Northend youngsters in debut for Wakehurst

The partnership between Northend United Youth and Wakehurst FC is beginning to bear fruit – with no less than three of the U17s making their debuts for Wakehurst Strollers at the weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Aug 2013, 16:00 BST
Wakehurst Youth in their new strip sponsored by W. Allen Meats, and Erwin Bathroom and tiles. INBT33-200ACWakehurst Youth in their new strip sponsored by W. Allen Meats, and Erwin Bathroom and tiles. INBT33-200AC
Wakehurst Youth in their new strip sponsored by W. Allen Meats, and Erwin Bathroom and tiles. INBT33-200AC

Although Jamie Speirs, James Cameron and Kyle Jackson made their debuts, a number of the U17 team have also been invited to train with the Strollers, who are the second string of the Wakehurst Irish League Club.

With the Strollers winning 5-1 against Carrick-based side Woodlands, it was down to former Northend player of the year, Jamie Speirs, to bag a brace of goals in the entertaining match, in a top performance which, if his early season performances continues, must see him knocking on the door of the Wakehurst first team.

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As the U17s are playing their National League matches under floodlight each Friday night this season, it shouldn’t be long before a number of them make the breakthrough into senior football with the Ballymena based Club.

OPENING FIXTURES

Fielding no less than 10 youth teams for the incoming football season, ranging in age from U8 to U17, a number off the Northend United teams are looking forward to continuing pre-season training each Monday and Wednesday nights.

With a number of additions already to each of the teams, all at Wakehurst Academy Club are looking forward to a super season that sees three of the teams making their debuts in the Lisburn Invitational Youth League, U12s, U13s and U14s, the two oldest teams in the Elite National League, U15s and U17s and the five youngest teams in the North West and Coleraine and District Youth League, U8s, U9s, U10s x 2 and U11s.

The National Youth League opens on Friday 30th August, with the U17s travelling to Limavady United, and on Saturday 31st August, the U15s open their League account with a home game against Ballymoor from the Maiden City.

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The Lisburn Youth League opens on Saturday 7th September with the U12s playing Loughgall, the U13s play Lisburn Distillery and the U14s play Hillsborough Boys in their opening fixtures.

IFA 2006 TOURNAMENT

On Friday night, Northend United Youth’s 2006 team travelled to The Valley Leisure Centre to take part in the IFA Small Sided Games at the Zest pitches. In the 5-aside tournament, Northend were paired against Hillsborough Boys, Carnmoney FDC and Dungoyne Boys.

In all games, the Northend boys put in a great performance, with Callum Burnside, Conan McKeown, Daniel Patterson, Pearse McAuley, Pol Pius Donegan, Kevin McAllister, Lewis Devlin and Conlan Lyness all scoring goals.

Each boy had a great time in the fun tournament, and the Club and all the parents would like to thank the Irish FA for organizing this event.

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This event is only one of the many events organised for the mini soccer teams throughout the year, so if you were born between the years 2003-2007 and would like to take part in the small sided games program at Northend United Youth, please contact John Devlin on 07919056834 or Ally McGarry on 07779005441.

Alternatively, you can come to one of the training sessions, as the 2003-2007 teams train from 6.00pm to 7.30pm at the Ballymena Showgrounds Pitch 3 every Monday night.