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CLUB NEWS
SUMMERTOWN STARS 2010 5 A SIDE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Boys
U9s: Cumnor A 1 - 0 Kidlington B
U10s Chasewell Hill A 1 - 0 Greenhouse Bethwyn
U11s: Abingdon Town 1 - 0 Summertown Stars B
U12s: Florence Park A 1 - 0 Quarry B
U13s: Greenhouse Bethwyn 1 - 0 Quarry B
U14s: Tower Hill 1 - 0 Horspath
U15s Marston Saints A 2 - 1 Greenhouse Bethwyn
U16s: Drayton A 0 - 0 Wantage (Drayton A won on penalties)
Girls
U11s: Summertown B 0 - 0 Oxford City A (Summertown won 2-1 on penalties)
U13s: St Edmunds Whites 0 - 0 Chinnor A (St Edmunds won 1-0 on penalties)
U14s Oxford City A 0 - 0 Swindon Spitfires (Oxford City won 6-5 on penalties)
Llawandle Primary school shoot for the World Cup
This year the football World Cup is in South Africa – so how do the children in one of the poorest regions of the country feel about hosting one of the greatest sporting events?
Summertown Stars AFC has been sending football equipment and kit to Lwandle Primary School for the past five years. The school is based in Khayelitsha, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. The PE teacher asked some grade 7 pupils at the school some questions about the World Cup and what hosting the event means to them. Here are some of their answers:
Q: What does this World Cup mean to you?
A: We are all excited because it is on our shores for the first time, therefore it is here, we must feel it. We were all glad when Joseph Sepp Blatter announced that the 2010 World Cup will be hosted by South Africa. This is not for South Africa but for the whole continent of Africa.
Pupils: Sinwe Calu, Asanda Nohesi, Sinako Maqaresa
Q: Are you excited about having the World Cup in South Africa?
A: Yes of course, it happens when I am alive and will happen in front of me, and we will learn more about sport and simply because it will leave a legacy.
Pupil: Noluvuyo Moni
Q: What team are you supporting and why?
A: South Africa because I’m South African and I’m proud of my country.
Pupil: Naxolo Mbely
A: I am supporting Bafana Bafana because I am proudly South African.
Pupil: Zikhona Noveve
Q: How many World Cup finals have South Africa taken part in?
A: Three World Cups: 1998 – in France, 2006 in Germany and 2010 in South Africa.
Pupil: Anelisa Magqabeni
The children of Lwandle Primary School wearing the Summertown Stars kit.
Q: Who was South Africa’s coach before Carlos Alberto Parreira?
A: Joel Natalino Santana from Brazil.
Pupil: Anam Dumile
Q: Who is the boss of the South African Football Association?
A: Kirsten Nematandani
Pupil: Asanda Tyeqana
Q: What does LOC stand for?
A: Local Organising Committee.
Pupil: Nelissa Magenu
Q: Why do you like Summertown Stars AFC?
A: Because they are our friends from England and they sponsor us with soccer jerseys and other stuff.
Pupil: Thulisa Bakaqana
A: Because Summertown Stars gives us the soccer kit for my school.
Pupil: Athenbosi Mhlaluka
STARS SHINE AT TOWER HILL
Summertown Stars Girls U11’s, who advertise Sobell House Hospice on their shirts, were victorious in Sunday’s 6 a side tournament at Tower Hill, being crowned champions for the first time as a relatively new team.
With 3 wins and a draw from their 4 matches, the Stars lived up to their name with battling, well organised and hard working performances. Finishing top of the group with 10 points and 3 points clear of their nearest challengers, the Stars were rightly proud of their achievement in a well organised and fun competition.
