After the success last year, Sheen Lions FC is collecting again for the fantastic Boots for Africa Charity.

In many of the African communities you will see children playing football in their bare feet on rubble-strewn ground. Boots For Africa collect your old football boots and deliver them to the children and adults of Africa. Your support can make a real difference. Your donated boots will be the first ever pair worn by disadvantaged children and will offer a generation of young people affected by poverty, poor health and lack of opportunity a new sense of hope, pride and ambition for themselves and for their country.

Pretty impressive, eh?

It’s SO easy to donate – just dig through your cupboards and root out any old boots your children may have grown out of. Put the (clean) boots into a bag and give them to your Manager or leave them in the porch of either Maia Dickson or Sarah Street. They will get the boots to the charity for shipping.

Maia Dickson

Probably (no definitely!) the wettest day of the season with pitches turning into muddy pits. As we get towards the climax of the season, we expect an increasing number of critical games and today was no exception. I always like to win more than we lose and today we managed 7 wins, 1 draw and unfortunately 6 defeats.

The two biggest games of the day were games that would strongly influence the eventual league winners. Nidal and Richards U9’s went to Claygate knowing that a win would set up a ‘winner takes all’ title showdown with Meadow Sports next Sunday at Palewell Park. I am delighted to say they managed a narrow 2-1 win which is enough to put them top with their last game next week. Whoever wins will be Champions. A draw will favor Meadow Sports who have two games to play. Lets get lots of support behind the team next week!

The second ‘game of the day’ was Trevors U14 Lions away at Hanworth. A win for either team would put them in pole position for the Championship but unfortunately a very narrow 1-0 defeat for Trevor elevates Hanworth as favorites to win the league.

Both U16’s had big wins. Brian’s U16 Lions had an excllent 6-2 win v Claygate with a Jonathon H hat-trick and Matts U16 Pride warmed up nicely for their forthcoming Cup Final with a solid 6-3 win at Tooting. Jesse W also managed a hat-trick in this game.

It was a day of contrasting results. The U10’s had slightly mixed fortunes. Last weeks team of the week, David’s U10P carried on their form with a good 2-1 win v Hampton Youth. Martin and Michael’s U10 Lions did everything but win v Carshalton Athletic but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. The runners up position is still a possibility but the two points lost might be costly.

The U12’s also had contrasting results. Mel’s U12 Lions were missing some key players but eventually lost 2-0 to a strong Ascot Utd team. Bernie’s U12 Pride may have left it a bit too late for runners up but had a good 4-2 win at Esher Colts. Saying that, a key game v Ballers next week can keep them in the mix.

The U13 also ended up with a win and a defeat. Terry’s U13 lions beat a good Kew Association side 5-3, whilst Matthew and Russell’s U13 Pride team were pipped 2-1 by Elm Grove.

With Trevor U14 L losing, Ricks U14 Pride provided good news for the U14’s with an excellent 3-1 win away at Manorcroft Utd.

John ‘s U18’s lost 4-0 against table toppers Barnes Eagles and it wasn’t the best day for the U11’s with David’s U11 Pride finding table topping Chipstead a bit too strong and with Jon and Alastair’s U11 Lions going down 3-1 at Sutton.

TEAM OF THE WEEK have to be Richard and Nidal’s U9 Lions for creating such an exciting end to their season next week.

U9 Lions Team Of The Week

We are looking for lots of support at Palewell Park next week with two massive games. The U9’s attempt to win the league for the first time and at mid day Michael and Marks U15 Lions face Farnborough Elite in the semi final of the Surrey County Cup and attempt to get the first Sheen Lions team into a Surrey CC Final.

We have had great success from our U7 (YR 2) and Under 6 (YR1) Open days and now have a very strong U7 infrastructure and we are still looking for more Year 1 boys with potential. If you know any year 1 boys that you think would be right please send me contact details as we are running an U6 and U7 development squad EVERY SATURDAY 10.15 to 11.45 during MARCH at Palewell Park.

Putting all games aside THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT of the week is Sheen Lions nomination for the National Respect and Fair Play Awards. This is a FA National competition and is fantastic reflection of all the great work Sarah, you the Managers and Coaches and all the boys have done. WELL DONE TO YOU ALL

Frank Thompson, General Secretary of the Surrey Youth League has nominated Sheen Lions for an FA Respect and Fair Play Award. FA staff will assess the nominations and winners will be presented with an award at the FA Cup final on 5th May.

The FA remains committed to driving up standards of behaviour in football and the Respect Awards allow them to celebrate those leagues, clubs and individuals that have been exceptional in tackling difficult problems and ensuring that football is played in a fair, decent and enjoyable environment.

Sheen Lions are delighted to receive the nomination from the Surrey Youth League. Our Club Secretary Sarah Street said:

“I am absolutely thrilled that the club has been nominated for the National Respect and Fair Play Award. Whether we win, or not, it is a great testament to all our managers and coaches  for their effort and determination to make the game of football what it should be.”

