One of our U16 players, Hady G who won the Players Player award last season has provided the best excuse to date for missing pre season and the first two league games. He has been called up by the Lebanon U-16 National Team for the Asian Football Confederation U-16 Championship 2016 Qualifiers. Hady made his international début recently, scoring the winner in a 3-2 victory over Syria.

Hady is currently with the Lebanese National Team as they make their final preparations ahead of the qualifiers which will take place in Iran from September 12 to 20. Lebanon forms part of Group E along with Iran, Bahrain and India.

Hady has clearly improved under the immaculate coaching of Abs and the inspirational tactics of Mel. Needless to say all at Sheen Lions wish him every success. Hady will return to Sheen Lions for the away game at Crusaders in two weeks time if selected for the squad!

Mel

Lebanon U-16 National Team 2015

A fantastic start to the season on Sunday when Sheen Lions Pride U15 won the Richmond Cup with a last minute winner against Moormead.

Sheen did not get off to the best of starts against a strong Kew Park Rangers Reds side, conceding a goal in the first minute, needing a goal line clearance and then grabbing a last minute equaliser when the keeper failed to hold a free-kick from Luke and Jason pounced to grab the equaliser from close range.

In their second game Sheen had to better the Red’s score of 4-0 against KPR Royals to reach the final. Dan got the first following a run on the left following which Sheen came close a couple of times at which point we thought it might be a frustrating outcome. However, Shahin’s magical free-kick from not too far from half-way never looked anywhere other than the top of the net and this gave the boys the confidence to go on and finish the job. Further goals from Ben, Luke and Jason sealed the outcome with time to spare and the clean sheet never looked in doubt with a solid performance at the other end. The 0-5 win took Sheen to the final.

The final against Moormead, a strong side who had won both of their group games, was an excellent, competitive game of football. The match was quite even in the early exchanges, but in the middle of the game Sheen came under an intense period of pressure that Joe and the defence coped with brilliantly, getting to the ball first and putting their bodies on the line to keep the ball out, notably from a number of dangerous long throws. Moormead’s closest effort hit the post but Sheen were also creating chances at the other end, notably another long range effort from Shah that was not far over. Again Sheen got stronger towards the end and the match were inside the final minute when Sheen crafted a goal, with Luke latching onto Dan’s ball upfield to lob the keeper, with the ball seeming to take an age to cross the line. Sheen then stood as firm for the final seconds as we had throughout and the cup was theirs.

A superb team effort all round with keeper, defence, midfield and attack all playing their part in a great success.

Gavin

Following two weeks of pre season training the Under 16 Lions headed to AFC Walcountians for an 11 a side tournament with a straight league format of 6 teams with matches of 16 minute duration.

With several players still away, the Lions took a squad of 13 including one trialist.

The first match was against a very strong Camberley Boys team with the Lions securing a hard fought 1-0 victory. Next up was a very tall East Grinstead that had won their first game 5-0. They tested the Lions defence in the first half but the fast passing and pace of the Lions forwards saw the boys win 2-0. A more straightforward victory saw off SCR Colts before we played the hosts in a tight 0-0 draw.

The final game saw the Lions needing a win to secure first place and in typical Sheen style it was left to the last minute for Josh to take a Tainton long ball in his stride and volley past the keeper. A great performance from all the boys with no goals conceded.

Congratulations to Dan Agyei who has signed for Championship side Burnley from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee.

Dan played a season in the Surrey Youth League Premier Elite Division for Sheen Lions U14 in 2010-11 and scored an amazing 45 goals for Sheen in league and cup competitions.

Dan’s goals helped the team to the runners up spot in the Premier Elite that season behind AFC Wimbledon and took them through to the League Cup final also against AFC Wimbledon. The AFC Wimbledon team were unbeaten in 98 games over three seasons and proved too strong for Sheen but they were obviously impressed with Dan. AFC Wimbledon signed him for the following season when, due to the promotion of their senior team to the Football League they left the SYL to play Centre of Excellence football.

We wish Dan every success with Burnley, he has been “signed for the future” but he is allocated a senior squad number so we hope to see him on the pitch playing Championship football soon.

Sheen U14 2010-11 Dan is 3rd from left back row