Paul Byles (Manager, May 2010)
Christmas Shopping Soccer Course
Football coaches and children from Summertown Stars AFC braved the weather and raised £300 for charity by taking part in a Christmas Shopping Soccer Course. The day was designed to allow parents child-free shopping time and most importantly providing a fun day for the players. Due to the conditions, the coaches organised non-contact training, concentrating on passing, movement and shooting skills, with breaks for copious amounts of hot chocolate and treasure hunts on the pitch (hunting for more chocolate that is!). All of the players and coaches enjoyed the day and were delighted to have raised money for Special Effect, the Oxford Children’s Hospital and the Saakshar School Appeal.
Thank you to all of the parents, players and coaches who took part.
December 2009
THANK YOU! 
The members of the Summertown Stars Runners team would like to thank you for your generous support in sponsoring the team in the Santa Fun run around Oxford on 13th December 2009. A member of the Summertown Stars team – Charlie Bennett, won the race in just over 11 minutes, which beat the previous best ever time for the course by over 1 minute!
STAGGERING!
The most important aspect of the event was raising money for charity – Helen & Douglas House Hospice and the Have a Heart Campaign. The team is extremely proud to have raised over £1,600 and with cash donations still be added, the final total should be in excess of £1,800.
FANTASTIC!
Special thanks to Jo Kalies our team captain, who organized and entered the team which comprised of girls from the u11, u13 and u14 Summertown teams, students from d’Overbroecks College, brothers of players, parents and some (insane) Summertown Stars coaches!
THANK YOU AND WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR!
Dec 2009
SUMMERTOWN STARS SUPPORT SOBELL HOUSE
The under 11 Summertown Stars girls team are helping to promote the Sobell House Hospice by advertising the charity on their shirts. Potentially lucrative sponsorship deals were shunned by the team in favour of supporting Sobell House who do such excellent work in the community.
Paul Chamberlain, the club’s Charity and Sponsorship secretary commented, “Sobell House provide exemplary care and support for so many families in their hour of need, and it is extremely important that clubs like Summertown Stars ensure that children are made aware from an early age, of the excellent work that is done in the local community by the hospice. We felt that by advertising the charity on our team shirts we would at least, in a small way, help promote the hospice.”
Summertown Stars girls have started the season well, and the players can be seen in the photograph below, celebrating a recent 2-1 away win at Bardwell.
FAREWELL TO A SUMMERTOWN STARS FRIEND AND MANAGER
Written from a member of Tervor Welham's team.
Sadly, on Monday 9th of February 2009, Trevor Welham, a long standing manager at Summertown Stars FC passed away. Trevor’s forever present optimism and willingness to help, on and off the pitch, made him an outstanding manager, mentor and family man. As an incredibly popular and kind-hearted person he will be sorely missed by all those who knew him, including his team and the students he taught at his school
“Trevor coached me for about 10 years, and however much we lost by week-in week-out he would always seem to look on the bright side, making us do the same. He was the reason we stayed together for so long, and I feel lucky to have known him.
Thanks Trev”
“Few people are able to get great satisfaction from seeing others do well, Trevor definitely had this quality. He brought our team together and made us the friends we are now and are likely to continue to be in the future. For many years he was always there to offer advice whether it was related to football, school or anything else. Thanks for everything!”
April 2009
THE STARS HOST NATIONAL VI FUTSAL FESTIVAL
Picture by Steve Wheeler
On 1 February 2009, Summertown Stars, in conjunction with the Oxfordshire Football Association, hosted a Futsal Festival for visually impaired (VI) players. Players from London Lasers, who are in fact the VI team jointly trained by Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, attended the event at Blackbird Leys leisure centre. Peter Shilton, the legendary England goalkeeper was also in attendance. It was a fantastic day for all involved. Peter, who is an ambassador for Redyset IGOALS, was superb with the children, taking time to answer questions, posing for photographs and signing numerous autographs. Alice Finch, who plays for the Summertown Stars girls U12 team acted as a sighted goalkeeper for the Stars VI team, who looked particularly smart in their new kit generously sponsored by Darbys Solicitors. Marisa Chamberlain, who plays for Oxford United Centre of Excellence acted as a sighted goalie for London Lasers. The players were enthusiastic and extremely energetic, and there were some great moments of skill in the games and some humorous goal celebrations! All of the parents commented on the well organized event and asked when the Stars planned to host another one. The event attracted a great deal of interest from the media, and British Blindsport was represented along with the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Peter signed some copies of his autobiography and a goalkeeper’s jersey, which will be sold to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital. It was a great day which will long be remembered for the sheer enthusiasm of the players and the joy it brought them and the organizers.
