News Reports
FEBRUARY 2ND 2007
First Class Football meet England stars
Last night FCF helped Umbro to launch their new X iii A boot which has been created in association with Michelin. The boot is set to revolutionise a player's first touch as the surface covering the inside of the foot is coated in a brand new substance which dramatically improves a player's first touch especially in the wet. Tests done at Liverpool John Moores university indicated that the boot performed up to 90% better than a normal boot in slightly wet conditions.
First Class Football were brought in by Umbro to design and run a number of interactive drills for journalists at the official press launch of the boot. Andy and Ben of FCF were helped out on the day by England superstar Michael Owen and Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankee of the England ladies team. The event was a great success and it is good to hear that Michael is well on his way back.
OCTOBER 15TH 2006
FCF appear live on Sky News
Head Coach Andy McAllen recently appeared live on Sky News in connection with a feature on professional academies and youth development.
The interview was well received and you can watch it in full below. Yet another example of the good reputation and name that we are continuing to build.
JUNE 3RD 2006
May/June holiday a first class record breaker
The recent school holiday was a fantastic week for footballers across West Kent and East Sussex. First Class Football introduced our new 'Brazilian Street Skills' in association with the Futsal Premier League and over 250 children across 5 venues learnt how to play like the Brazilians and were all able to pull off the flicks and tricks of players such as Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
The week was a record breaker for FCF and we hope to see lots of the players back again in the summer to show us how good you are and to learn lots of new skills and moves.
MAY 22ND 2006
FCF off to win the cup in Germany!
First Class Football are travelling out to Germany this summer with the England team to bring back the cup. It won't be the World Cup unfortunately but it will be the 2006 Bud Cup, which is awarded to the winners of the international tournament organised by Budweiser during the World Cup celebrations.
The tournament includes teams from all over the world including Argentina, Portugal and the USA and First Class Football have been asked to find the 8 best amateur players in the country to go out and retain the cup which England won back in 2002. First Class Football toured the country hosting trials in order to find 8 players that stood out from the other 2000 trialists and eventually selected the final squad in London on May 21st.
Jamie Redknapp attended the event and helped with the final selection of the team and commented positively on the quality of the players. The team including manager Ben Tadmor of FCF will be taken out to Germany by Budweiser and will get the chance to watch a couple of matches before taking part in the tournament. We wish the squad all the best and hope they can bring back the trophy!!
APRIL 12TH 2006
Little Dribblers all set to go!!
The exciting launch of our brand new 'Little Dribblers' programme is less than a week away. The concept is to provide pre-school children with an introduction to the beautiful game of football through fun games and activities.
The sessions will enhance physical development, improving body awareness, agility, mobility and motor skills whilst also improving personal skills such as confidence and social skills. All this will be provided in a fun and secure environment which will provide children with a positive first introduction to sport and fitness. All sessions will be presented by Head Coaches Andy McAllen or Ben Tadmor and will last 45 minutes.
Session content will be football based and will include games based on TV and films, music and number/colour association which will all combine to develop the basic skills of ball control, ball manipulation, passing and receiving, shooting, throwing and catching. There will be 2 coaches at each session with a maximum of 12 children in each class. All coaches are FA qualified, police approved to work with children, trained in first aid and child protection and fully insured. A block of sessions will last 5/6 weeks and will cater for 3-4 year olds, venues include Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Aylesford, Crowborough and Sevenoaks but more venues will be coming soon.
JANUARY 23RD 2006
Gillingham matches a success
The two Development Centre squads that travelled to Gillingham FC to play their 'Centre of Excellence' teams on the 21st Jan gave a very good account of themselves in cold, wintry conditions. Both teams played some fantastic football and it was great to see coaching topics that we have worked on being put into practice.
The Gillingham FC coaches were very impressed with the standard of all players in both squads, so much so that two of the under 10 team were invited to attend a trial period of training sessions with the club. A number of boys in the younger team also stood out and we have been invited back again at a future date for coaches to have another look at them. Well done to all boys involved.
NOVEMBER 27TH 2005
Development centre boys do themselves proud
A great morning was had at Gillingham FC on Saturday, where the under 8 'Development Centre' boys that we took along participated in a coaching session and then played matches integrated with Gillingham's 'Development Centre' players.
All the boys performed extremely well depsite the very cold weather and a few showed some flashes of brilliance that certainly caught the eyes of the Gillingham coaches. Those players that did stand out will be invited back again in the near future. We will also be trying to arrange matches for all other Development Centre players.
OCTOBER 2005
Maidstone development centre to be launched
The young footballers of Maidstone and surrounding areas will be given the chance to develop their skills and understanding of the beautiful game with the launch of First Class Football's second 'Development Centre'.
The centre will provide players of high ability from 6-12 years of age with the technical, tactical and pyschological skills needed to play football at the highest possible level. The centre opens on November 14th and will be consist of 3 age groups that will receive weekly professional coaching and also play matches against existing professional and semi-professional clubs. The centre follows the succes of the Tunbridge Wells venue which has seen players scouted by Millwall, Fulham and Chelsea.
MAY 28TH 2005
Development centre teams perform well in local friendly
Two of our Development Centre teams played their first matches on Fri 27th May at Ridgewaye Sportsground. The 8-9 year group and the 10-12 year group both played teams coached by coaching provider Msporti and came away unbeaten having played some very good football. The younger team played two mini-soccer matches winning the first one 3-1 and drawing the second one 2-2. The older group played 11-a-side and ran out 6-0 victors.
The games provided teams with valuable experience of playing together and allowed the coaches to assess how players are developing. Particular attention was paid to the players technical ability under pressure and the sporting manner in which the game was played. More games are currently being organised so watch out for future reports!
Click here for details of our Development Centres
JANUARY 16TH 2005
Adult Futsal league launch!!
The eagerly anticpated launch of the West Kent Futsal League will take place on January 26th 2005. The league is a culmination of hard work by First Class Football and the Futsal Premier League (FPL).
The league will provide talented local players the opportunity to play the world renowned game of Futsal in an indoor league that is professionally administered and officiated. Teams will have the chance to progress through to the nationwide 'Premier League' if successful in the Kent League. The league will take place at Bennett Memorial School on Wednesday nights from 7.30pm and anyone interested in applying for future league competitions can call Andy on 07929 861394.
OCTOBER 4TH 2004
Sponsorship deal with local firm announced
First Class Football, who are based in Tunbridge Wells have joined forces with local firm 'Habitus Surveyors' in order to provide young boys and girls in the surrounding areas with fun, professional and secure football coaching. Habitus Surveyors will be providing training wear for FCF's ever-expanding team of qualified, experienced and young-at-heart staff!
