Meet times. We meet 30 minutes before kick-off unless the fixture says otherwise. Home games are at Lakeford Rec, Pitch 2; away venues are listed against each fixture with a directions link.
Kit. Training top, match shirt, shorts, socks, shin pads (non-negotiable), and boots suitable for the surface. Bring a water bottle and a warm layer for the substitutes' bench.
Wet weather. Postponements are usually called the evening before or early on the morning. Check the home page notice and the team WhatsApp before setting off.
Coach liaison. Each match day one coach steps back from the coaching and acts as the point of contact for players and parents. They observe the game, look after the substitutes, document incidents and anything of note, and record match day information - minutes played, assists, and the details that get lost in the heat of a Sunday morning.
Parent liaison. A pre-appointed parent keeps an eye on spectator behaviour - our side and the opposition's - and reports back to the coach liaison. Not to police anyone, but so nothing gets missed and nothing festers.
We run a structured pre-match routine: warm-up, rondo, and a shooting drill. Same shape every week, so the players know what comes next and arrive at kick-off switched on.
Players shake hands with the opposition before and after the match, and line up on the halfway line. The captain gives a team talk away from the coaches - their team, their words.
Responsibilities are shared around. Corners, free kicks, and penalties rotate - it's not the same players taking them every week. Everyone gets the chance to step up, and everyone learns what the pressure feels like.
We follow the FA Respect code. Players give their best, listen to the referee, and shake hands at the end. Supporters encourage every player on the pitch - both teams - and leave the coaching to the coaches and the refereeing to the referee.
They're 11. The result matters less than wanting to come back next week.