WALLINGTON YOUTH AND JUNIOR FOOTBALL
WALLINGTON LITTLE LEAGUE

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

This page is dedicated to those players, managers and helpers who have since moved on from our league.
We will be catching up with some of our favourite former league personalities to fire some questions at them and to find our what they have been up to.
Also on this page we hope to carry information of the new football adventures being had by former players too, including occasional progress reports from those players who have been kept together to form teams in outside leagues.

So if you are a former player why not drop us a line via the link below to let us know where you are playing now or whatever else you're up to.

Update on Monday 17th February:
A big thank you to Sandra Weston for getting in touch with us to tell us about
the progress of her son Aaron.
Aaron was a player with our league in the Inter Yellows and was an outstanding
talent but due to the fact that a player can only play for one Little League at a
time he had to choose between us and Morden and it was Morden who were
lucky enough to keep his services.
He was a star of their Nationals team for two seasons but has always kept in
contact with us and used to play in our Tuesday evening sessions we used to
run at Powerleague.
He has played in all positions from Goalkeeper through to centre forward where
he is a real talent.
The great news we have received is that Aaron has been scouted by Chelsea
is currently on a half term training camp with them.
Whatever the future holds this is a real super experience for him and we wish
him well and want to remind him just how proud we are of him.
We know that competition for places at a club like Chelsea is tough and maybe
this may not work out straight away but he has to know he has achieved something
very special by becoming noticed and this is very good experience for him.
Well done Aaron and good luck for your future.
                                                                                                                           

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
In the first of what we hope will become a regular feature we catch up with a couple of former
Wallington Little League stalwarts, to see what they are up to now and throw some questions
at them.
The first subjects are father and son duo Barrie and Jamie Whittington.
Barrie was a long serving Junior manager and founder of this website who went on to manage
at Morden Little League for a new challenge and Jamie who showed up well in our league has
gone on to even more success under his Dad at Morden.

1: When did you both start your association with Wallington Little League and Barrie did
you go straight into management?
Jamie started with Wallington in 1999 when he played in goal for the Under 8 Yellows (he was an Under 7 playing with the Under 8’s). I was just a Dad in that first season and didn’t really have any urge to get involved at that stage. I fell into management the following season when Jamie’s team had no manager (like many others over the years). The first season we did very well, winning the Under 8’s league and cup and coming runners up in the 7-a-side tournament. However it all went down hill from then on and only managed runners up the following season in the league and no honours in our final season with WLL.

2. This one's for Jamie, was you always a goalie or was that a position that just developed as time went on for you ?
 Jamie: I played in goal in my first season. I just seemed to have a natural ability for keeping. I enjoy playing outfield and in the Under 9’s and 10’s split my time between defending and goalkeeping. I scored my first goal for the Yellows against the Maroons in the Under 8’s. Dad says it was a cross – but I know better! ! !

3. One for Barrie, did you play football for a team as a lad (if you can remember that far back) and do you ever fancy a game still, how do you get on in the kick abouts at training, can you still strut the old magic and teach the youngsters a thing or two ? I can hear Jamie laughing as he reads that last remark !
Barrie: Being a bit of an old crinkly when I was a lad there was not the organised football for children like there is nowadays. I played for my school team (was a nippy winger at my primary school) and later in my career slotted into the goalkeeping role. I played Sunday football in the Wimbledon and District and Morden District Leagues (but not in the top divisions I have to say). I played for Seven Dials FC who played at Wandsworth and Merton Rangers FC who played at Abbey Recreation ground in South Wimbledon. I fear both these teams are now defunct. I represented  a Post Office Telecommunications football team in the 1970’s and in my mid twenties I stopped playing because of a nagging groin injury that just never seemed to clear up. I try not to show up the lads at training and do enjoy a run out with them. I have to say the bones creak a bit and it takes me an eternity to get over training sessions but enjoy it nonetheless. I starred in the Morden Little League manager’s match last season, only conceding one goal in normal time and then only conceded one goal in the 3 – 1 penalty shoot out victory. I have the man of the match award proudly on show on my mantelpiece.

3a What other teams have you played for Jamie?
Jamie:  I have played for Presidents Royals, Rotary Royals and Footman Flyers at Morden Little League and last season played for a team called Sinjuns Colts in Division 1 North of the West Surrey Youth League. We won the league, winning every match and I only conceded 12 goals in the league all season. We also got through to the last 16 of the Surrey County Cup.

4. Do both of you have any stand out memories from your time at WLL and were there any teams or personalities that you have good memories of ?
Barrie: I guess my stand out memories was seeing Jamie play for the first time and also the first season. We were so close to winning the treble as we were 3 – 1 up in the final with 2 minutes to go. Unfortunately we conceded two late goals and lost the penalty shoot out. So near yet so far. I think Joe Joseph for me stands out, he was so good with the kids and probably the reason for me taking the step into managing. I think also all the committee members and volunteers are unsung heroes. There is so much to be done behind the scenes that parents are not aware of. They deserve medals at the end of the season too.
Jamie: Winning the league and Cup stands out for me but I would rather forget the penalty shoot out. I have really enjoyed my Dad being manager. It took a bit of getting used to initially but it does have it’s plus points like getting the captain’s armband! ! ! – although Dad tries to be as fair as possible with that and substitutions and MOM awards etc.