February 2009
Summertown Stars Santa Fun Run 2008
On a very cold but sunny morning on the 7th December 2008 over 1,000 runners donned Santa suits and ran around Oxford City centre. Amongst the mass of Santa’s were a group of players from the Summertown Stars U14 girl’s team. Lead and organised by their coach Jo Kalies, the team raised £280.73 for Helen & Douglas House. The Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. The two hospice houses are bright, vibrant and positive places, where the emphasis is on living life to the full, even when that life may be short.
Jo commented, “The girls really enjoyed the morning with lots of entertainment going on and we hope to do it again next year!”
STAR GIRLS PROUD TO SUPPORT CHOX
Photograph by Steve Wheeler
Summertown Stars AFC under 14 girl’s team is proud to help raise awareness for the Oxford Children’s Hospital (CHOX) fund raising campaign by advertising the hospital on their shirts. Canterbury Clothing Company (CCC) and Elmer Cotton kindly agreed to supply the team with new kit because of the fund raising activities at the club over the past two seasons, which has helped raise over £2,000 for CHOX. The most successful event was persuading Barclays Bank to let the club have the Barclays Premiership Trophy at the club’s annual 5 a-side football tournament in June 2007. Other events have included a fancy dress football match and a face-painting stall. Summertown Stars AFC have recently been named the Charter Standard Development Club of the year by the Oxfordshire Football Association, and with over 450 registered player’s at the club, which includes a growing number of girl footballers, the club hopes to continue to support CHOX in the future.
Some of the under 14 team are in the photograph above, and if any player, born between 1 September 1994 and 31 August 1996, is interested in joining the team, then please contact Jo Kalies on 07867646503. Jo is a qualified FA Level 2 coach and as the club’s disabilities officer, also coaches the club’s visually impaired team.
THE STARS PLAY AT WEMBLEY
11 August 2008 will go be remembered by the players, parents and coaches of the Summertown Stars girls U10 team (2008/9 season), for a very long time. The team was selected to play at the McDonald’s National Football Festival after winning the fair play award at the regional event organized by the OFA in May. The girls played three matches, all against boy’s teams at Northwick Park before travelling to Wembley Stadium, where they played another all-boys team from Cambridgeshire. More than 50 teams and nearly 900 players had their photograph taken with Fabio Capello, the England manager, and Sir Geoff Hurst. After playing on the Wembley turf, the players were led up to the Royal Box where they collected a medal and plaque to commemorate the day. It was a fantastic, once in a lifetime opportunity, and since the team was one of only a handful of all-girls teams at the event, the players hope that it will be an incentive for many more girls in and around Oxfordshire to take up football.
The team before the match The team after collecting medals from the Royal Box
The team with England legend Sir Geoff Hurst
More Summertown kit sent to Lwandle School in South Africa
£9k Drainage report reveals expensive but possible solutions
to improve drainage at Cutteslowe Park
The club's success in wining the £9k funds from the Council required for the drainage report has reveled some very interetsing facts about the drainage situation at Cutteslowe Park. Click here for Full report
Highlights:-
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French drains across the entire top section running either side of the pavilion (£11k)
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Drainage system not considered possible for the 7 a side pitches whose water table would require pumping into the brook at the bottom. Recommend plough, reseed, sand, fertliser (£24k). Big cost here is the tonnage of sand required (2 applications)
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Three 11 a side pitches and One ¾ pitch viable for drainage using a sand grooving system (£217k). Big cost here is the 4 x 8mm applications of sand.
