Firefighter July 2010 - Fbu.me.uk

DAY OFF ME AND MY FOOTBALL COACHING‘We winas ateam,we loseas ateam’FBU region 9secretary AdrianClarke coaches hisdaughter Georgia’sfootball teamThe beautiful game is dominating many livingrooms this summer. But it’s not only theWorld Cup that’s been preoccupying AdrianClarke, FBU regional secretary for East Anglia.Adrian, a long-time supporter of the Posh(Peterborough United), coaches the football team hisdaughter Georgia plays for. So, as well as watching worldclass matches from South Africa on TV, father anddaughter are already thinking about what the next seasonwill bring for Netherton United Diamonds under-14s.Georgia, a karate black belt at eight, is a sports allrounder.And, fortunately for Adrian, she’s decided tofocus on football since packing in karate. This has helpedhim reconnect with the sport beyond holding a seasonticket for the Posh. “I used to play Sunday league footballabout 30 years ago and got involved again throughGeorgia,” he explained. “When Georgia said she wantedto start playing I was more than happy to get roped in.”Before long, Adrian was coaching the team everyweek and he had bought Georgia her own season ticketfor the Posh. She had a stint playing in goal in the earlyyears but now plays on the right as a midfield attacker.Last year, Adrian, a frontline firefighter for 24 yearsbefore taking up his current job two years ago, qualifiedas an FA accredited coach and is getting ready for hisfifth season as team coach.Adrian, Georgia and her teammates are also gettingused to a change in their team’s name and status. UntilJune this year their club was known as PeterboroughDiamonds – the largest girls’ and women’s football club inthe area. It has now joined forces with Netherton United,the biggest boy’s and men’s club in the area. In the comingseason the team will be turning out for Netherton UnitedDiamonds under-14s, coached, as before, by Adrian.Football for allAdrian and assistant team coach Steve Johnson, whosedaughter also plays in the team, are sharing in the team’ssuccess. When the World Cup was well under way inmid-June, the side won the Wisbech St Mary tournament,which should augur well for next season.It’s not just about scoring goals, of course – the club iscommitted to outreach, inclusion and “football for all”.But the team has an impressive record. As under-12’s,playing seven-a-side mini soccer, they won both theCambridgeshire League and the Cambridgeshire Cup fortheir age group.Last season, as under-13s, the team came third intheir league, playing on a threequarter-sized pitch andgrappling with the offside rule for the first time. Theyheld their nerve when their goalkeeper was injured out20 FireFighter July 2010