Ice Hockey Trip

Ice Hockey Trip
If you have never joined us on a ice hockey trip before why not do so now? It's a great opportunity to see the fastest game on earth. An exciting battle of brute force and speed.

Derry Hill United has arranged a visit to the Link Centre, Swindon on Saturday 17th October to watch the Swindon Wildcats play in an English Premier League match against the Romford Raiders. Face-off is at 5.45pm.

Tickets are £5 per adult, £2 for children (which is less than half the normal price). Members, families and friends all invited. It would be great to see you there.

Book your tickets on-line here. Bookings close 10th October.


Items Needed for the Clubhouse
I have had just two people respond to my request for items for the Clubhouse. I have a deadline of 2nd October to get these items so please take look at the list to see if you have any of the items which we are looking for. Your support is much welcome and appreciated.


DHUFC Pitch Hotline
Updated every Friday to reflect the status of the venues used by DHUFC - Ring 0845 5272 886


Keep Up To Date With Club Activity
Make these websites essential visits each time you use the net.

• DHUFC Squads


• DHUFC Calendar


• DHUFC Twitter


• DHUFC Blog

Clubhouse: Your Help Please (Respond by 2nd October)

I am delighted to inform you that the Clubhouse has been completed on time and within budget. We are currently targeting the first weekend of next term as an opening date but still have much work to do before we are able to confirm this.

As you are aware our funding activity, whilst highly successful, only went as far as providing the money for the construction and it is now down to the Club to furnish the building before we move in. Due to our increased operating costs we need to be as thrifty as possible and therefore before spending on items we need I wanted to see if you could help us.

To this end I have compiled a list of the items needed and posted it here on our website. If you have any items which match, or are similar to those shown, please get in touch by email or phone 01249 814362 before Friday 2nd October.

The items don't have to be identical to those shown or indeed new, just in good working order.

I thank you for your attention and support and look forward to inviting you to our grand opening shortly.

New Clubhouse, Your Help Please

Activity: Voluteers wanted to help move equipment
Location: Bowood Sports Ground
Date: Saturday 19th September
Meet: 1.30pm

I am delighted to inform you that the Clubhouse is due to be handed over to us, on schedule, this coming Friday. We have a few jobs to complete before opening the facility and it is the completion of one of these that I now ask for your help.

On Saturday 19th September we need a group of adults, to assist moving the Club equipment from the old sheds to the new Clubhouse. We will do this between 1.30pm - 5.30pm.

Please wear old clothes and strong shoes or boots.

Respond if you are able to help us on Saturday so that we can plan and make best use of the manpower available to us.

This is an exciting time for the Club and I for one am looking forward to providing our young members with the brand new Clubhouse.

Thank you for your support

Creating The Best Environment To Play and Learn

Car Parking At Bowood Sports Ground

Due to the number of groups using BSG and the reduced area available for car-parking it would greatly appreciated if you can avoid entering BSG car-park on Saturday mornings. Please consider using the Soho Inn for drop-off/pick-up. If you want to stay at the ground to watch the activity consider parking to the rear of Pine & Cane (available all day) or the Soho Inn (you must leave by midday).

This Saturday our League programme commences and many teams have matches booked at the ground. Last weekend saw the car-park at full capacity and this was without vehicles from visiting teams being present. Space will be at even more of a premium this coming weekend.

Following this request will help make visiting the ground a safer, more pleasant and hassle free experience.

Creating The Best Environment To Play and Learn

Please help us build and retain the best environment we can for our children to learn how to enjoy and develop their football experience. It is really important that all Club spectators; mums and dads, brothers and sisters, do not instruct our players. Research proves that children learn best when they are allowed to explore and make mistakes without fear of criticism or retribution. To do this they need a supportive and blame free environment in which to explore what works and what doesn't. Shouting instructions does not foster this environment.

