BBQ And End Of Season Presentation

End of Season Presentation and Family Hog Roast

Saturday 16th June 6pm to 9.30pm at Bowood Sports Ground

This year we have arranged for a professionally catered Hog Roast provided by Walter Rose & Sons. There will also be a delicious vegetarian option.

ADMISSION IS STRICTLY BY TICKET ONLY - PURCHASED IN ADVANCE AT A PRICE OF £4.50 PER PERSON

Tickets will be on sale only on Saturday 19th May and Saturday 26th May between 10am and 12 noon at BSG – so please ensure you can either make these dates or arrange for someone to pick up your tickets. No tickets will be available after these dates. Due to the size of the club we can only open the invitation to all members of the DHUFC squads and their immediate families, and we need to check all players’ names off against the squad lists. Please pay by cash or by cheque payable to DHUFC.

We have planned for a catered event this year but will still need (and be very grateful for) help on the day, setting up for the event in the afternoon and on the evening, as we are expecting around 450 people. Please do volunteer if you can offer some time, especially those who do not already help the club in some way. We will have a list of jobs and timings at the ticket sale mornings so please sign up or offer help via your club secretary so we can collate a list of helpers to ensure we can provide a fun evening and celebrate the season’s achievements for the whole club!

Tips for the event
The hog roast will be with trimmings (roll, apple sauce, sweet chilli sauce and wholegrain mustard). No drinks will be provided so please bring drinks, salads, snacks and anything else you fancy!

Arrive from 5.30pm as the food will be served in three sittings from 6pm to 6.45pm. Serving times will be allocated on a team basis taking the youngest teams first, but with flexibility for families with children in other teams. Times and designated vegetarian option will be marked on the tickets.

Please walk to BSG wherever possible to try and limit the demands on car parking and bring your own chairs, rugs, blankets, umbrellas etc.

Keep your tickets safe as they will need to be presented, on the night.

This is our last Club event of the season and a big celebration of each players' participation at Derry Hill for 2011-12. It's an informal event and lots of fun. The event will go ahead regardless of weather so dress accordingly!

Girls Recruitment

Girls Recruitment
On Saturday BBC Wiltshire Radio came to Bowood Sports Ground to speak to myself, Brian Gorman and Derry Hill Phoenix. This was arranged to help the girls recruit some more players to enable them to play 9 a-side next season. You can see pictures along with the audio from the interview on the Club's facebook page.


If you know any Yr9 and Yr10 girls who are interested in playing football, please do ask them to make contact me at girls@dhufc.org




Ali Wicks and Kevin Leselles - FA Club Coaches
It gives me great pleasure to inform you we have two more parents who have devoted their time and energy to complete the FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football. This is an essential qualification for anyone who wants to coach children here at Derry Hill. I would like to thank Ali Wicks and Kevin Leselles of the Derry Heat (Under 7s) for the commitment and time they have given to attend the course and further their knowledge on how to coach football to young children.


Derry Hill Utd is run by volunteers. We are looking for more Mums and Dads to assist with our coaching teams. You don't need to be knowledgeable about football, we'll help you with that aspect of your activity. Full support is offered including free access to an FA foundation course in football coaching as well as guidance and mentor-ship throughout your coaching journey. This is a great way to support your child and gain a whole raft of skills and experience at the same time. 


Over the 12 years we have been at Derry Hill Utd we have launched the coaching careers of over 100 coaches, very few give up, most expressing how much they enjoy the activity and many coaching through to their children leave the Club at 17.




Flares: Winners of the Mid-Wilts Fair Play Award
It gives me great pleasure to announce the Flares are the winners in this season's U12 MWYML Fair Play Award.


This accolade is awarded to the team across all divisions from the Under 12 age group who have received the highest score in the sportsmanship marks. These marks are awarded post match by each team on their opposition, and are given based on player, official and parent behaviour.


A big well done and thank you from me to all our players and each of their parents and supporters. Your behaviour and sportsmanship has long been exemplary and fully deserves this recognition. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise and congratulate the philosophy and leadership of the squad coaches; Alan MacCleaster, Tony Fisk and Josh Weston. Thank you and well done.


Congratulations everyone enjoy your day at the Fair Play finals.




End Of Season Presentation
Keep an eye to your email, our news feed, or our facebook page for details of this year's End Of Season Presentation which takes place on the evening of Saturday 16th June. This is the premier Club event of our season and is an opportunity for you and your family to join us at the ground to celebrate the players success and involvement in football here at Derry Hill.