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The furthermost pitch space at the end of the lower pavilion section is the most well drained area and would require no drainage works. Just fertliser and weed control applications. We should consider having the council mark out this space. The one downside is the walking distance from the Pavilion. Costs yet to be quoted.
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The upper section just above the junior ¾ sized pitch is well drained and will be marked out for 2 seven a side pitches. No cost.
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Work now being undertaken to present scheme to the Football Foundation.
Leckford Place School sponsor U14s
Sami Cohen, stands proudly below with Summertown’s U14s, as the sponsor who has contributed generously to their brand new kit. The shirts sport the logo for Leckford Place School which already has several pupils coming from the Summertown Stars stables.
"Central to our concept for Leckford Place is the desire to create a school where the individual child is at the centre of everything the school does. Watching the Summertown Stars play recently, I was proud to be associated with a team that shares the same values as we do” remarked Cohen. “Just like Summertown Stars, Leckford Place puts great importance on developing self-confidence and making learning fun. Our common emphasis on developing a healthy sense of community and ethical values completes the harmony!”
Summertown Stars hope that this is the beginning of a long and successful association!
Sami Cohen is the Principal of d'Overbroeck's College, which comprises the d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form and Leckford Place School. For information please visit www.leckfordplace.com.
May 2008
Report of the Season
Summertown Stars United, Under 9 Green League
Our fourteen player squad of Under 9s have finished their first season in organised football. Playing one 7-a-side game to decide the fixture plus one friendly, they played twenty four league matches plus two in the cup, a match almost every Saturday from September to April.
Playing in the Under 9 Green League of the excellently organised Oxford Mail Boys League, our opponents - coaches, parents, players - have been unfailingly friendly and sporting, and our boys have enjoyed their football enormously.
Passing the ball well and performing with great spirit, our boys were fortunate enough to end the season as champions, shading chief rivals Abingdon Town by virtue of head to head results against them.
Whether or not children at this age should be playing competitive league matches - and so many of them - is a question we have frequently pondered. The constant excitement becomes addictive for players and their parents alike. Might it not be true, though, that both the more and the less talented children would find it easier to develop their technique in less pressurised circumstances?
While hoping for more time to focus on the children’s development than on winning matches, we will look forward to whatever next season may offer.
May 2008
Stars welcome VIP’s
On 13 January 2008, coaches from Summertown Stars AFC welcomed several visually impaired people from around Oxfordshire to a futsal training session. Futsal has been played since the 1920’s and originates from Uruguay. It is the commonest form of football played in the world today. Futsal is played indoors and is ideal for players with limited sight because of the consistent light. John Ball, the England team manager and coach for B1 category visually impaired players took time out from preparing the England squad for the Chinese paralympics to take the session and also put the Summertown coaches through their paces. The day was a great success, with all of the visually impaired players showing tremendous enthusiasm.
Jo Kalies, the disabilities officer for Summertown Stars, hopes to be able to organize sessions every fortnight. If anyone, who is partially sighted would like to come along then they would be most welcome. For further details please contact Jo Kalies – mobile telephone number 07867 646503 or e-mail jokalies@hotmail.co.uk
April 2008
Summertown Stars Fancy Dress Charity Football Match
On 22nd December 2007, Summertown Stars held a fancy dress football match in aid of various charitable projects run by the club. More than £600 was raised from sponsorship at the event. There were many Santa’s, but also butterflies, elves and even a skeleton. However, a new football, kindly donated by sports shop, Elmer Cotton, was won by “Spongebob Squarepants!” Medals, kindly donated by Allsports Trophies were given to all of the players aged 8 and under who took part. It was a fun start to the Christmas break.
SUMMERTOWN STARS AFC WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DRAGON SCHOOL WHO HAS KINDLY DONATED KIT AND NEW FOOTBALLS FOR THE CLUB’S “SOCCER FOR AFRICA” PROJECT.
