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Sutton Borough Seniors
Every Monday evening a dedicated squad of players turn out for Sutton Borough Seniors
at Powerleague. This team started as a bit of fun for a few of our Wallington Little League
managers and has now been going for a couple of years and they have progressed from
Division 10 up to Division 4 but to be honest that fete is mainly down to the amount of
teams playing dwindling rather than our team's football skills. 
The team is still mainly made up of mangers past and present with a couple of extras here
and there and they have been in decent form lately.
They were briefly at the top of the table but a couple of recent defeats has seen them slip
down the table a little but they still have a good record of 4 wins and 3 losses out of the 
7 games played so far this season.

The regular squad of players include:
Lewis Tanner (Manager of last season's Mains Emerlad Elite)
He has been a star goalie for us throughout our Powerleague adventure and he is always
in demand around there with many teams requesting his services and he plays nearly
every day of the week. He has always been looked over at 11 a side level due to his lack
of height but at 5 a side he is a top keeper, brave and maybe just a little mad.
Aaron Tanner (Elder brother of the above and former manager of Mains True Blue)
He has been one of our most improved players over the time we've been together and
has a super burst of pace and can play well anywhere but don't tell him I said so as it will
only go to his head.
Andy Perry (Manager of Mains Real Maroon)
He has been there from day one and he has always been the calm head who can usually
slow things down and he is a must to have on the pitch towards the end of a game especially
if you are trying to protect a lead. He is out of the Glenn Hoddle school as he can play 
accurate passes all day long.
Mark Wood ( Former manager of Mains Real Maroon)
Like Andy,  Mark or Woody as everyone calls him is another calm head who is important
to have around among the more excitable players that we have. He will play anywhere but
loves to get forward when he can.
Mark Foster (Former assistant manager of Mains Real Maroon)
Mark or Fozzie as everyone calls him has been our star player since the start of our 
time together and has scored lots of goals along the way. He has bags of skill and ability
and a real burst of pace too, we'd be lost without him.
Roger Teal (Assistant manager of Inters Blue Sundays)
Roger has been another of those players who has shown tremendous improvement and
has been with us since the start too. He has now developed a super touch on the ball and
never stops running earning him his nickname of Roger 'The Rocket'
Dave Stebbings (Former under 10s manager and current Mains True Blue Dad)
Dave joined us shortly after we started and we'd be lost without him as he is talented and
strong and can score some super goals.
Adam Woolmer (Current manager of Mains Scorpions)
Another player who has been with us from early on and he is a real dynamic talent who
is strong and pacey and he too can score some terrific goals. Due to work commitments
we have missed him lately but we're hoping to get him back soon.
We have a few other players who are non Little Leaguers who step in to help us out on 
a regular basis and we'd be lost without them and they are: Ricky, Gary (L), Gary (B)

If anyone is interested in joining us, do get in touch with the website.
We do have a full squad at the moment but when we get a late kick off time like 9pm and
after we do struggle to put a team out so if you think you might fancy a go let us know.
 
Our most recent game saw us take on CPI who are a very organised and talented outfit
who we have already had several close games with and on this occasion they got the 
better of us as the game got into it's final stages. We were level at 3-3 early in the second
half before eventually going down 7-3 and next week we play the top team in our division
who are unbeaten for an age but it can only get better after that.

(19th June)

Goodbye and Thanks (Don't forget how much you are appreciated)
Below you will find a list, which is a list of very special people, without these
people and the many others we still have and are yet to sign up our league could
not go ahead.

Among the managers who will be missing when we start our new season are:
Peter Sullivan (Under 8s Beddington Celts)
Shirley Nash (Under 9s Mean Machine) 
Frank Foreman (Under 9s Green Bogeymen)
Sean (Under 8s Maroon Dragons)
Andy Nash (Under 10s Gladiators)
Kelly (Under 10s Gladiators)
Jason Brown (Under 10s Scorpions)
Chris Smith (Under 10s Royal Blue Birds)
Shirley ( Under 10s The Saints)
Alan Doe (Inters Wasps)
Graham Harman (Park Rangers)
Peter O'Keefe (Mains Hornets)
Aaron Tanner (Mains True Blue)
Mick Hedgeland (Mains True Blue)
John Vigor (Mains Scorpions)
Joe Lavigne (Mains Scorpions)
Mark Wood (Mains Real Maroon)
Mark Foster (Mains Real Maroon)

