Manager: Gary Brown
Coach: Jamie Anderson
The journey for this team started on 24th Sept 2011 on a rainy morning at South Wonston. They were competing as U8 in a very competitive league, back in the days when you could still have leagues at that age!. Of the team that started that day, only two players, Charlie Anderson and Henry Brown remained on the team sheet for the teamโs final game at Laverstock on 9th April 2022. This equates to 10.55 years in a Braishfield shirt which is no mean feat. Charlie Taylor who joined very soon after the first game should also get an honourable long service mention.
Over the years the team has had personnel come and go but has always tried to play the game the right way and more importantly in the right spirit. In the early years the boys were talented but and played well but always seemed to be up against a couple of teams that had bigger, stronger and faster boys.
As the team went through the age groups and began to grow and get bigger a faster, then the more consistent results began to come. Honours started to come in 2017 when the team won the TWYL Div 2 title in a play-off against Alderbury.
Further wins were achieved in 2018 as Hythe & Dibden tournament winners, 2019 Braishfield tournament winners, 2020 TWYL Div. 1 Runners-Up & Braishfield tournament winners, 2021 TWYL Div.2 Winners (again in a play-off against Alderbury) and in the final year 2022 the boys (pictured above) finished Runners-Up in TWYL Div.1
They have always had really tough age group opposition but have grown as a team over the years and it has been a privilege to watch them develop and achieve great results with some really attractive football.
Manager: Ian Bates
Coach: Ady Moore
Assistant: N/A
2019 – 20 was the first season a team from the Club had entered the under 18s league and what a season for the under 17s…
Prior to the global pandemic; in the league we were the highest goalscorers, had the second best defence and sat 2nd with 3 games left and looking to lift the title however, following the decision to award points per game and playing one game less than the league leaders, we missed out on becoming champions by 0.18 however, promotion was gained. The same can be said for the cup, we reached the semi final but narrowly missed out on a place in final losing 2-1.
It has to be said, due to college and university commitments, players of to work for the first time etc, the squads commitment and professionalism was second to none. There was banter, there was jokes, there was honest conversations, there was change in tactics, formations but each and every player played their part in what was a most enjoyable and successful first season as under 18s.
To finish their time at the Club, the Under 18s played in the TWYFL Cup Final at Sherfield English Sports Ground but umfortunately lost 3-2 in a closely fought game. Throughout the season the squad showed tremendous commitment, fighting spirit and comradery when backs against the wall especially with so many injuries however, the coaching team, squad and parents/guardians have been a credit to the Club which makes us all very proud of each and everyone of you.
That’s a wrap from the Under 18s as they leave the Club but hey…it’s been a blast for the past 9 years ๐โฝ๏ธ๐ฅ ๐ #upthebees #beestogether
Manager: Julian Jones
Coach: Stuart Goodwill and Andy Darton
Assistant: N/A
The 2010 u8s included some of the team that finished with the group after a tumultuous double/double winning season at u16s level.
From the very start weโre Sam Briggs and Jonny Palmer with Alex Jones joining a few months after.
Under the initial management of James Gay the team started to gel, but reinforcements on and off the field were required with Julian Jones and Stuart Goodwill taking over the responsibility of managing and coaching the players. Progress was made over the years – even beating their arch rivals in the Cup Final, however another advance came with the introduction of Andy Darnton as Coach with additional playing strength added.
The team went onto League and cup wins and twice reaching the semi finals of the Hampshire Cup to Academy team Eldon Celtic.
Unfortunately at the end of a very successful period the squad broke up with many of the players joining Totton Development squad and a few players stayed to be the older players in a combined u17/18 team. Subsequently a couple of players have gone onto represent Braishfield Menโs 1st team