Star Girls Play for the first Oxfordshire Representative Team
Georgina Tayman, Romey Oulton and Lizzie Robbins were among the first U10 players chosen to represent Oxfordshire in the first ever girls Oxford county football team on Sunday, 21 October 2007. The away match against a Gloucestershire rep team was the first of three matches against other counties that is scheduled to be played by Oxfordshire this season. The match was won by the more experienced Gloucestershire U10 team, but all of the Star girls acquitted themselves well. Indeed, it was Romey’s fierce right foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that nearly gave the Oxfordshire team a deserved goal. Somehow, the excellent Gloucestershire goalkeeper managed to claw the ball away from her line, but the shot was the closest that the Oxfordshire came to scoring. All three Star players play for the Summertown U11 team, and this match gave the players a chance to play against a team that consisted entirely of their own age group.
In the U14 Oxfordshire team, new U13 Summertown Stars recruit, Chelsea Childs, was selected to play. This is a fine achievement for a player who looks very talented indeed. Jo Kalies, the U13 Stars manager, is the Oxfordshire coach for the U10 team, and can be seen in the picture of the team below (back row, top right). You can tell just how new the Oxfordshire rep team is, because they had to borrow kit from Hill View!
Oxford United Host the Star Girls
On 30th September 2007, Oxford United kindly hosted 20 girls from Summertown Stars AFC and many of their parents to a Soccer Special day. The players were treated to an academy coaching session in the morning followed by mini-matches and a tour of the Kassam Stadium. They then met some of the Oxford United players, who answered questions and signed autographs. A sausage and chip lunch followed and then the Star girls watched Oxford United play York City. The U’s were 1-0 up at half-time, and the Stars were introduced to the crowd of more than five thousand fans. Four of the Star players took penalties against the Oxford United reserve goalkeeper, and then the whole group ran around the pitch being clapped and cheered by the fans. Unfortunately, Oxford let in an equalizer late in the second half, so the match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the Star Girls had a great day that will be remembered for a very long time. The only slight hiccup to the day was trying to extract the mum’s from the Oxford United player’s dressing room during the stadium tour – for some reason they seemed very reluctant to leave! The Summertown Stars girls teams would like to thank all of the staff and players at Oxford United, especially Peter Rhoades-Brown and Naomi Loveless, for making the day so special.
4th October 2007
Another successful day out with the U's
Nearly 30 young U9 and U13 football players had a Saturday match experience at the Oxford United stadium last Saturday ( 15th Sept) All the Summertown Stars kids thought it was wonderful that they had centre of excellence coaching in the morning, lunch and a stadium tour which included meeting the players and having a chat with the U's rising star Yemi Odubade. At half time the North Oxford youngsters were cheered on by the 5000 fans and Palden , Alexandre, Alfie and Max took penalties against the U's goalkeeper Chris Tardif. The highlight was the corner flag celebration that made many U fans laugh- they needed too as the U's were 0-2 down. Max said "It was really cool and the club were terrific - shame about the result though!" Peter Rhoades-Brown, Community Officer added " All the children have been fantastic and if any other teams want a similar experience please call 01865 337525"
September 15th 2007
Congratulations Julian our 2007 Grassroots Coach of the Year in the South East
So often the unsung heroes of grassroots football, anyone with a great coach at their club knows just what a difference they can make.
The kind of differences that go much further than just improving players’ skills, but also include creating an inclusive team atmosphere, allowing players to express their individuality and skills on the pitch and even getting the players to want to train and not just turn up for matches!
FA Learning, McDonald's and Oxfordshire County FA recognise the important role of the coach and for the third year are running the ‘FA Learning Grassroots Coach of the Year’ in partnership with The FA’s Community Partner - McDonald's.
Julian Dark manager of U7’s and coach of U13 United has won this year’s Grassroots Coach of the Year for his excellent work. He has played a major role in reforming the team.
