End of an Era: Congrats to our U16s

It is the end of an era for our U16s team and what an era it has been. Full of achievement and successes, including winning the coveted Sussex County Cup. Some of our U16s players have been with us since Little Kickers, when they were just five and six years old. Over the ten years since then we have lost some players and gained others, but all of them quickly became an integral part of this fantastic team, bursting with resilience and team spirit.

Their final match ever as Colts ended in a 3-1 victory yesterday and a whole lot of emotion! Six wins from the last six league matches, scoring 22 goals, ensured the team finished second in their division, just one point off the top spot - congratulations boys, what an amazing achievement! We are all so proud of the young men you have grown into.

Congratulations and thank you to our manager Martin Johnson for leading this team over the past few seasons and to Neil Smith who played a huge part in the development of this team from a young age. Due to the success and popularity of the team, we had enough players to split it into two teams a few seasons ago - one team played in the Horsham and District Youth Football League (HDYFL) and the other in the Mid Sussex Youth Football League (MSYFL).

The HDYFL team was coached by Martin for the past three seasons and the MSYFL team was coached by Neil up until the end of U14s, a season that culminated in winning the CP Mason Sussex County Cup - a prestigious competition not often won by a small village club such as ours.

When Martin took over the reins he was worried about filling the big boots of Neil as he had never coached a football team before. His main aim initially was to try and keep the boys together and playing until the end of the U16s season. He did exactly this and so much more as well.

Martin said: “It’s been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve done. The last three seasons of coaching them, the majority have stayed on and a few new players have come in. We came second in a futsal tournament and have just come second in the league, one point behind the league winners.”

Martin added: “For me it’s just been amazing to be able to give the boys the opportunity to keep doing what they love and to see the massive progress they’ve made on the pitch and as teenagers. What Neil did for this team and club was a big reason for me to try and get these boys to see it through to the U16s and ending on the most successful season we’ve had, has been amazing and just shows what these boys are like.”

Martin and his team are testament to the fact that hard work, commitment, loyalty and teamwork pay off. Not only has the team won a load of accolades but all the boys have taken the skills learned on the pitch and applied them to life off the pitch. They are a lovely bunch of teenagers and we wish them every success in whatever they carry on to do now.

The County Cup wasn’t the only silverware this team brought home and their list of achievements is long. Its successes included:

• 2018 - Mid Sussex Youth League U10s winners

• 2018 - Lewes FC Tournament U10s winners

• 2020 - Ringmer Rovers FC Tournament U12s winners

• 2021 - Ringmer Rovers FC Tournament U13s winners

• 2021 - Horsham and District League U13s Div C winners

• 2022 - ESF Regional U13s winners

• 2022 - ESF National U13s runners up

• 2022 - Hailsham United FC Tournament U13s winners

• 2023 - Mid Sussex Youth League U15s runners up (U14s playing up a year)

• 2023 - Sussex CP Mason County Cup U14s winners

Not only has the team achieved many collective successes but it has also seen incredible individual achievements. Three of its players have been signed by professional football clubs. Fin Smith was signed by the Brighton and Hove Albion Academy after a successful trial there, Max Hammond signed for Portsmouth Academy, and goalkeeper Jake Rhodes also went on to sign for Portsmouth Academy.

Congratulations to all the players and coaches for a long successful tenure with the Colts. As a club, we are beyond proud, and wish all of you a happy and successful future. We hope all the boys keep playing football and take all the lessons learned with the club into their adult lives. We look forward to seeing you all at our Awards Night to say congratulations in person.