heads and find what really makes them tick. We have to show leadership and authority, praising when praise is due, disciplining when necessary taking each situation as it comes and dealing with it in a fair and sportsman-like manner. Nobody will gage your character quicker or better than a child.
Our coaching staff can take great pride in the achievements of the club in the past year and indeed over the past number of years since the club was established.
We have had a few run-ins with various disciplinary committees over the past year and although it's not something we're entirely proud of, to me it can display that inward sign of passion and loyalty, that eagerness to fight for what we might believe to be right, even though it's wrong.
In reference to what I said earlier about having good people in place, our coaching staff is full of good people who have given up so much of their spare time and indeed in some cases, their work time, to be with their respective teams on the football pitch and at the training ground. These are the people who can take Northend United Youth to the bigger and better things I eluded to earlier.
Parents have played a large part in the success of Northend Youth FC this season. Without them we would have struggled in the transportation department. Parents of the younger children especially can be a great motivational factor. I saw it for myself towards the end of the season. Their support was second to none and long may it continue.
We had three very successful prize-giving nights on 28th May in Michelin Club, 4th June in Ballymena Golf Club and 11th June again in the Michelin Club. A very big thank you to everyone who helped in any way towards their success and also a note of thanks to the various venues for hosting the events.
To our sponsors, may I, on behalf of the club convey our deepest thanks for all your help during the past season and indeed for any of the seasons beyond that.
To anyone who has helped us over the years, be it through football kits, balls, training gear, transport, prizes donations or support, we are forever in your debt. Thank you.
A very big thank you again to all our coaching staff. To those from the by-gone days and those who have recently joined. You showed your enthusiasm by signing up and receiving your I.F.A. level one coaching qualifications. Thank you for choosing to join the team here at Northend Youth and we are so much the better for having your expertise and company.
Last, but by no means least I want to thank my committee for last season. To Susan and Kate, to John, Rodney and Martin. Thank you for your time and input into the running of affairs during the past year. Thanks also to Gail McLees who gave a lot of her time to the club before standing down as chairperson at the start of the season.
Another year beckons and I hope we can emulate the success of last season. If not, we'll just keep playing football and strive to maintain the good name of Northend United Youth Football Club.
Thank you
Johnny Sayers - Chairman Northend United Youth FC
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