Peter Talbot: Club Person Of The Year

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The Wiltshire Times is running a vote to find the 'Club Person Of The Year'. The DHUFC committee has nominated Peter Talbot, our groundsman, for this award and would like to give you some understanding why we have done so:-

"For more than 25 years Peter Talbot has worked tirelessly as groundsman at Bowood Sports Ground. Now the home of Derry Hill United, Peter initially came to the ground as a cricketer and went on to become it's groundsman.

In the late 90's use of the ground decreased but Peter continued to maintain it, retaining a valuable resource for the future. When DHUFC formed in 2001, it was thanks to Peter's care that the Club could identify a home.

Now retired, Peter is busier than ever, spending a day each week maintaining the ground for a thriving football club of 140 children. His work is essential and everyone who uses the ground should realize it's thanks to Peter, DHUFC's unsung hero, they have a pitch to play on.

As an unpaid volunteer Peter's contribution to the provision and development of children's sport deserves recognition."

Peter is fully deserving of this award, having given so much of his time and energy to the maintenance of the ground. The committee commends his nomination to you and encourages that you vote for him by clicking here.

Alternatively you can vote through your Mobile on 0901 221 0278, or Text on 80408 - code PTALBOT.

The committee would like to thank Peter for all his hard work and commitment to keeping the ground in such great condition and marked out each season.

Chair's Report (Season 2004-05)

Click on the here to download a copy of this season's Chair's Report. See what we've been up to and where we heading next season.

Sportsmanship Awards

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that two of our Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League (MWYML) teams, The Derry Hill Blaze and Heat, have come runners-up in the 2004-05 Sportsmanship Awards in their age groups. Their reward for this superb effort is to represent Derry Hill at the MWYML Sportsmanship Games at Boscombe Down on Sunday 22 May, where their achievement will be recognized with the award of medals for the players.

The sportsmanship awards are determined by peer ratings given by the opposition after each league match. Each team is asked to assess the opposition on their sportsmanship. The assessor (usually the coach or manager) is asked to award 50% of the marks on the behaviour of the players, the other 50% is on the behaviour of the coaches and opposition supporters. Remember, someone is always watching you!

The committee would like to congratulate Alan Strevens and Richard Tyler of the Heat, and Mark Paxford, Diccon Jordan, Kevin Dempsey and Dan Scott of the Blaze for their leadership and guidance to their players and parents. Also, a big thank you to both the supporters who have followed these teams and especially the players who have represented the Club so admirably.

My congratulations to you all, this is a great testimony to your leadership, upholding and exhibiting DHUFC's principles of Participation, Football Development and Keeping the Game in Perspective. Thank you and well done.

DHUFC Festival

I do hope everyone who attended the event over the weekend, both players and parents, really enjoyed themselves. Over the course of the two days it is estimated we parked over 300 cars and accommodated 1,000 people at the ground.

The festival was considered a great success, attracting 23 squads from around the county with DHUFC fielding 11 teams, offering most of our players the opportunity to participate in this fun event. Over the weekend we presented medals to 280 players in 34 teams, I do hope your child was one of them.

The Club has already received much praise and good feedback for the format of the event, with coaches, parents and referees commenting on the favourable playing conditions which the 'Friendly Festival' engenders. I personally believe this event offers players and coaches the opportunity to experiment and learn without the fear of losing. It was pleasing to have this sentiment echoed by Barry Stephens, Football Development Officer for Wiltshire County FA, in his address at the medal ceremony on Sunday morning.

Many, many thanks go to all the parents who gave their time to help out over the weekend. Without your assistance we would not be able to run this event. I do hope you considered your involvement, wether it be as a car-parker, BBQ-er, cake-baker or marquee erector worthwhile. From my part I want you to know your efforts are much appreciated and essential to the running of the event.

I must name a few people who gave up lots of time in preparation for the event and deserve special recognition - Pete Talbot for getting the pitches mown during some appalling weather conditions, likewise for Diccon Jordan and Pete Weston who spent days measuring and marking out the pitches, to Martin and Sarah Brock for spending a long day in Macro getting the stock needed to feed everybody, and finally Wendy Crocker for her support with organization of the overall event.

Finally, a reminder that the completion of our Festival heralds the start of 'tournament season'. This is a very busy period for team secretaries and coaches alike. Ensure you look out for communication from your team secretaries regarding weekend activity. Make their job easier by responding to availability and selection mails promptly, and please, please make sure you seek them out to pay your tournament fees. For tournaments this year the Club has paid out £950 in entry fees. We MUST recover these fees as such costs make a significant impact on how much money we have available to facility football each year. DHUFC does NOT make money from tournament fees, we simply seek to recover our costs from those who have been selected to take part. Please support your Team Secretary in the collection of these fees. Thank you.

I hope you all have an enjoyable run-in to the end of the season.

Regards,
Alan

** Tournaments Made Simple - A Parents Guide


** Club Events (May - June 2005)

• May 7: Year 1 Taster Session 1, BSG
• May 11: DHUFC AGM, Lansdowne Hall
• June 11: DHUFC Sign-On Day, BSG
• June 11: Last Club Training Session (Season 2004-05)
• June 18: Year 1 Taster Session 2, BSG
• June 18: End of Season Presentation, BSG

** Full Club Calendar (Members Only)