With Karen McCormack's retirement from post last season we have a new team of organisers led by Jo Cullen for this year's event. Tickets will be on sale for a limited period so be sure to watch for the announcement to secure yours and enjoy a friendly evening of food, fun and games at Bowood Sports Ground. And for those international football fans among us, no need to check your Euro 2012 diaries, we have chosen an evening that England are not playing.


See you all soon at Sign-On Day.

Football Opportunities for Children in School Year 1

Derry Hill Utd FC are recruiting children currently in School Year 1 to join next season's Under 7 squad.


Derry Hill Utd is proud to operate a participation and development before results philosophy ensuring all players get plenty of opportunity to experience both matches and training. If you want your child to experience a unique, friendly and inclusive environment then we would be delighted to see them at our upcoming Saturday morning taster sessions at Bowood Sports Ground, Studley (next to the Soho Inn on the A4 Chippenham to Calne road). 


Training takes place at 11.30am - 12.30pm please remember to equip your child with shin-pads, boots and water-bottle.


Derry Hill Utd are proud to be an FA Charter Standard Community Club providing safe sport development for children and youths.


Contact admin@dhufc.org or visit www.dhufc.org for more information about our Club.

Spring News

I hope you have had a rewarding and enjoyable season with us at Derry Hill.


We now head toward the close of the League activity and onto tournaments and festivals before closing out the season.


At the foot of this newsletter you will find a list of important dates. You can find these and more on-line via the Club Calendar.


AGM (Wednesday 16th May)
Can I ask that you prioritise our AGM in your calendar. The event is held at the Clubhouse and lasts 1 hour. Without your support we cannot conduct Club business. If you have any questions that you want to put to the committee at the AGM then, in-line with our constitution, ensure it is submitted to the Club Secretary within two weeks of the meeting.


Social Committee
The committee have expressed a wish to set up a social events group made up of a few parents who will lead in organising social events at the Club. The two main events on the Club calender are the Christmas Party and the End of Season Presentation but other events could be arranged if wanted. If you are good at organising and can give up a few hours to help then please let our Club Secretary, Wendy, know by the end of April.


Sign-On Day (Saturday 26th May)
This is another important date for your diary. In order that we maximise the time of our volunteers we ask you prioritise this morning in your diary. Each squad will have representitives at the ground to take your registration for next season. The registration activity involves you completing new membership papers and updating your contact information as well as paying for your child's membership. This activity will take you less than 15 minutes, provide us with early assurance of squad numbers, and confirm your child has a place at Derry Hill Utd next season. Please help us and ensure you attend your squad's sign-on. If you do not intend to sign-on for next season please do let us know so we can offer your child's place to others on wait lists.


New Season, New Team
We will shortly be recruiting new Under 7 players for next season. If you know of a child who is currently in school year 1 then please get the child's parent to contact me on Hotshots@dhufc.org for further details. If you work in a setting which supports 5 and 6 years olds then please contact me for some posters and bag flyers.


We are also in need of increasing the number of girls in our U14s squad as next season they move from 7 to 9 a-side. If you know of a girl in school year 9 or 10 or are involved with supporting girls of this age then please contact us on Girls@dhufc.org


Coaches and Team Secretaries Without the magnificent support of our dedicated team of Club Coaches and Team Secretaries we would not be able to run the Club and provide activity for your child. There are others within the Club who are not directly involved with individual teams but are essential for supporting our activity, each devotes an awful amount of time, energy and commitment to their role; Club Sectretary, Treasurer, Kit-Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator and Club Welfare Officer. All of these folks give up their time freely and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them and acknowledge their brilliant contribution to our Club.


The FA are currently running an award scheme to recognise those people who have made significant contributions to grassroots football. This is a great opportunity to show appreciation of those who work so hard to provide football for your child. The nomination is quick and easy, visit the FA Community Awards here. Do go on-line and make your nomination.


I hope you and your child have a fantastic last few weeks of the 2011-12 season with us.






Important Club Dates

• AGM: 16 May
• Sign-On And End Of Season: 26 May
• Presentation And BBQ: 16 June
• Last Session of Season 2011-12: 14 Jul
• First Session of Season 2012-13: 1 Sep

Developing The Game

Over the past term the committee have been considering how we can provide a more supportive, participative, developmental environment for our players. This issue has vexed both the FA and Leagues, you may have seen or heard some press articles and interviews on TV and Radio addressing the same concern.

At the end of last season the Mid Wilts Youth And Minor League also looked at the problem and the member clubs agreed to improve the balance and developmental nature of League matches through the introduction of a new rule. The rule, to ignore goal difference, was meant to limit the desire, need or motivation of a team to defeat opposition by a heavy score.

