Sunday, December 16, 2007

Primrose Hill 5-0 Recreativo Juniors
Friday 7th Dec


Despite a well drilled pre-match warm up and an eagerness to go on and get something from this game, the Juniors looked a little out of sorts tonight. We found it hard to get out of our own half. After we conceded our first goal, heads fell, shoulders sloped, hope diminished. We never really troubled the Primrose keeper, only managing two shots on goal the whole game. All our players tried their best and that’s all we can ask for.
A look through the other scores, the other divisions and age groups of this league shows that there are many other teams struggling to make a real impact. Let’s remind ourselves, we are still a new team, a team of mixed ability, but also a team of players who show the determination to get back out there and give it their all. We’re not going to throw in the towel just yet and the next game can not come around fast enough.

Team (all played) : Daniel Garcias-Fernandez, Louis Dillion, Zeki Bolat, Lara Tollington, Harry Butcher, Storm Gregory-Hickling, Benji Barbour Ricketts, Jaye Paul, Ollie Goldblatt, George Wakefield, Jaden Stephenson.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Dear all
There will be no training next week Sunday Nov 25th as the coaches are away. However, we shall return the following Sunday. Please note the dates of our winter schedule:
Sun Nov 25th no training
Sun Dec 2nd training 10-11.30am
Sun Dec 9th training 10-11.30am
Sun Dec 16th training 10-11.30am
Sun Dec 23rd no training - Xmas Break
Sun Dec 30th no training - Xmas Break
3D Santa 3D Rudolph 3D Magical Snowman
2008
Sun Jan 6th training 10-11.30am
Hampstead 6-1 Recreativo Juniors
Nov 23rd (Goal : Wakefield)

Football has taken a real battering this week. With England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, those of us involved in grass roots football have had to take a step back and assess the way we teach the game to tomorrow’s generation. There are 12 potential future professional footballers in our team. And if their football is to flourish, if their potential is to be realised, we really do have to stop worrying about our league position and ditch the winning at all costs mentality. All of us, players, parents and supporters have to look at the positives, have got to enjoy our time in this league. Let’s make every Recreativo game at Market Road a party!
Sports Fan 2

This evening we take quite a hammering from a well drilled and strong Hampstead side. Yet every one of our players, like usual, gives 100%. Sam came off the bench and played one of his best matches so far. Our goal comes from a beautiful weighted pass down the left from Ollie, which George latched onto and slotted the ball home. Despite the introduction of Jaden in the second half who seemed to bring an added determination to the Juniors attack, the game this evening is beyond us. We will be back. We won’t be written off. We are Recreativo Juniors Football Club and we are already counting down the days, the hours and minutes to the next game.

Team (all played) : Benji Barbour Ricketts, Zeki Bolat, Jaye Paul, Harry Butcher, Ollie Goldblatt, Storm Gregory-Hickling, Louis Dillon, George Wakefield, Lara Tollington, Sam Abdullah-Kirton, Jaden Stephenson.




Sunday, November 4, 2007

Recreativo Roma 1-1 Recreativo Real Madrid 29th Oct
(Goals : Wakefield, Dillon)

With Islington Youth failing to turn up for this game, we used the pitch and allotted match time as a training match for our squad. With one half pulling on the deep red Roma-like shirts and the other half the merengue-white strip of Real Madrid, the team was sent out onto the astro-turf with a simple message; to all give 100%, to play the match as if it was a league game. And that they did. The parents and supporters, stood in the chilly evening, were warmed by the exciting and competitive nature of the game. Goals from Louis and couisin George added to the well fought out game. Despite the non-show of our league opposition, tonight’s game was a valuable lesson in the team’s footballing education and a highly enjoyable exercise for all involved.

