AFC Leyton Newsletter - April 2023
New players and volunteers
We would like to give a warm welcome to our new players:
- U8s: Amara
- U9s: Niamh
- U13Ws: Leila
- First team: Evie, Lily, Natalee & Brogan SM
April training topic
Each month, all coaches follow a training syllabus. The syllabus covers 3 main areas: in possession phase, out of possession phase and the transition phase. This syllabus ensures all our players receive a comprehensive and structured sessions throughout the course of a season.
This months training topic and focus is “Build Up: Beating the Block”
Coaches will be encouraging and coaching new ways of beating a block. Can players recognise when to be patient and recycle the ball? Can players add disguise and be creative to play through the block? Can players make the opposition move to create spaces and gaps?
The build up phase encourages patience, creativity/disguise, movement and playing with width.
General updates
Upcoming events
- Ramadan: 23rd March-21st April
- U14Ws vs Inter Atlanta (International Friendly): Monday 3rd April
- U14Ws vs UFA (International Friendly): Friday 7th April
- Butlins: Friday 12th to Monday 15th May
- Parents vs Coaches Match: Friday 9th June
- Presentation Evening: Wednesday 21st June
- Summer Football Camp: TBC
- New Home Kit: September 2023
Vacancies
Youth Development Coach (Female only) – Please contact coaching@afcleyton.co.uk if interested in this role and want to find out more information.
Adult Reserves Team Coach (Female only) – Please contact coaching@afcleyton.co.uk if interested in this role and want to find out more information.
School Liaison Officer – Please contact info@afcleyton.co.uk if interested in this role and want to find out more information.
Referees – Please contact fixtures@afcleyton.co.uk if interested in becoming qualified or for further details about the role.
Ramadan and our Muslim community
Meet the Coach
Najma, U12s Dragons Team Manager
How did you get into football coaching?
Most of my brothers growing up were huge football fans, and one of my older brothers had a playing journey and the passion and love he had for football inspired me.
He encouraged me to join a session and seeing that there were not many girls involved drove me to not only continue playing but become a coach that could encourage and inspire more girls to join.
Did you ever play football yourself/do you play?
Yes I played but never at a ‘high’ level, I would have loved to but I’m glad my journey took me into coaching.
I still play now recreationally with an amazing organisation started to create a space for female Muslims with a love and passion for football.
What’s your favourite AFC Leyton memory?
Wining our first game this season, the progression my team has made has been fantastic to see! Each player has developed in their own right. I am incredibly proud of them and can’t wait to see what else they have to showcase.
What’s it like being a muslim coach?
Being a female and visibly Muslim coach has been incredibly fulfilling, being in a space that’s not always open to all has allowed me creat an environment that other young female Muslims can feel part of. It is really important to have representation in any field, growing up I never saw of anyone who looked like me so seeing the growth of Muslims in this space is so positive!
It has not always been a positive journey, but allowing others insight has helped inform those I’ve worked with of my religious practices.
What advice would you give during Ramadan?
Take it at your own pace, energy levels are different for everyone. Take breaks when needed and speak to your coach to make sure they know how to best support you.
This club does supports me during Ramadhan, we have a prayer room and I can take time out to break my fast and pray. This is really important as it shows how inclusive AFC Leyton is, it’s not something I’ve had to ask for, the club was already aware.
Do you have any advice for other muslim girls wanting to get into football or coaching?
Get involved! There are endless opportunities now to show your talents, to enjoy football, meet new people, and be part of a team.
Your coaching journey will inspire the next generation and allow more girls to feel included.
Coach Najma's team, U12s Dragons
Meet our Muslim players
If there ever was a dream of equality, it certainly feels close at AFC Leyton. With hundreds of female players from varying different cultures and religions, we all operate as one club under the banner of AFC Leyton.
This Ramadan, we celebrate our fierce and skillful female Muslim players and their Muslim coaches who perhaps unbeknowst to them are not only role models and trail blazers, but athletes who provide the much needed representation in grassroots football. Some chosing to wear a hijab and dressed from head to toe in club colours, others in the standard club kit, these footballing females are all breaking down boundaries and stereotypes whilst playing the game that they love.
First team news
Recent Posts / View All Posts
In the community
To advertise here email press@afcleyton.co.uk
Get sugared!
Exclusively for AFC Leyton. The new Sugaring London salon in Coal Drops Yard are offering AFC Leyton members and family 15%. Just mention AFC Leyton when booking
Just Play session - Women only!
Our Monday night Pay and Play “Just Play” session is still going strong. We’d love to see more of our members extended families attend – mothers, older siblings, aunts all welcome! Its just £5 pay and play – grab a ticket from our website and get involved!
Get qualifed!
Free courses - Ages 16+
To support football being truly a game for all, England Football Learning is delighted to offer free places on our most popular coaching courses as part of our Fully-Funded Places Programme.
The Fully-Funded Places Programme has been developed to support coaches who may be facing barriers to getting involved. We want to create a more inclusive coaching workforce and will be offering 20% of all places on Introduction to Coaching Football, UEFA C Licence and UEFA B Licence for free as part of the programme. The places have been funded by Sport England.
The initiative is aligned to our wider goal of helping to increase participation within historically underrepresented groups (including female coaches, disabled coaches and coaches from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic backgrounds) as well as supporting individuals from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Initiatives/fully-funded-places
Free courses - Ages 14-19
The Access to Sports Project is delivering an FA Football Playmakers & Leadership Course and FA Football Referees Course during the Easter holidays.
These courses will be FREE for any young person aged 14-19 years. If you have anyone in mind who would like to get into sports coaching, gain leadership skills please feel free to book them on. We are currently taking online bookings. FA Football Playmakers & Football Leadership Course – Ideal for Young People looking to learn more about Football leadership as a participant, coach, organiser and more. This practical course is ideal for anyone taking the first step into Football Coaching (includes online modules).
The FA Referees course is for those looking to get onto the first step of the FA referees ladder. This Qualification (includes online modules) will enable candidates to ref games at this level to the official FA standard. Assessment also requires each candidate to referee a set number of league games away from the course.
Sponsorship
To request a sponsor pack, email press@afcleyton.co.uk
Atkins Physiotherapy
I am pleased to announce a new relationship with local physiotherapy – Atkins Physiotherapy Consultants Ltd. Atkins have been helping the public for over 32 years and are based in South Woodford on the high road (opposite Tesco Express).
This newly formed relationship is hopefully the start of a long-standing one which gives all players signed for AFC Leyton a 15% discount on physiotherapy. I hope we rarely have to use their services but with injuries a common occurrence in football I’m pleased to have a trusted, local and experienced physiotherapy team to help and support. If needed, please get in touch with them and quote “Harry” or “AFC Leyton” for a high quality service, friendly approach and a discounted rate. http://www.atkinsphysio.com
Contacting the Club
Leadership Contacts
- Harry Cuthbert, Chair (chair@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Nicola Gallagher, Club Secretary (secretary@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Chloe Connell, Chief Welfare Officer (welfare@afcleyton.co.uk)
Operations Contacts
- Nicola Gallagher, Registrations Officer (registrations@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Nicola Cuthbert, Treasurer (accounts@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Louise McGing, Press & Comms (press@afcleyton.co.uk)