I've probably missed out quite a few as I've done this just off the top of my head but I do
think that anyone who has helped our league out by managing deserves a big mention.
We would be lost without such people who bravely put their heads up above the pulpit
to volunteer.
Apart from listing those names I will give each an extra mention:
Peter Sullivan had a super successful season with the under 8s Beddington Celts.
Andy and Shirley Nash along with Kelly have done marvels with their Junior Yellows and
they will leave a gap that will be hard to fill. 
Sean was an example to all last season as he was one of our youngest managers and
did a super job with the under 8s Maroon Dragons. He is now off to university and we
hope he does well there but we also hope he does come back to us at some point in the
future.
Frank Foreman was another of our stars, he was always willing to help out with extra on
top of his own team duties. He was the sort of person anyone could turn to when there
was a problem as he had a cool head and spoke lots of sense. It will not be quite the
same without him as a manager but hopefully he will be around as a parent. We at the
website will miss his contributions as he was a breath of fresh air and no matter how 
hard I try I can never achieve the heights of his wit. We'll miss you Frank.
Jason Brown had a cracking season last time around with his super Scorpions and
that was just the cherry on the cake of a fine little league managing career. I remember
all his parents from the team trying to talk him into staying on to manage in the Inters
as he was so popular but sadly he has now stepped down and will be missed.
Chris Smith did brilliantly in the Juniors with his Royal Blues and was no mean player
himself when he turned out for the managers team in the end of season charity match.
Alan Doe was another one of those managers who did much more than he had to and
often turned up early or stayed on late to referee or help out in some other way. He
was also a super manager who always seemed to get great improvement out of his
team as the season progressed.
Graham Harman had a successful spell in the Juniors and then had a super first season
in the Inters, we'll miss Graham but hopefully he is another who will still be around as a
parent. He was a hard working manager who was always keen to help out when he could
and he will be a big miss for us in the Inters this season.
Peter O'Keefe was a real character in the Mains and we are going to miss him throughout
our league, hopefully he will turn up from time to time as he always lifts everyone around
him when he is present. He is one of those special people who everyone looks forward to
bumping into.
Aaron Tanner has been managing for the last few seasons and has done a good job and
we're very proud of him. He has lots of work commitments now so can no longer manage
but I'm sure we will see him from time to time. He is a very special lad and I'm sure
everyone wishes him well. It's down to his younger brother to fly the flag for the Tanners
in the Mains league now.
Mick Hedgeland left us as a manager in the close season but hopefully he will be around
as a parent for the new season. I know for a fact that Tanya and myself would never have
managed without his help and support over the last few seasons. Hopefully he will remember
the good times and still think  back with a smile. He has done some terrific work with his
coaching and many lads have benefited from his guidance. 
John Vigor and Joe Lavigne had a superb season with their Scorpions last season but 
they have worked hard together for a long time to achieve that success and it was much
deserved. We will miss their help around out league and I would like to say a special thank
you for their support of our sons Aaron and Lewis in recent seasons.
Mark Wood and Mark Foster did lots of good work with their Mains Maroons and I'm proud
to have them both as friends. They are a couple of cracking lads who enjoy playing as much
as managing and they will be missed.

If I have missed anyone out please let me know because I am pretty sure that I must have
done so, but as is usual this is one of those articles cobbled together on the spur of the
moment in just a few minutes.
I will add this one last though to this article:
Whether you are a manager who is leaving with a smile on your face or leaving because
you are not so happy for whatever reason please remember that your work has been and
will always be appreciated. Remember the good times, the smiles you have helped put on
the faces of kids who have looked forward to their Little League Sundays each and every
week. Whatever your reason for leaving you have done something special and I urge all
parents and supporters who read this to send you and all those who work hard for our
league their full support and thanks.
There maybe a time when someone does something that upsets you or makes a
refereeing decision that you think is wrong but remember they are doing something special.
They are trying to help and trying to enable many kids to enjoy an activity that would not
be possible without them and many others like them.
You may get upset or get annoyed it's sometimes hard not to, then dust yourself down, sweep it 
under the carpet and get back down that park and support all the players, managers and officials and if you can,  follow the example of those already helping and do your bit to help out.
I've learned lots lately and one phrase always sticks in my mind, it was said to me by 
someone who is no longer around and it is this: 
In life you spend a long time dead.
While you're here and up for it, go out and grab life with both hands and do your best for
yourself and others and it may sound soft but there aren't many rewards better than a smile
on a child's face.
Thanks to all those listed and to all those who are still helping out week in and week out,
we'd be lost without you.
Steve



Wednesday 6th June
Last Sunday we heard the sad news that we would be losing stalwart junior manger 
Andy Nash, here we have a letter from him:

..........................................................................................................................................................