Recreativo 1-1 Harbour Nov 2nd
(Goal: Dillon)

After Lara’s solid performance in our training game earlier in the week, she was given the captain’s armband for tonight’s encounter with the Harbour. Straight from the whistle Recreativo charged forward to win possession of the ball, confidence with the growing experience begin to ooze throughout the team. The floodlights, the screaming supporters, the highly charged atmosphere of Market Road doesn’t seem so daunting now.
Storm performed solidly between the sticks, at one point diving full stretch to push a hard low shot around his left post. Fantastic stuff! Louis began to take charge of the left flank, darting runs, great one-twos with George, resulting in a sweet left foot shot which crashed into the back of the Harbour goal. We came in at half time 1-0 up, but knew we had a lot of work to do in the second half.
Ollie came on for the second half and seem to give the Harbour defence the runaround, using the width of pitch to his advantage. Only dodgy tackling and shoving could stop him!
A Harbour goal levelled the game at 1-1. Jaden’s edge of the box shot smashed into the Harbour goal half way through the second half, but the referee disallowed for hand-ball. So a decent draw for Recreativo, handshakes all round and applause for the whole team as we came off at the final whistle. The fireworks exploding across the sky in this part of north London tonight seemed a fitting end to what had been an exhillirating evening of junior football.


Team (all played both games) : Storm Gregory-Hickling, Sam Abdullah-Kirton, Jaye Paul, Lara Tollington, Louis Dillon, George Wakefiekld, Benji Barbour-Ricketts, Jaden Stephenson, Daniel Garcia-Fernandez, Harry Butcher, Zeki Bolat, Ollie Goldblatt.

Sunday, October 14, 2007


Iseldon Wolves 3-1 Recreativo
Camden& Islington Youth League Under 9s
Juniors Fri Oct 12th


This was our third league match, but already we are learning fast. A new found confidence has spread throughout the squad and we are beginning to play as a team. From kick off Recreativo are straight out of the starting blocks with an eagerness to get first to every ball and take the game into the opposition’s half.
Benji and Daniel both done well slotting in as full-backs alongside Jaye in defence. Louis and Sam use the wide flanks well and track back when needed. We had watched the Wolves play a previous game so knew we were up against up a fairly decent side. And despite going in 2-0 down at half time, we came out and matched them in every position across the park. Being a fairly new team to this league we played tonight with real unity and were rewarded with another superb goal from Jaden.
We lost the game tonight, but won the hearts of our ever growing support who witnessed such a brilliant effort from every player in a red shirt! Bring on the next game!


Team (all played) : Ollie Goldblatt, Jaye Paul, Daniel Garcia-Fernandez, Benji Barbour-Ricketts, George Wakefield, Lara Tollington, Harry Butcher, Storm Gregory-Hickling, Zeki Bolat, Sam Abdullah-Kirton, Louis Dillon, Jaden Stephenson.


Monday, October 8, 2007

Don't forget training!!!!

Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 24th Oct
at Clissold Park 5.30-6.30pm

Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 24th Oct
at Clissold Park 5.30-6.30pm

There will be no football on the following Sundays:
October the 21st
October the 28th
We will be back in the park November the 4th
Have a good half-term.



Camden&Islington Youth League
Under 9s North Division Friday Sept 28th

Crown & Manor 5-2 Recreativo Juniors (Goals : Stephenson)
Market Road is cold grey and wet this evening, but nothing dampens the spirits of the Juniors squad as we warm up twenty minutes before kick off. It’s a great turn out once again, by both players and supporters.

The first half is fairly balanced with both teams getting stuck in. Zeki Bolat shows real drive and determination trying to force his way through the Crown & Manor defence. Unfortunately as the game goes on the opposition create a few more chances and put two past us before half time.
The second half sees us slightly out-muscled in midfield, a problem that will only be remedied by further experience of playing at this level. Despite five goals scored against us, Jaden Stephenson charged his way into the Crown & Manor araea and scored two great goals. It’s a delight for all of us to see him sprint away, with the rest of the team chasing after him cheering, celebrating and smiling!
The team are slightly disappointed at the final whistle, but back in the dressing room the spirits are high, the score already forgotton and the countdown has already begun to get back out there for our next game.


Team (all played) : Harry Butcher, Jaye Paul, Sam Abdullah-Kirton, Lara Tollington, Louis Dillon, George Wakefield, Storm Gregory-Hickling, Zeki Bolat, Benji Barbour-Ricketts, Daniel Garcias Fernandez, Jaden Stephenson.