After last weekend’s semi- final action, I am happy to report that we have both our teams back in action this weekend playing for a spot in the Grand-Final. We have both our under 13.1’s and 11.3’s playing down at Warilla this Saturday morning and it would be great to see a big turnout of Russell Vale supporters to cheer both Teams on! I have included match reports from the weekend’s games from both Teams in this newsletter and on behalf of the wider Russell Vale community, I would like to wish both teams the best of luck in what shapes up to be a great day down at Warilla this Saturday morning.
Also in this week’s newsletter I have included a piece on one of the finest coaches that have coached at Russell Vale Junior Football Club over the last decade! For those of you who have not had the pleasure of having their children coached by this man it is a real shame as unfortunately at the end of the Year he is moving back to England with his family. His name is Shaun Hamlet and is our under 11.3 coach. To many in the Club he needs no introduction, for those of you that have children playing their first or second year- Shaun epitomises everything that is great about the Russell Vale Junior Football Club! His passionate and professional approach has had wonderful results for his teams on and off the Football pitch and his enthusiasm amongst his playing and supporter group is contagious! Shaun will leave a lasting legacy that will be felt and be evident for many years to come and it is with great sadness that we say good bye to him at the end of this year. Shaun and his Team are still to write the final chapter in Shaun’s RVJFC book and win or lose this weekend the players/parents and supporters will always cherish and be grateful of the impact Shaun has had on their early footballing careers!
60 seconds with Shaun Hamlet
My family roots are in LIVERPOOL so it was no surprise when my love affair with football began in 1965, watching my team win the FA Cup for the first time. I played competitive football from the age of 8 until my early 40’s and used to think there would be no substitute for actually playing, I was wrong.
Coaching at Russell Vale has been a real pleasure and given me a far better understanding of the game plus an opportunity to utilize my footballing experience. I’ve done a few coaching courses over the years and that has helped to fine tune my training methods. My style maybe a little eccentric for some but I find kids respond better and learn more in a disciplined but happy environment with an enthusiastic coach. As a result I have only ever laid down three rules to my players:
1/ Don’t talk when I’m talking.
2/ Respect each other, your opponents, supporters and the match officials.
3/ Always give a 100% at training and on match days.
(Sometimes a bit of chocolate helps to sweeten the deal).
I originally got involved with Russell Vale Junior Football Club about 10 years ago due to my son playing for the U11’s. The following season I started coaching and during my first spell with the Club won both the League & Grand Final. I only coached for three years before having a break to do a couple of Management Diplomas. Then during my second spell I coached the U14’s and over the next three years with that group of players was fortunate to win both the League and Grand Final again. At the end of the 2010 season they all went their separate ways so last year I started with the U10’s and their first season was a huge learning curve for the players, winning just a handful of games and finishing fourth. However I’m pleased to say they trusted me and while their peers were still playing hoof ball they worked on perfecting their pass & move game. This season they have taken their style of football to another level. They have already won the League by winning every single game played and now have a very good shot at the Grand Final.
I have been very lucky over the years that every team I have coached has made it to the play offs. Besides winning the odd trophy my teams have also come close a few times losing in the Grand Final once and finishing Runner Up in the League on two occasions. Although I can only recall losing cup, friendlies and trial games at home I’m fairly confident that none of my teams ever lost a league game at Cawley Park. It maybe the old memory playing tricks, I guess you would have to check the record books on that one.
The height of my playing career would be during my early teens when I was on the junior books of Premier League side Southampton FC for a couple of years, then after leaving school I played Hampshire League standard until I was 30. It was a great experience and some of my preseason games even took me to France, Spain and Greece. After that I played locally at a lower level due to my knees, kids, shift-work, mortgage etc…
As Coach I have always encouraged a “pass & move” style of football and can honestly say out of all the teams I have been involved with this current U11 side have adapted to it the best. I am very sad to be leaving the Club, especially as these players have the capability to go a lot further and establish themselves as a Division I team. There may have been opportunities to Coach at a bigger club but for me Russell Vale always felt right, it was a good fit and I return to England with a lot of fond memories.
It would be easy to say I was giving something back to the community or had a social conscience but the truth is I just love football. I hope the players that worked with me enjoyed their football as well and actually learnt a thing or two. I will never forget them and hopefully they will never forget their old LIVERPOOL mad Coach and his two border collies.
U11.3 Semi Final Match Report
U13.1 Semi Final Match Report
Grand Final Qualifier Games
RVJFC 13.1s VS at Shellharbour at Warilla at 10.30am
RVJFC 11.3’s VS Kiama at Warilla at 8.30am.
The ground is Morely Park on Trumper st.
GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS AND WIN OR LOSE THIS WEEKEND, BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN SEASON 2012!
GO THE COBRAS!!!!
Upcoming Events
RVJFC Presentation Day
RVJFC Presentation day will be held on Sunday 28th October. This year we will be holding it at a new venue at the Woonona Bulli RSL Club auditorium as we have out grown the Russell Vale Community Hall.
Times for Presentation Day are as follows:
U6- U9: 10am-11.30am.
U10- U15: 12pm- 2pm.
So put the dates and times in your diaries and calendars and we look forward to seeing you all at the Presentation Day and celebrating the year at RVJFC in 2012.
RVJFC Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th October at Woonona Bulli RSL Club at 7pm. This is an opportunity to have your say in the running of the Club and also for those of you interested in Committee positions-the time to nominate and accept positions.
Regards
Michael Benn
RVJFC President.