Monday 30th April
Here we have a letter from Chris Smith who has just signed off as Royal Blue Birds
Manager and is leaving our league:

To all at Wallington Little League,
 Being that im moving on next season to another adventure i didnt want to just leave without saying a big thankyou for the past three years. Over the last couple of years ive been helped by many people, at Under 7-8 stage i had a fairly good team but was outdone but the Maroons manager Ray, with some tactics that by passed me, his team stood strong and it was like a Chelsea/Man Utd battle throughout the season. Honours were taken by Ray's team, and we were second best. Second season produced a display of great football, this time my lads took the honours i missed most of the season due to breaking my leg, and the team had to be run my assistants John Double and Dave Newman who did a cracking job with the boys and the found the spirit to win scoring an amazing amount of goals and notching up some impressive wins. Once again with the Maroons battling to beat us it was the Light Blues that impressed with Steve taking the boys to second and replacing the Maroons as our rivals. So onto the third and final season, back from injury and with some impressive new players mixed with the so called vets of Under 10's league, this season was difficult we had to gel the old with the new, so impressive displays at the begining of the season but we faulted once or twice with some poor defensive errors. We worked hard and made the Cup Final after fighting for our status in the league, we worked hard to get to the final but were outdone but Andy Nash and Kelly The Yellows who have fought hard the past years but have finally nailed it, the wind played and important roll but still im not one to complain. Well from there i have to say a BIG THANKYOU to Maria and Esther who helped me through the yrs, Dean Colby who sorted the kits out for me and also gave me support and info when needed, Adam who was a big help with decisions here and there. All the managers that ive worked with and the parents and indeed the players who couldnt of been any better, and hopefully they will all go on to professional and make me rich!!!!!!!! Once again Thank you and good luck for the future.
 Yours sincerely,
 Chris Smith

Thanks Chris, we send all our best wishes to you for your future and don't forget
to keep in touch.


..............................................................................................................................................................

*Cool Runnings at Wallington Little League*
As promised we are pleased to announce that we have a very interesting interview with one of the
original members of the Jamaican Bobsled Team which competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics and
inspired the movie 'Cool Runnings'
Three time Olympian Devon Harris kindly took the time to answer our questions and he seems as
 inspirational as an individual as his team were with their incredible exploits. 
Click Here to go to the interview.
(25th October)

The following article was written by Lewis Tanner:
Hello everyone, my name is Lewis and I'm nearly 16 years old and I just wanted to say thank you to
everyone at the league for letting me take charge of the Mains Emerald Greens who are now known
as Emerald Elite. 
The season was getting very close and the team never had a manager and had not even trained so
I asked if I could have a go, especially as I have a broken arm at present and will not be able to play
myself for a very long time.
It already looks like some of the parents will be there to help look out for me and I especially want to
thank Adam, Matthew's Dad who has already said he would be there if I need him.
I played in our Little League for 4 seasons and I had a brilliant time and it is something that I and my
family love. Mum and Dad do an Inters team, my brother does a Mains team and my sister helps out
with an under 8s team so it is becoming the family business.
I have lots to learn and want to do referee and coaching courses so I can get the best out of myself
for the team and the league but for now just being give the chance and to have such a supportive and
nice reaction from the players and parents has been brilliant.
I hope to referee though Mum and Dad are not too sure so I would appreciated any help and advice that
anyone can offer. I know Alan from the Inters had offered to look after the team for the tournament
this Sunday but I would still like him to come along and help if he can as it would give me a bit of
extra confidence to have someone alongside me.
I hope nobody expects too much from me but I will do my best to see that the team have a good
time taking part in Little League though please remember that last Saturday was our first training
session and it may take time to get things sorted out and running smoothly. For the time being
we will train at the same time that my family's other teams are training so there will always be adults 
around should any problems come up.
Thanks again everyone and don't forget............................COME ON YOU GREEENS !

