Frank Rourke's Report from Formby Junior Sports Club

Formby Junior Sports Club can proudly say it has now completed 62 years organising junior football for the children of Formby and surrounding areas. 2021 has been a very difficult year for FJSC with the Government’s, stop-start, Covid directives. To maintain the interest and to keep up the momentum was challenging, but successfully achieved and as Chairman of FJSC, I would like to thank everyone concerned in the running of the club. Whether organising behind the scenes, helping on Saturdays and Sundays at Inter Club or managing and looking after the Representative teams, everyone’s voluntary help has been gratefully appreciated. This together with the wonderful support received from the parents has helped provide regular football and coaching for all our members.

LAST WEEKEND’S FOOTBALL

It was the last weekend before the Christmas break and the Saturday Inter Club sessions for all age groups went well with great coaching and exciting matches . There were only a few Representative team matches played which allowed families in some age groups to do last minute Christmas shopping.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MATCHES

FJSC Under 12’s Saturday team had a very close match with FC Northern Yellows in the Hightown League Premier Under 12 Division. The defences kept the attackers of both teams at bay and neither midfield could gain the upper hand. A draw seemed to be the likely result until Berat Ulusoy scored the only goal of the match in the sixty-seventh minute.

FJSC Under 16 Whites played away at unbeaten league leaders Hesketh Colts. Josh King returned from injury much to the delight of the team and played in goal for the first time. Steven Mordaunt had another fantastic game showing drive and leadership throughout the eighty minutes. Jack Rummens scored a well taken goal lobbing the keeper. Bobby Hersey also scored with a perfectly floated free kick. It was a good effort by the Under 16’s despite eventually losing 7-2.

FJSC Under 11 Blacks travelled to Burscough for their last game of the year. The Blacks made a good start to the game in what was a very competitive match with Sam Uttley, Charlie Knowles and Henry Renton defending well against a strong attack. Burscough were awarded a penalty which they converted and that swung the game in their favour, as they went on to score twice more before half time.

The Blacks continued to compete well in the second half and created several chances to get back in the game with Abe Rice making some good runs. It was Abe who combined well with Ollie Dean in the centre of the pitch playing a one two as they both pushed forward beating the Burscough defence, for Ollie to go on and score passed the advancing keeper. The Blacks were unable to add to the score line but Burscough scored two late goals to come out on top.

Man of the match was awarded to Sam Uttley who marshalled the defence very well, was composed on the ball and strong in the tackle.

INTER CLUB FOOTBALL

The Year 4/5 match between the Reds and Blues saw the Reds win 4-2. On target for the Reds were Ben Harris, Max Brown, Sylvan O’Hara and Terence Etim. In reply Zac Hooson-Jones and Jacob Davies scored one goal apiece for the Blues.

In the Year 6/7 section Abe Rice scored four times and Ben Ryder and Sam Uttley were also on target with one goal each in the Blues 6 nil win over the Orange team.

BEST ATTENDERS

The following boys are to be congratulated on being the best attenders so far this season in their respective age groups.

Monty Cator, Jacob Givin, Jack Haggart, Seb Hodgson, Nathan Hyslop, Henry Wiliamson, Max Byford, Zac McHugh, Tom Murphy, Finn McDerby, Jacob Davies, Lucas Lewis, Sam Uttley, Henry Renton, Tom Donnelly, Nathan Ryan and Ben Ryder.

TOP SCORERS

The leading scorers in their age groups are:-

Harry Hughes, Jacob Givin, Harry O’Donnell, Rory Rankine, Archie Weir, Lucas Lewis and Abe Rice.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM LEADING SCORERS AT CHRISTMAS

Jacob Givin, Beau Brodrick, Jack Haggart, Mason Stringer, Joseph Kenyon, Zac McHugh, Archie Weir, Max Brown, Niall Brennan, Abe Rice, Berat Ulusoy, Dominic Maxwell and Steven Mordaunt.

OTHER INTERESTING STATISTICS

25 Inter Club Saturdays went ahead during 2021.

61 goals have been scored by FJSC Under 7 Whites and also 61 goals have also been scored by FJSC Under 8 Saturday team so far this season. These teams are the club’s leading scorers.

481 – the total number of goals scored by all the Representative teams this season.

12 different scorers so far this season by FJSC Under 12 Saturday team.

NEW THIS SEASON

The following new teams have been formed this season.:-

FJSC Under 6 team

FJSC Under 7 Whites team

FJSC Under 8 Reds

FJSC Under 9/10 team.

NEW TEAMS TO BE FORMED EARLY IN 2022

FJSC Under 5 team

FJSC Under 6 team

FJSC Under 9 team

FJSC Under 10 team

CLUB NEWS

Inter Club football will start again on SATURDAY 8TH JANUARY, 2022 at Deansgate Lane Playing Fields at the usual start times.

Fixtures for the FJSC Representative teams are still to be arranged but will not commence before the weekend of the 8th and 9th January 2022. Information will be sent out to squads by their team managers when dates of fixtures are released.

THE FORMBY JUNIOR SPORTS CLUB COMMITTEE AND ORGANISERS WISH ALL ITS MEMBERS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.