We are so delighted that our U18 team brough home the Surrey County Cup on Tuesday evening. Four of the current squad were runners up in the U15 competition a few years ago and it is great to see them go one better in their last year.
We were rather surprised to find the the final was a mid week event during school holidays and our Club Secretary, Sarah was devastated that she could not be there but she said
“I cannot express how proud I am of our fantastic U18s.
They have not only won the League but have now won the Surrey County Cup. True Champions. Years of hard work and patience has finally paid off. So deserved. Well done boys. For many of the boys it is your last year with Sheen Lions and your time is complete.”
Michael has coached the age group for most of these boys for nine seasons and has taken his teams to the U14 League Cup Final, the U15 County Cup Final and the U16 League Cup final. It was really bad news when he found he was not allowed to attend the game, I think he took some persuading that health is more important than football. It is not surprising that his phone is on charge in the picture below, Abs tells me that it was very well used in the days leading up to the game.
After the win Michael said
One of the many points I drilled into the squad this year was “If the opponents don’t score they can only draw, but if we score we can draw or win”.
What a journey and what a time to achieve this long over due cup with a great bunch of players.
Thanks to Geoff and Abdullah for stepping in at such short notice, to the players who couldn’t make it, all the supporters for bringing the hoops atmosphere, all the well wishers from outside the club and everyone at Sheen Lions.
Michael.
It is a great strength of the Sheen Lions Club that we were able to parachute Abs in to save the day and fantastic to see Geoff on the touchline again especially because he himself missed the U15 Cup final through illness.
Taking off my Webmaster hat for a moment I will also comment.
This is my last of ten seasons with Sheen Lions as a parent. I have spent nine years running teams with Geoff and for the last three years with Alison and it is an absolute delight that the strands of these three teams have come together into such a great finish. Winning is not the real measure of success at a children’s football club but the boys deserve the recognition that it brings for all their commitment over the years to their team mates and their club. The boys in this years squad have been exemplary in showing that commitment and they will all do very well in the adult world they leave us to enter this summer or next. Remembering what is really about I wish them all the best of luck now with their exams!
Gordon
For those of you U18s that have not looked already there are some great photos of the event from the professional Simon Roe on his site.
Below are the SheenLions.com photos, you will get a big version if you click an image.