End of Term Report

AS 2020 draws near, colerainefc.com caught up with the Academy for an end of term report…

Coleraine Academy currently provides football for children aged four and upwards. With a current registration of 367 kids, the Academy are currently fielding a number of teams at each age group from 2012 upwards.

The success of the Academy is testament to the 50 volunteers who give up numerous hours midweek, and on a Saturday to ensure the children get their weekly football at no charge to the Club.

At each level our coaches all are child protection trained and many have gained coaching accreditation with the IFA to ensure that all our competitive teams have at least a B qualified coach in charge.

Soccer School

Our soccer school has approximately 80-100 kids from age four to age eight. These kids play every Saturday indoors at SCORE and are given the opportunity to play in a relaxed atmosphere with the main aim being enjoyment and friendship.

We are extremely grateful to the volunteers who have formed a great team who offer the kids great encouragement and more importantly are accommodating to kids at all levels of ability.

2011 & 2012

These kids have just started paying competitively at the Harry Gregg Foundation Youth Leagues. The kids are playing five-a-side games and are showing tremendous progress under the guidance of very knowledgeable coaches including a former Coleraine player.

We currently field the maximum permitted three teams at these levels. The 2011 year group are also now beginning to make the transition to seven-a-side games which is larger pitches and goals.

2010

Once again our 2010 year group field the maximum three teams at Harry Gregg Foundation Youth League.

They currently play seven-a-side and are beginning to get experience of playing in a number of competitive tournaments. They recently had success in the Christmas Glentoran Tournament where they beat other NIFL opposition to bring home silverware.

This year group will begin the transition to nine-a-side after Christmas in preparation for next season.

2009

2009’s have started the season well after a strong Foyle Cup performance. The kids have adapted well to nine-a-side and have a very settled team with the majority of kids having been with the Club since the age of four.

We currently field the maximum two teams at this level. The kids are looking forward to the New Year as they begin preparations for the first taste of National League next year. Special thanks to these kids who act as ball boys for the senior team every Saturday despite often enduring inclement weather.

2008

The 2008 year group have had an impressive first term in National League following on from their defeat in the final of the NIBFA Boys Cup in May.

With a new coach taking the reigns at the start of the season the kids have made great progress adapting to a more challenging training programme and expansive style of play. The kids currently remain unbeaten in the league and their only defeat was in the 3^rd round of the NIBFA Cup where they slipped up.

This year group also has a team playing at small sided games and their performances of late have also been very impressive – remaining unbeaten for their last seven games. Once again all these kids have been with the Club since the age of four and show tremendous maturity and enthusiasm for kids so young.

2007

The 2007’s  have made a very successful transition to 11-a-side. A number of quality additions have been added to complement a strong core who have been with the Club from the outset.

The team have successfully gained promotion to the National League A Section and played their first game last weekend against Glentoran recording a victory. This year group have also remained unbeaten apart from an uncharacteristic slip up on the first day of the season. The kids are also successfully through to the last 16 of the NIBFA Cup.

2006

The 2006 have undergone a number of changes following their appearance in the Super Cup in July. New coaching personnel have been added to complement the existing team. The squad has also been bolstered with the addition of a number of players.

Despite the inevitable upheaval the kids are beginning to settle and have the opportunity to go into second place if they win their game in hand. The kids are also progressing well in the NIBFA Cup having won their first couple of ties. The kids approach the New Year with great enthusiasm and remain confident of securing second place and promotion back into the A League.

2005

This team have been very impressive in their respective league. They currently have remained unbeaten since the start of the season and are also into the later rounds of the Cup. The players deserve tremendous credit with the team comprising of an amalgamation of Coleraine 2005 and Bertie Peacock Youths 2005.

The coaches have been delighted with the enthusiasm of both sets of players, who have shown great determination and commitment to make this team the success they currently are. The team are on course to gain promotion back to Section A and in preparation have been playing regular development games against opposition from Dublin and Donegal.

The Academy is a tremendous success story and despite many changes and upheavals over the last few years the teams are beginning to settle and perform well. Their performances to date are very encouraging for the future of Coleraine FC. It is also great to see many of these kids and their families in club colours watching the senior team on a Saturday afternoon.