In his citation Frank Thompson said:

“Sheen Lions are a model club in terms of all that is good about the respect programme and are an example to others of how to behave towards, opponents and officials. They have a very strong Club Secretary and Committee that endorse best practice behaviour and who implement the respect codes throughout parents, management coaches and players alike.”


“They have been seen to act swiftly with any misconduct that may arise and can be relied upon to always act in the best interests of the game.”


“They have consistently over the last five years been in the top five of 150 league clubs (600 Teams) in the league respect marks system. They have won the league divisional respect awards in different ages over the past few years. They will be the Focus Club of the league’s respect day later this month.”

A mixed bag of results today with 6 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats. Unfortunately, one of the defeats included Trevor’s U14 invitation Cup semi final, where they found Abbey Rangers their opponents from a higher division just a bit too good for them. A 3-0 defeat may have been disappointing but all credit to them for reaching the semi final. They still have an opportunity to win their league. Ricks U14 Pride rebounded from a heavy defeat last week to record a good 4-2 win in a local derby v KPR to keep them a respectable 4th in their league.

The best age group was the Under 15’s with Dean and Sam’s U15 Pride continuing their good season coming from 0-2 down for a 3-2 win over Wandgas Colts. Michael and Marks U15 Lions came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Mitcham Park Juniors.

Nidal and Richard ‘s U9’s had a crucial 3-2 win at Tooting, which is enough to guarantee them a medal and a win next week at Claygate would mean they would face their final game at Palewell Park in two weeks knowing a victory would secure the title. What an exciting climax to the season. We wish them luck.

Mel’s U12 also face an exciting finish following their 6-3 win over Staines. A Nils R hat-trick was one of two Sheen Lions hat-tricks of the day.

John’s U18’s responded to their County Cup QF defeat last week with an important 2-0 win at Wolves Fisherlona and look forward to an exciting local derby with table topping Barnes Eagles next week

The most impressive win of the day was David’s U10 Pride who beat our friendly rivals Rocks Lane 7-4. It was the most goals they have ever scored in a match and Samuel C’s hat-trick was the first for the team.WELL DONE. Unfortunately Martin and Michael U10 Lions lost again 3-0 at Carshalton and the curse of going top of the league a few weeks ago has back fired on them a bit.

The 11’s unfortunately both lost. Alastair and Jon’s U11 L losing 4-2 at a good Oxshott team and David’s U11 Pride losing at Ewell. Terry’s U13 also lost very narrowly 1-0 at Junior Bees. Brians U16’s lost 4-2 at Molesey Juniors.

The U8’s both delivered good performances today.

Team Of The Week U10 Pride

TEAM OF THE WEEK has to be David’s U10 Pride. Last year was a baptism of fire in their first year together but they have worked hard and steadily improved and today they fully deserved their moment of glory. WELL DONE TO THEM

Football returned to the Surrey Youth League this weekend after two weeks of snow. However, the two match of the days involved the Under 18s and Under 15s in their respective Surrey County Cup Quarter Finals. A good crowd turned up at Palewell Park to see John OB’s Sheen Lions U18 in their quarter final v Premier Elite opponents Oxshott. Unfortunately, the crowd may have turned up but SL didn’t quite turn up for the day and a 3-1 deficit was a disappointing result. However, the reverse was true for Michael and Marks U15’s. Goals from Luke H-S and a late strike from Charlie P secured an impressive 2-0 victory against Premier Elite Guilford City, a team that had beaten SL in the league last month.

Only seven league games today but a mixed bag of results. Trevor’s U14 Lions faced a Lyne Elite team at home which is the only team to have beaten them this season in the reverse fixture. Fortunately on this occasion the U14’s delivered a 5-1 victory which secures their place at the top of the league but it remains very close. It is worth noting that the U14’s have only conceded 7 goals all season. Unfortunately Ricks U14 Pride had a day they will wish to forget against Esher, a team they beat earlier in the season.

Martin and Michael’s U10’s secured a 3-3 draw in their top of the table clash with Sutton, which means that there is all to play for in the remaining games. David L scored the only Sheen Lions hat-trick of the day. Mel’s U12’s also secured a 3-3 draw this time with Whitton in a game that they would have hoped to have won. Jon and Alastair’s U11’s and Dean and Sam’s U15 Pride were unfortunate to lose very narrowly, 3-2 v Links and 1-0 v Epsom respectively. Terry’s U13 Lions lost 3-1 at home to Carshalton Athletic, a team that would now be favorites to win their league.

The open days for U6 to U10 took place two weeks ago on the ice but it was a great turnout and particularly for U6 to U9 there was a lot of new talent. We will run a new U6/7 training session for 4 weeks effective 4 March 2012.

U15 Lions Team of The Week

TEAM OF THE DAY have to be Michael and Marks U15 Lions. It is extremely rare to get a Sheen Lions team into a County Cup Semi Final and it would be a first if they were to reach the U15 Surrey County Final. Let’s wish them the best of luck for their Semi Final, which will be against SYL PE team Farnborough.

Geoff