This award adds to the club’s Charter Standard Development status to the next level. Charter Standard is the FA’s bench mark for quality. It is a best practice guide that sets standards for coaching, administration and protection for clubs working with children. Julian is a pro-active member of the club , he is a keen and dedicated coach who is committed to encouraging and developing young players in football.
The rewards for the McDonald’s Grassroots Coach of the Year are:
two 2 tickets for the FA Community Shield at new Wembley for the Man U vs Chelsea Match
A £200 bursary towards next coaching qualification
A McDonald’s Grassroots Coach of the Year plaque and some equipment
Summertown would like to congratulate Julian's phenominal achievement
Summertown Stars 5 a side Tournament 16th/17th June, 2007
Oxford is awash with traditions: May morning, Eights Week, Japanese tourists failing to negotiate the Cherwell aboard a punt. But just off the ring road every year is one of the town’s more endearing annual events: the Summertown Stars Five-a-side football tournament. For more than 25 years, for one mid-summer weekend the Five Mile Drive pitches have rung to the excited sound of junior sport. Plus the yelp of at least one adult helper cursing because they have burned their fingers on the barbecue.
This year saw the biggest and best Summertown tournament in a generation. More than 115 teams from across Oxfordshire headed along Five Mile Drive over the weekend of 16/17 June. For the first time, this year these included girls teams, taking part in a u-10 and u-12 competition on the Sunday.
Things began, as always, with the under eights competition on Saturday morning. FA rules now insist that smaller children cannot take part in knock-out competition. So the 20 teams involved, some of whom had come from as far away as Cheltenham, played a round robin tournament, in four groups of five. Some of the football on display belied the youth of the children and was full of skill and endeavour. And though the FA insist that there can be no winners at this level, at this tournament there definitely were winners, 20 of them.
The under-10s followed, in four groups of four teams, with the winners of each group progressing to a semi-final then a final. In a localised tussle, Cumnor A won it in the end, beating Cumnor B on penalties.
In between showers, which were getting heavier by the minute, spectators enjoyed some excellent refreshments including a spectacular barbecue, much of the produce for which was supplied by Marks and Spencer.
The afternoon belonged to the under-12s. Again, 20 teams competed in a high-spirited contest, won by Kidlington A who beat Garden City, on penalties, in the final.
After a damp and soggy night, Sunday dawned much brighter. The under-9s competition, however, was delayed while we awaited the arrival of the teams from the Greenhouse Bethwin club. They could be forgiven their tardiness, however, as they had come all the way from Peckham in South London. While waiting for the competition to start, players, spectators and visitors alike were taking the opportunity to view the Barclays Premiership trophy which, thanks to the generosity of Barclays, was on display all day, raising money for the Oxford Childrens’ Hospital. More than £1000 was collected for what is a wonderful cause.
When the under 9s eventually kicked off, Banbury United Youth beat Summertown in the final. And a home victory was not forthcoming in the u-11s either, where two Summertown teams were beaten in the semi finals. In a really hard-fought, skilful final, Northway beat St Edmunds yet again on penalties.
The afternoon was given over to the girls. It was the largest girls tournament (in their respective age groups) in Oxfordshire this summer, with eight under-10 teams playing each other in a round robin and 11 under-12 teams competing in a league then knock-out format. In the younger age group St Edmunds came out on top with Summertown second, while in the u-12s Carterton beat Bloxham on penalties in the final.
It was a great weekend of football, played in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere more akin to a village fete. Thanks are due to George Levvy and the organising committee for producing a tournament that was as efficient as it was fun. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Barclays brings joy to CHOX
Barclays Plc generously brought the Barclays Premiership trophy to Summertown Stars AFC annual 5 a-side football tournament on 17th June. The Stars raised £701.30 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital (CHOX) from viewing and photography donations. A further £294 was raised by CHOX representatives selling raffle tickets. Mya Harris, who suffers from spina bifida, came along to the event with her family to represent the children at the hospital, and judging by the smile on her face, she thoroughly enjoyed the day!
Mya Harris (3rd from the left), with her family