AFC Leyton Newsletter – January 2023
Message from the Chairman
Harry Cuthbert
With the extended break before Christmas due to the snow, it felt like forever since we had been back at AFC Leyton! So it has been great to chat to so many of you and see so many smiling faces back at training these last few weeks.
This is the first of many newsletters, in hope to give you as parents a look at what’s to come in the upcoming months, give members an insight into us, share any key info and to improve our communication from club to member. If you have any ideas or components you think would be good in the newsletter please let us know.
In 2023 the coaching team will be following a training syllabus which covers all the phases and principles of play in the game – this month’s topic is 1v1’s and 2v2’s. These small sided practices are so important in Youth Football, allowing players more touches of the ball, stops players standing around waiting, encourages players to make decisions and gives players the license to be creative!
New Players: We’ve had lots of new players join this season, so we’d like to give a warm welcome to:
- Under 9s – lvanina, Karter-Rae
- Under 10s – Mia, Poppy
- Under 11 Dragons – Cattleya
- Under 11 Wyverns – Iona
- Under 12 Wyverns – Paige, Alexandra
- Under 12 Dragons – Isabelle, Nia, Halimah, Maya
- Under 13 Wyverns – Diamond, Maya
- Under 13 Dragons – Nadia
- Under 14 Dragons – Lola-Rose
- Under 14 Wyverns – Jess
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2023 New Leadership Team
Harry Cuthbert
Chair & Head Coach
Nicola Gallagher
Club Secretary
Chloe Connell
Chief Welfare Officer
Leadership Contacts
- Harry Cuthbert, Chair (chair@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Chloe Connell, Chief Welfare Officer (welfare@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Nicola Gallagher, Club Secretary (secretary@afcleyton.co.uk
Operations Contacts
- Nicola Gallagher, Registrations Officer (registrations@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Nicola Cuthbert, Treasurer (accounts@afcleyton.co.uk)
- Louise McGing, Press & Comms (comms@afcleyton.co.uk)
General Updates
Upcoming Events
- Parents vs Coaches Match – Friday 21st April
- International Womens Day – Wednesday 8th March
- Butlins – Friday 12th to Monday 15th May
- Wellbeing Week – 15-21st May
- NEW Home Kit – September 2023
Vacancies: We are looking to fill the following vacancies
- U8’s Team Coach
- Development Coach
- Club Physio
Meet The Coach
Reece Tailor - Under 13s Dragons Manager
What team do you support?
The greatest team there is Tottenham Hotspur.
Who is your favourite player?
Growing up, my favourite players were Vidic and Paul Robinson.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I have the best dance moves at AFC Leyton!!
When did you start your football journey? And what position did/do you play?
I started my playing journey when I was five years old. This was at a local club. I started as centre back, but I really played wherever I was needed.
When did you start coaching and why?
My coaching journey started at 16 as an assistant coach to my Dad who was coaching my sisters team due to the fact I was injured at the time and was unable to play, so my Dad encouraged me to come and help him while I recovered and guess after that I didn’t want to stop coaching.
What do you enjoy the most about being a coach?
For me, it is when a player might be struggling with a part of their game and they are now able to do it. It is their facial expressions when it just clicks.
What song would you sing at Karaoke?
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
My Mums Shepherd’s pie, nothing better.
What is/are your favourite memory/ies at AFC Leyton?
I have two very prominent memories at Leyton.
My first one is my first ever match at AFC Leyton going back 5 years ago and it was a hectic one but my most memorable. I hadn’t managed to meet my team prior to this due to the ‘Beast from the East’ covering the ground in snow and then meeting all the girls on the day, just before the game. However, these girls were so welcoming and we clicked straight away and I knew I was with the right team.
My next best memory was this summer just gone at the Omonia tournament, as the year before, my team had got all the way to the final to lose on penalties. However, this year, we managed to go all the way to final again and won it. I couldn’t feel happier for the girls who were in it the year before and suffered that heartbreak to go and win it – a true redemption story!
Reece Tailor with his U13s Dragons - 8th January 2023