Also, consider how your instructions to a child might conflict with;-

• how they view the situation
• what the coach has told them to do (perhaps he doesn't want them to "Get Rid Of It")
• what others might be shouting

Football is about many personal attributes, one of the major ones being decision making. The players on the field are always best placed, both in space and time, to make those decisions, and I encourage you to empower your child to make these without fear of failure. Take time-out after the game, in a calm, non-pressured environment to talk over the decisions made by your child and ask what they have learnt. The dialogue is well worth the effort and is far more likely to improve your child's game in the long run.

Think of the game as a classroom and consider your actions as if you were a visitor in a lesson. Watch and encourage but don't instruct. Please let our coaches coach and make it your job to encourage your child and their team. Don't let your child become a sad football statistic:

Why Children Drop Out Of Football

• Forced to take part
• It stopped being fun
• Pressure from coaches or parents
• Shouted at

If you want to learn more about how to make our environment one that supports your child to develop please review the FA's RESPECT Guide for parents and carers.

I hope that you and your child have an enjoyable, rewarding, and happy season with us. If you have any questions or concerns then please contact on 01249 814362 or email alan@dhufc.org

Key Web Pages

• DHUFC Squads
• DHUFC Calendar
• DHUFC Blog

Welcome to Season 2009-10

Welcome To The New Football Season
Derry Hill United FC re-opens this Saturday, the 5th September, with many squads commencing training this weekend. If your squad is not scheduled to train this week you should have been notified accordingly by your Team Secretary. However if you are unsure then please contact them to check.

Both the Women's & Girls League and the Mid Wilts Youth & Minor League fixtures start on the 12th September. For those of you who previously used the Wiltshire Times website to track fixtures and results note this facility is not going to be used this year. Currently the League has yet to decide how and where to publish this material so please ensure you keep a close watch on your email where you will be notified of matches and training. Please help your squad officials by replying promptly to their requests of player availability.


The Clubhouse
Many of you have asked how the Clubhouse is progressing and I am delighted to tell you that we are currently on plan and anticipate the building being handed over to the Club in mid-September. We have a few tasks to do to make it ours and then aim to open it to members in early October. In the meantime please keep an eye on your email for requests of help to finish our work to make the building ready. When asked, please consider helping out. While on the topic of help, we are currently looking for a working fridge for the Clubhouse kitchen. Are you due to replace yours soon, or have a spare one in the garage? If you do own one which we can have we could make good use of it.

As with last season, can I ask that you alleviate pressure on the BSG car-park by parking at one of the alternative options. For those dropping off or leaving by midday the Soho Inn is available to you (but you must not use it after 12pm). For those staying past midday then Pine & Cane have kindly made their rear car-park available for our use. Remember, whichever venue you use, park tidily to make the best of the space we have available, also never park on the A4 bus-stop as it restricts the view of those leaving the ground.


Squad Training and Match Times
Due to logistical and league requirements some squads will train or play at a different time this season. If you are unsure when your squad trains/plays then visit the "Our Squads" section of the DHUFC Website and select your team name to find out when your group trains. Please note that due to the increasing number of squads at the Club, fourteen this season, we are unable to accommodate each at BSG. As a result squads will take it in turns to 'train away' on a termly basis at one of our alternative venues; John Bentley and Springfields Schools. Once again watch the mail from your squad officials who will inform you of your squad's training venue.


Help Provide A Safe, Supportive And Friendly Place For Our Players
Give your child the time and opportunity to make their own decisions
- they need to learn the consequences of getting things right or wrong

Do not shout, correct or criticise your child from the sidelines. Give them the chance to relax and perform
- the players need to make mistakes to help them learn

Try not to keep offering advice going to or from games.
- let your child unwind and reflect, again this helps them learn

Remember, your child, our players, are not mini adults or professional players
- let them participate, build confidence, have fun and enjoy the activity on offer, whether it be training, a friendly or League football. It truly isn't about winning but about developing the skills to be a winner.

... and finally, please actively support all our referees and officials, don't bring conflict and aggression to the game - be a good role model for your child.

Finally, help us provide the very best environment for children to play football. Take a look at The FA RESPECT campaign for further details of how you can support your child and our goal.

I hope you have an enjoyable and rewarding season,




Help for Heroes
- Swindon Town Football Club will host three military days during the 2009/10 season to raise money for three charities.