Christmas Break

The Club will be closed for Christmas from Monday 21st December until Friday 8th January. I hope your child has found much enjoyment and pleasure from the term's activity, despite the poor weather conditions.

Bowood Sports Ground will be closed to all members until activity recommences on Saturday 9th January 2009. You can find all this information and more by visiting the Club's on-line Calendar.

Please remember that BSG is a private facility and members should only use the ground for official Club activities.
Make the most of your three weeks break from football and come back refreshed and raring to go for a long and exciting run-in to the end of the 2009-10 season.

I would also like to thank each of our hard-working and dedicated volunteers who support your children each week. From coaches to team secretaries, refreshment helpers to committee members, each volunteer devotes much free time and energy to ensuring your child gets the opportunity to participate in football here at Derry Hill United. Thank you all for your time, energy and dedication.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a most successful 2010.
Wendy and Alan


[ Pitch Hotline 0845 5272886 or via twitter ]

Wrap Up Warm for Winter

Wrap Up Warm
With the forecast of cold weather this weekend it provides a timely opportunity to remind all parents that it is your responsibiliy to send your child to football in appropriate clothing.

Coaches have been asked to contact parents to collect children who they feel are inappropriately dressed.


Refreshments
Keep warm while at the ground this weekend with a refreshing hot drink from the Dug-Out. Drinks and snacks available throughout the morning.


Christmas Party
This annual event for our Primary School children takes place on the afternoon of Saturday 19th December at the Lansdowne Hall, Derry Hill. Admission is by ticket only, £4 per player, your final chance to purchase these will be this Saturday, the 12th December, at Bowood Sports Ground between 10.15 and 11.30am.

There will be no other opportunities to buy tickets. Tickets cannot be reserved by email, or on-line, so please make sure you get to BSG at the advertised time to buy yours. If you cannot attend to buy your ticket in person then ask a friend to do so on your behalf.


Club Visits
Our next visit to the Swindon Wildcats is scheduled for Saturday 30th January. I will be putting out a request for tickets soon. Make a date in your diary.

I have also arranged for Derry Hill United to be Swindon Town FC's "Saturday Team Club". The trip will include a tour of the ground, training on St Joe's astro-pitch, lunch and a match ticket to the local derby versus Bristol Rovers. This all happens on Saturday 6th March.

Look out for a mail on how to purchase your tickets early in the New Year.


Keep Up To Date With Club Activity
Why not make these two websites essential visits each time you use the net?

DHUFC Calendar
DHUFC News

And don't forget to get the latest pitch status by ringing our hotline on 0845 5272886 or via twitter.

Qualified Coaches
Congratulations go to Tony Fisk, Brian Gorman and Tom Nott who have successfully completed the FA Level 1 programme. All three are long serving coaches with the Club and have undertaken this training to consolidate their experience and ensure they are using current best practice.

This nationally recognized qualification, comes with the title 'Club Coach'. To achieve this standard, Tony, Brian and Tom 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.

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.

If you fancy the opportunity of helping our players develop their football skills then join our coaching team. We currently have space for more coaches in the Fusion, Thunder and Lightning squads. Derry Hill United offers free access to Level 1 courses, subsidized access to those who want to take their coach education beyond level 1, as well as mentorship and support. Coaching is a great way to widen and develop your own skills and is extremely rewarding. Contact coach@dhufc.org for more details.


Refreshments at the Derry Hill Dug-out
I would like to say a big thank you to Colette Som for her magnificent effort at creating the processes and infrastructure to provide refreshments from the Dug-Out. Due to Colete's efforts we are now able to proudly boast a 4 star, "Very Good" rating under Wiltshire Council's "Scores on the Doors" scheme.

Over the past few weeks Colette and her team of dedicated helpers have been trialling the facilities in preparation for fully opening. From this weekend the Dug-Out will be open on Saturday mornings for teas, coffees and soups, healthy snacks and the much requested "bacon rolls". Make sure you order yours this Saturday morning. Come along support our great team of refreshment volunteers and buy some refreshments. All funds go directly to your Club.

If you want access to the Dug-Out to provide refreshments for your squad and their Sunday opposition then get in touch and we'll arrange a short induction, to enable you to do so.


DHUFC Christmas Party Tickets
For parents of members younger than 12
Remember to purchase your tickets for the Club Christmas Party scheduled for the afternoon Saturday 19th December. Tickets only available at BSG on Saturday 5th and 12th December, price £4.


Derry Hill - A Venue For Your Child's Party
The Clubhouse recently hosted the first Football Birthday Party at the ground. All those present had a really exciting and enjoyable afternoon. Along with access to the playing field and the optional inflatable football pitch the Clubhouse makes an excellent venue for your child's birthday party. For further details of cost and how to book contact Birthdays@dhufc.org.


Club Closed
20th December - 8th January 2010
The Club will be closed from Monday 20th December until Friday 8th January 2010. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all members that all of our venues are private facilities not open to the general public and should not be used without the attendance and supervision of a Club coach. Please respect this position and keep away from Bowood Sports Ground, Springfields School and John Bentley School whilst the Club remains closed.

We return to training and match activities on Saturday 9th January 2010.

Have a great Christmas break and a rest away from football. We look forward to seeing you refreshed and ready to play when we return in 2010.


Club Programme
Subject to confirmation

• January: Club visit to to Wildcats Ice Hockey
• February: U10s Girls football festival
• March: Saturday Team Club - Swindon Town FC versus Bristol Rovers
• April: Squad Photos
• May: Club Sign-On
• June: End of Season BBQ

Remember to keep up to date with Club activity by visiting the Club Notice Board, Calendar and Twitter service regularly:

• Club News
• Club Calendar
• DHUFC Twitter (incl. Pitch status)

All these facilities are available from the front page of our website - so you only have to remember and bookmark www.dhufc.org