Various ETC sessions were unfortunately disrupted and cancelled as the appropriately named ‘Beast from the East’ weather front wreaked havoc across the UK. We would like to thank all our customers for their patience and understanding during a very unsettled spell of training. All those affected by cancellation will receive notification direct of the alternative sessions to be offer in lieu.
The ETC held a games night session at Cowplain on Tuesday 27th March. 65 children were in attendance and spent the evening playing 11 different small sided games. It was fantastic to see so many players come across from Southampton to play against their Portsmouth counterparts.
Since recommencing training in August 2017, our centres have been governed by a new coaching syllabus, introduced by the senior staff, following a lengthly review. The progressive syllabus ensures continuity and development between sessions, as well as groups, and has been incredibly well received by both players and parents.
Tonight’s session saw the introduction of goalkeepers to ETC training. Having held a close working relationship with the guys from The Football Garage for a number of years, the addition of goalkeepers was inevitable and further enhances the realism of game play during sessions. We look forward to seeing this area develop over the coming months.
With additional coaches now on board, the ETC has started to introduce targeted interventions at our High Performance centres. These interventions allow players to focus on aspects of the game identified as personal areas of address.
The ETC is delighted to welcome a new member to our coaching team. Southampton FC Academy coach, Ricky Fernandez, joins us at our Wednesday centre and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge to pass on to our young players. Welcome to the team Ricky!
Over the past few months, the ETC has begun work to develop the next generation of coaches. It is great to be working with such passionate students of the game and to have them present to observe and work alongside the coaching team.
Our HP Under 7’s visited Staplewood last weekend. This unique experience came off the past of numerous past visits and provided a fantastic opportunity for our players to experience Academy football at one of the best grounds in the Country. Some top football was on show with plenty of goals. Well done to all involved!
Huge congratulations to Under 11 player David on signing registration forms at Southampton FC Academy. All at ETC are delighted to have played a small part alongside his grassroots team in supporting his development into a professional clubs academy. David joins four other former ETC players in this Southampton side. This is a fantastic achievement and testament to David’s effort and commitment in training and games. Everyone at ETC wishes him the best of luck for his future with the Saints!
ETC graduate and Reading FC player Jack Nolan nets the winner against Germany U17. Goals from substitutes Bobby Duncan and Jack Nolan either side of Fabrice Hartmann’s leveller saw the Young Lions prevail in the friendly tournament match in Rotherham.
An end-to-end first half somehow finished goalless before both defences were breached following the restart.
It was England that fashioned the first chance of the game and it perhaps should have yielded the first goal of the game. An electric burst from Curtis Jones down the left saw him slide a ball into the path of Rayhaan Tulloch in the box, who composed himself on the angle before having the ball plucked off his toe by Daniel Klein in the Germany goal. The chance didn’t end there though and as the loose ball fell to the edge of the area, Thomas Doyle followed up, only to see his low strike well blocked by a defender.
A Jones free kick just seconds later was tipped over the top corner at the last second by Klein before the Germany stopper was called into action again from the resultant set piece, this time making a solid save from James Garner’s powerful header.
Germany’s first sight of goal fell to an unlikely source in the form of left back Noah Katterbach, who found himself in an advanced position allowing him room for a shot following a spell of pressure. The German defender steadied himself on the edge of the area and curled a right-footed effort at the far post which had the ‘keeper beaten, but went wide of the target.
The pendulum swung once more just seconds later though with England forging another good chance after a break down the left flank. Mason Greenwood’s charge into the area was almost rewarded with a goal but a well-position Tulloch had an effort blocked in the six yard box following Klein’s parry from the initial effort.
Encouraged by his early sighting of goal, left back Katterbach fancied his chances again on the half hour mark and came even closer to the first goal of the game. It was a stark contrast to his deft curling effort which threatened the opener this time, as he unleashed a thunderbolt of an effort with his left foot from 25 yards out which whizzed inches over Arthur Okwonko’s crossbar.
Half-time | Germany U17 0 v 0 England U17
The 10 minutes following the restart didn’t produce the same level of chances as the first half had suggested it would but England almost took the lead in bizarre fashion on 53 minutes. The chance came from a corner which was taken by skipper Doyle and evaded everybody including the goalkeeper before flashing inches wide of the far post.
Chances remained infrequent but England showed their clinical side when one fell their way on 61 minutes. A patient approach from the Young Lions saw substitute Duncan collect the ball in the box amidst a sea of bodies, but a clever change of direction opened things up and allowed him to drill an effort into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.
Duncan would have doubled his tally for the evening just a couple of minutes later when he had the ball in the back of the net again. However, the forward’s run was deemed mistimed by the assistant referee, who was quick to raise his flag and chalk off his effort,
Germany had failed to conjure the same attacking flair that they had prior to the interval but like their English counterparts, ensured they took their chance when it came. There looked to be little danger when substitute Hartmann received the ball from the left, but after turning and forcing a good save from Okwonko in the England goal, he showed good alertness to respond and tap home the rebound and make it 1-1.
Parity didn’t last long at AESSEAL New York Stadium and the Young Lions restored their lead just four minutes after the leveller. Greenwood’s refusal to give up in the final third saw him pick the pocket of Bozdogan near the byline and play a lovely pass across the face of goal to Nolan, who applied the simplest of tap ins with the goal at his mercy.
Full-time | Germany U17 1 v 2 England U17