Trophies presented (From Barry And District News)

Trophies presented

THE players' lounge at Jenner Park football ground was the venue for a presentation evening to mark the end of the inaugural year of a football development partnership between Barry Comprehensive School and Barry Town Football Club.

The focus has been on the coaching of the school's under-14 squad.

Weekly two-hour skills development sessions have run at the school hall, where two members of the football club's youth development programme have worked in partnership with the squad's football coaches (M Hutton and M Ingle).

The attitude and commitment of the pupils and high-quality coaching, delivered at a ratio of approximately one coach to every five players, has seen squad members make excellent progress this year.

And both the school and the club are hoping that other year groups can be brought into the partnership next year.

Awards were made to all the players during the evening and the club provided a buffet for pupils and parents.

The captain of the first XI, Peter Fordham, was presented with trophies in recognition of the team's success on the field this year, which has seen them win the Cardiff, Vale and District Schools Cup competition and the Regional (West) league title - they are waiting for confirmation of the date of a play-off with the Eastern champions.

The Football Club also donated a 50 sports voucher to the player nominated as Players' Player of the Season.

This award, in a very close-run vote, went to Ashley Reffell.

Jason Hicks, assistant headteacher at the school, presented framed squad photographs to the coaches and chairman of the Club, Stuart Lovering.

He thanked all the school and football club coaches for their hard work and commitment in making the partnership such a success for the pupils this year.

As part of their Key Stage 4 studies at the school next year, many of the present squad are going on to combine their training with new BTEC Sports courses, which will give them access to fitness and dietary programmes and afford them the opportunity to take Sports Leaders qualifications themselves.