5. This one is for Barrie, how did the website come about, and was it a big job to start with ?
I was playing around with websites at work. I was asked to produce an electronic newsletter for our group and I picked up tips from colleagues and produced an Intranet site. (which looking back was absolutely awful). I thought I would like to turn my hand to building a website but needed an idea on what to base it on. I thought of WLL and made the suggestion at a managers meeting about starting one. After getting the go ahead I produced a prototype and the rest as they say is history. It wasn’t a huge job to start with but it did need a bit of planning. Once the basis was there it was just a question of adding bits on. Over the years the hits grew progressively and I have to say that Steve and Aaron have done a sterling job since taking over. Great and innovative ideas. Well done guys.

6. How did you both settle in when you joined Morden Little League, how is your league organised is it a different format, or is it done similar to WLL ?
Barrie: I have to say in the first season I thought “What have we done?”. I helped out the manager by running the line for her and helped with erecting and dismantling the posts (she thought she had died and gone to heaven – she wasn’t used to getting someone to help out voluntarily!). I again fell into management as in Jamie’s 2^nd year he had no manager. This coming season will be my third managing and I am running the same team as last season (Footman Flyers) in the Seniors League which is Under 13. The league is run pretty much the same way as Wallington. One difference is in leagues up to Under 10. At Morden there are no scores recorded and they are just played as friendlies. It isn’t until you get to the equivalent of Inters that results and tables are recorded.  Morden also run their own Café which is a huge asset in fund raising. Morden do not have monthly managers meetings but have periodic Committee meetings where problems etc are dealt with, resolved etc. All Little League’s follow the same concept so are pretty much the same all round.
Jamie: I did not get into the Colts (Under 11) league straight away and had to play as an over aged Under 10 (as results were not recorded it didn’t matter too much). It was great playing in the small goals and in 6 games I didn’t let in one goal. We also played a pre-season tournament, in which again I conceded no goals. After I joined the Presidents Royals in the Colts I didn’t have the best of seasons after that, as I broke my collar bone in January, but in the whole settled in well really.

7. An answer from each of you here please, who are your all time footballing greats ?
Past and present if you like.
Barrie: All time great George Best. Present great – probably an AFC Wimbledon player – I don’t really have too much time for those over paid Premiership prima donnas.
Jamie: Being so young I can’t really say I have an all time great. Supporting Wimbledon I guess the player most influential in my early years was Robbie Earle. A real gutsy down to earth player who always gave 100 percent. A model professional in my eyes.

8. As big Wimbledon supporters or I should say Afc Wimbledon supporters how
do you feel your team has done since it's birth not so long ago, you must be pretty chuffed with how they have done up to this season ?
AFC Wimbledon have been a fantastic success. Only just missed out on promotion in their first season. Successive promotions to the Ryman League Division One then the Ryman Premier, they just missed out on promotion last season after being beaten by the eventual winners Fisher Athletic in the play off’s. There is always a fair bit of movement in the transfer business in non-league and this season has been no different. We seem to have made some first class signings but the proof of the pudding as they say is in the eating. The new season is only a couple of weeks away and we hope to give those Carshalton boys a good whipping in the first game of the season just for you Steve!.

8a. Do you ever feel tempted to step up a notch and support Sutton United ?
Ha ha, only joking.
 I would rather stick pins in my body !

9: Jamie, what advice would you give to a player joining Little League or any football team for the first time ?
Jamie: My advice would be to enjoy your football, don’t get too down when you get beaten and listen to your manager’s advice.

10. Barrie, what would you say to anyone taking on management at our level for the first time too ? Apart from don't do it of course, tee, hee.
My advice to prospective managers is to remember that football should be fun for the boys or girls. Having said that there is a natural urge to be competitive these days and no boy or girl likes to lose. You have to try and temper the two I think. Always give the children positive advice and feedback – don’t be negative. One final thing I have found invaluable is try to be as organised as you can, and commitment is very important too. If you don’t have the commitment you may as well not bother.

11. Are there any changes you would like to see come into our kind of football or are there ideas in either leagues that could be adopted elsewhere ?
I think Little League is a great concept – particularly for those children who can’t get organised football elsewhere. There is not really anything I would change or suggest changing. I would just reinforce that managers, volunteers, referees and linesman are all volunteers. They should not, and must not be subject to abuse. If it were not for these invaluable people – our children would not have FREE football each and every week.