As a responsible Charter Standard Community Club, Derry Hill Utd is determined to lead this League initiative and has asked all of our coaches to adhere to a best practice that keeps all scores within 7 goals. When involved in a match where your child's team is leading by 7 goals I have asked the coaches to challenge the talents, strengths and weaknesses of their players by making changes to the way the team plays.

Our goal is not to let any team or player have an easy ride but to challenge them to experience a balanced game and above all respect the motivation and effort of their opposition.

This initiative is being implemented to ensure players are not demotivated by heavy defeats and remain in a sport which meets their emotional, social and technical aspirations.

If you have any questions about this policy please do get in touch with me.

Coach Qualifications - Congratulations and Thank You

We return to activity this weekend. Just two notes for you to kick Term 2 of season 2011-12

Qualified Coaches
Congratulations go to Russ Cole, John Snow, Chris Lower, Josh and Luke Weston who have successfully completed the FA Level 1 programme.

This nationally recognized qualification, comes with the title 'Club Coach'. To achieve this standard, Russ, John, Chris, Josh and Luke completed modules in Emergency Aid, Child Protection, Club Administration, Mini-Soccer Ethics (RESPECT) and Football Laws, as well as considerable practical instruction on how to organize and facilitate training sessions.

I would also like to congratulate Josh Weston and Mark Knevett for their attendance of The FA Youth Award Module 1 course. The four day course entitled "Developing the Environment" recognises the important role the coach can have upon levels of motivation and self-esteem and gives practical advice to help the coaching sessions become an “effective environment for learning”. This is an excellent course providing knowledge about the age appropriate approach to coaching and will enhance the skills, knowledge and experience of both coaches. Well done Josh and Mark, your commitment to gain knowledge to assist player development at Derry Hill is much appreciated.

Our thanks go to each of these coaches for putting in the time and effort to improve their understanding of coaching young players as well as the commitment they make week in week out to facilitate football for your children.

Derry Hill Utd is run by volunteers. We are looking for more Mums and Dads to assist with our coaching teams, especially the Fusion, our Under 11s girls squad. You don't need to be knowledgable about football, we'll help you that aspect of your activity.

Full support is offered including free access to an FA foundation course in football coaching as well as  guidance and mentorship throughout your coaching journey. This is a great way to support your child and gain a whole raft of skills and experience at the same time. Over the 12 years we have been at Derry Hill Utd we have launched the coaching careers of over 100 coaches, very few give up, most expressing how much they enjoy the activity and many coaching through to their children leave the Club at 17.

Coaching is a great way to widen and develop your own skills and is extremely rewarding. Contact coach@dhufc.org for more details.

Ice Hockey
Just two weeks remain before the deadline for booking Ice Hockey tickets.

This is a brilliant opportunity to see the Swindon Wildcats in an English Premier League match at a heavily discounted price. Tickets are £6 per adult, £3 for children (which is less than half the normal price). Members, families and friends all invited. It would be great to see you there.

The match takes place at the Link Centre, Swindon on Saturday 12th November where the Wildcats take on the Milton Keynes Lightning. Face-off is at 5.45pm.

You can reserve your tickets on-line here. Once ordered you are committed to pay for the tickets. The Wildcats will take your payment on the night of the event.

Ticket applications close 7th November.

Club Visit and Kit Orders

Swindon Wildcats
I have arranged to visit the Swindon Wildcats to watch a game of Ice-Hockey. A brilliant opportunity to see the fastest game on earth. An exciting battle of brute force and speed. And at a heavily discounted price. Tickets are £6 per adult, £3 for children (which is less than half the normal price). Members, families and friends all invited. It would be great to see you there.


This English Premier League match takes place at the Link Centre, Swindon on Saturday 12th November where the Wildcats take on the Milton Keynes Lightning. Face-off is at 5.45pm.


You can reserve your tickets on-line here. Once ordered you are committed to pay for the tickets. The Wildcats will take your payment on the night of the event.


Ticket applications close 7th November.




Club Kit Orders
We will be despatching the club's autumn kit order shortly.


Anyone wishing to order kit should ensure their completed order form, with payment, is sent to Catherine, our Kit Co-ordinator to arrive before Monday 17th October.


The next kit order will be after Christmas.




Derry Hill Dug-Out
Support your Club, use the Dug-Out to purchase your training and match day refreshments. A warming hot drink to counter the effects on a cold winter's day. And that big favourite; a bacon roll served warm. Other refreshments are available too. Open most Saturday mornings. All profits go toward Club funds.


We are looking for more parents to help out with the Dug-Out to ensure we are able to open it each week. Please consider helping out by contacting dugout@dhufc.org.