Lewis Tanner
(12th September)

ANOTHER SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Our new season is due to start on Sunday 24th September 2006 and already many
of our teams have started their pre-season training. 
It's been great to get back into the routine of training again even though with the
World Cup not long over we haven't had to be without football for too long. It's been
fantastic to have the cream of World football to watch on telly but it still doesn't get
the pulse racing like our regular days down the park with the Little League kids.
The teams our family are involved in had a superb season last time around with trophies
and more importantly loads of smiling faces to confirm that.
The Inter Light Blues which Tanya and I do had a great season, being competitive
throughout and ending up with a Cup runners up trophy. Aaron's Mains Light Blues
also did well to come back from an up and down League season to finish runners
up in the Cup and their Under 14s won their 5 a sides trophy. We can add to all that
a great season by the Under 8s Royal Blues who our Megan is assistant manager with.
Last season she and manager Wendy had a super time with their mini marvels who
seemed to improve throughout the season and although they did not gain a trophy
they pushed all their opponents all the way and only just missed out on a Cup final
appearance.
So here we are again on the road to another season.
Our Inters have been in training for a couple of weeks although of course it will 
probably be a few weeks before we get a full turnout as we are all competing 
against the holiday season at the moment. From what we have seen it does look 
promising but I think most if not all Inters managers will be saying something similar
as the quality of players on show at this years trials was very good so there
should be lots of talent out there on show this season.
Our Mains are about to have their first training session and they are one of two
Mains teams who did not require any new players from the trials as all their
players are staying on this time around. So it will be nice to get the old faces back
and get things going once again.
Megan has stayed on as assistant manager with the Under 8s Royal Blues this season
but this time around she is without Wendy who did such a great job last season instead
she now has a new manager. He is Simon who is having his first experience in football
coaching but from what we have seen from the early training sessions he seems to 
be enjoying every second of it.
Watching these youngsters in their early training sessions has been great fun as for 
me you can't beat seeing this little players giving their all and chasing every ball,
they have been having a super time. It's been especially nice to note the exceptional
improvement of those players who were Under 7s last season and are now Under 8s
in the same team. They seem to improve by the week and it's lovely to see them
progress but most of all it's just great to see them having a great time.
Looking around the League it's nice to see many new managers this time around
and I hope they all enjoy their Little League experience.
Megan will not be the only lady in an under 8s management position as we have
a lady manager of the Under 8s Reds too. Many of you will remember their 'Wizard
Of Dribble' young Jack and his Mum is taking over the managers role this season
and we send her all our best wishes for a great time in charge. 
It's impossible to preview the Under 8s as most of the players are brand new to our
league but it is safe to say it will be exciting, chaotic and fun.


Everyone will know Andy who has been managing Junior Yellows teams in recent
 seasons and this season while he is in charge of the Under 10s
 Yellows his wife Shirley is taking the plunge into management
as she is in charge of the Under 9s Yellows, we wish her well in her
new position and it will be interesting to see which of this Mr and Mrs management
duo has the better season though of course they will not be in competition and I'm
sure there will be no bragging should either have a better result each Sunday.
The Under 9s should be especially interesting as we have Steve with his Light Blues
ready to do battle with Ray and his Maroons once again and these two were
fighting it out throughout last season in the Under 8s so all their meetings this
season should be games not to be missed. Though of course the Under 9s is by 
no means a two horse race and should be extremely competitive. Towards the
end of last season many of the Under 8s sides were showing marked improvement,
Frank's Greens were giving everyone a tough game and pulled off some great 
results but the Royals, Yellows and Reds were all improving teams and this 
season should be very interesting.
The Under 10s should be as close as any division as last season's Under 9s
was a surprise a minute division and the excitement should continue as they
move up to Under 10s level.
Among the Junior manager changes we have Dean who has moved from the Under
10s down to the Under 8s and his team are sure to be in for a great time under this
ever popular manager. We have spoken to a couple of parents from last season's
Under 10s Greens as their boys have moved up to the Inters and they have nothing
but praise for Dean and us Inters managers have a hard act to follow. To be very
honest though we seldom hear bad words about our managers and it's hard for the
players who move up to the Inters when many have to start afresh with a new 
manager but we all do our best to insure all have a cracking time as they progress.
Moving up from the last season's Under 10s to this season's Inters we have two 
sets of managers this time around.
Graham and Lee are still in charge of a Royal Blues team though and being they take
over half of last seasons Inters League Champions they must be in good heart going
into this new season. The other duo moving up are Sam and Billy who last season
were with the Under 10s Light Blues and are now with the Inters Emerald Greens.
The Greens haven't had the best of times in recent seasons but last season was 
a big improvement on the previous one so they are going the right way and they
are sure to have a good time with Sam and Billy and we wish them along with 
Graham and Lee well in their first Inters season.
I have to say from our family's point of view that we would have been lost without
the generous help of fellow Inters managers last season and we all appreciated their
friendship and hard work. 
Another new manager in the Inters League this season is Darren who takes over from
the ever popular duo of Andy and Mark with the Inters Maroons. This is an especially
nice story as Darren was a Wallington Little League player a few years ago and has 
gone on to do extremely well as a player. At the moment he is part of the first team
squad with Epsom and Ewell in the Ryman League but he was keen to try and give
something back to the League which got him started on the footballing path.
From the moment he came to the trials he has been full of enthusiasm for the season
ahead and I'm sure he will be a very good addition to our league.
The rest of the managers in the Inters League are pretty much as they were at the
end of last season. Adam will be having his second Inters season with the Reds as
will Alan with the Yellows and of course we have Tanya and I with the Lights and 
we have a new assistant this season in Roger who although not known for his footballing
skills is sure to provide lots of fun and games along the way.