12. Was there an especially good team that stood out in your WLL days for either of you ?
Apart from the Yellows Under 8’s in 2000 the team that stood out for me were the Maroons Under 9 team in 2001, managed by Simon Gordon (or was it Gordon Simon). They were unstoppable. Simon and I didn’t always see eye to eye, but he did have a very good side.
Jamie: The first year I played the Greens had a very good team. After my first season I stayed down in the Under 8’s as I first played as an Under 7 playing with the Under 8’s. That Green team went on to win honours in every league after that until they broke up after their Under 10 season. I was kind of glad I stayed another year in the Under 8’s because I avoided them.

13. How do you think England will do in the up and coming World Cup in Germany ?
Sorry I have been a little slow in preparing this so the World Cup has come and gone. However I think we will qualify by winning our group, will win our next game but will go out to Portugal on penalties in the quarter finals!!!!!
Steve: Great answer, I reckon Mystic Meg has a rival, not!

14. Are there players that Sven has overlooked recently who you think should be in the squad ?
The same applies to this question. I think I would have advised Sven to take Jimmy Greaves, Geoff Hurst, and Bobby Charlton – they could have all sat on the bench and kept Theo Walcott company !
Jamie: He should have taken me.

15. There is one more question I'd like to ask, does Jamie have a stand out save that he will never forget that he has made and does Dad have one in mind that Jamie has done too ?
Jamie; I played in an end of season Morden International Tournament where Dutch sides come over and play. It is also an opportunity for managers to look at players for the following season. I made a point blank instinctive save which saw us qualify for the final game. One manager asked my Dad for my name, to which Dad replied “Sorry mate – he is taken” – He he!
Barrie: For me Jamie’s best save was one he never made. In his first ever match playing at Wallington (against the Scarlet Reds) one boy hit a cracking shot and he jumped and stretched out his hand towards it and the ball flew over the bar. Jamie claimed to have got a touch to it. However I happened to be making a video of the game. I shall say no more…… but he has made some blinding saves in his career – and many more to come hopefully…..

HAPPY FOOTBALLING EVERYBODY …..

OUR THANKS GO TO BARRIE AND JAMIE FOR SOME CRACKING ANSWERS AND HERE’S HOPING YOUR
COMING SEASON IS A HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL ONE……….AS USUAL.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

For a new venture our league are recruiting ex players who although too young to manage are eager to become helpers.
Ex-Mains Red Tom and Ex-Mains Royals Alex are the first to step forward and have a go and the league is considering putting these and others through a refereeing course at a later date to further help us on match days.
Get in touch if you are an ex player between the ages of 14 and 16 and would like to help out.
(2nd August)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Our opening article about previous players from Wallington Little League is about the 
popular former manager duo of Martin Weeks and Paul Taylor who have taken a selection
of lads from last season's leavers to make up a new team to play in the West Surrey Boys
League.
Their new team name is Colliers Wood United and hopefully they will be keeping us in touch
with their progress out in the big wide world of youth football.
We bumped into them down the park at the weekend and they are already in early pre-season
training and the lads are being put through their paces by their ever encouraging management
duo and all seem to be enjoying the experience.
Granted their season ahead will be a very tough test but the quality of players selected seems
to point to them doing very well. They are not taking the challenge lightly and have shown
by their early start to training that they intend to be fully prepared when their season starts.
Warm as it was at the weekend the lads were digging deep to get through a stiff bleep test 
and all seemed to be progressing well. 
Martin and Paul have promised to keep us informed of their progress and we hope to carry
the occasional match report on this page. Goalie supreme Oliver kept us informed of the
news from last season's super Maroons and hopefully he will do similar this season with 
the news surrounding his new team.
Good luck to you all at Colliers Wood United and keep in touch.

Other teams have been formed in recent seasons from Wallington Little League leavers and 
all have done extremely well.
Firstly there was Portland FC who were formed from leavers of the 2003/04 season and
they went on to win their division of the Tandridge League as well as finishing runners up
in their League Cup competition too.
Then there was AFC Wallington and Beddington Eagles who both had a basis of WLL leavers
from season 2004/05.
Beddington Eagles had a super season in their division of the Tandridge League and they
finished just behind the leading teams and did well to reach the semi finals of their League
Cup too.
AFC Wallington finished just behind the leading teams in their division of the West Surrey
Boys League and went on to win their League Cup.
So Colliers Wood United are following some teams who have set a fine example and hopefully
they too will be successful and above all every moment of their new adventure.

LOOKING FOR A TEAM?
Are you now too old for Little League but still looking to play Youth Football ?
There is a good website that is worth looking at. It provides advertisements from many
teams looking for players from all over the country.
The website is: www.yellowjersey.co.uk 
Put in your area and have a browse to see what teams are still looking for players.
Remember though, that you should always tell your parents or guardians if you are 
attending a trial or training session with a team and if possible take a responsible 
person with you.

wallingtonlittleleague@yahoo.co.uk

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO MAIN PAGE