The only new managers at present in the Mains League are Chris who is moving up from 
the Inters where he was manager of the League Champions the Royal Blues and he
takes over the Mains Royals from Martin who has now gone on to the big wide world
of football outside Little League. He brings up half of his Championship winning team and
takes over half of the Mains League runners up side so he should have plenty of 
ammunition for a league which should be pretty open and hard to call. The other team
with new managers is the Mains Maroons and new boys to this league Andy and Mark
bring up seven solid players to add to half of last season's champions so they too
will be feeling ok about the season ahead. Apart from the Emerald Greens
who are looking for a manager the remaining Mains teams all have the
same management and all will be raring to go. We don't want to add pressure to
any individual teams so let's just say that this top age group could be very exciting
this time around and many will be fancying their chances of glory. 
As I write this I do believe we are still looking for helpers in varied age groups and
a manager or two so if you are interested please let us know or get in contact with our
League secretary Maria.

Apart from all the managers and helpers there are many others who do a great job
for our league and help ensure that all runs smoothly or smooth-ish might be a better
way of putting it, ha ha.
Adam and Dean have both taken on the very tough roles of kit officers this season
and they work hard and do a great job behind the scenes and without this we would
be in big trouble. Others to mention are Wendy who in addition to being a star at 
manager recruitment is also a wizard with a raffle book.
Another worth a big mention is Andy who puts in all the hard work to get our 
yearly programme out and is another good guy who is always willing to do someone
a favour, we would have been lost without all his extra reffing last season.
New rules had to be worked out at short notice for our new end of season tournaments
at Powerleague last season and John and Joe did a brill job there. They also were
responsible for League fixtures and the Referees rota and John was Inters and Mains
Referees officer, they continue doing those jobs this season too and all these things
have to be done to help our season run smoothly. In the Junior Leagues Frank was
Referees officer and he did a good job too and he also continue in that role for
the coming season.
Adam and Sara did a sterling job in organising all last season's Crb checks, they
seemed to be always on the go in the early weeks of last season making sure all
the forms were correctly filled in.
Adam did a fantastic job organising all the trophies last season too, they were
very good quality and he also ensure that the League got a good deal too.
In addition to all this it is Adam who is constanly upgrading equipment for our
league and making sure everyone has what they need.
Esther and Maria do loads of work which just doesn't get seen and are always 
answering endless phone calls as well as sorting out problems on match days.
The preparation they do for the season in massive too and this hard work is 
essential for our League to continue, we'd be lost without them. 
Many of the managers do work far beyond their duties especially at each 
season's trials where many of them arrive early and leave late to make sure all
goes well. During the season ahead many of these managers will help out with other
teams, run the line and referee when it is not their turn and many other things too.
Thanks to all our volunteers we'd be in big trouble without you.

So all that remains to be said is enjoy your football and remember not to take it all too
seriously let's just make sure that the kids have a cracking time and let's help create
some great memories for us all to look back on.


Steve
(17th August)






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