Whiteknights

Whiteknights Football Club
Delivering Youth Football in Reading

WKFC Home | U10 Home | Photos

Whiteknights FC Under 10s

“As a kid they teach you not to play to win, but to grow in ability as a player.”

Lionel Messi's description of Barcelona's famous youth academy, La Masia

Who are we?

Like Barcelona, Whiteknights u10s are proud to have linked up with Unicef. Our players, parents and coaches raise funds for the organisation; in return, we carry its distinctive logo on our team jerseys.

We have one squad playing in the BYDL and a second who train on Saturday mornings and play occasional friendly matches.

This enables the club to take in new players - experienced or otherwise - and offer them a structured footballing experience tailored to fun and long-term development.

Anyone keen to join should email jamie.fahey@guardian.co.uk

What we do?

Training

Simple, fun and challenging for all abilities. Each player touches the ball hundreds of times in each session. The over-riding focus of drills is on technical skills (ball mastery, awareness, tactics) physical prowess (strength, movement, shooting etc), social (fun & friendship, trust & teamwork) and psychological strength (self-motivation, bravery, focus, learning from mistakes etc). With all of this in mind, the players are encouraged to gain pleasure from their self-improvement rather than diverting too much effort to win at all costs.

Matches

Parents: matches are devoid of any negative criticism from the sidelines. Parents are there to encourage but offer no tactical advice. The FA's Respect agenda is a strict reference point. Players: encouraged to think for themselves. Each substitute acts as a “mini” coach and delivers a team-talk at half-time. All players will try every position regularly during the “golden years” of learning – ages 6-12. Tactics: We play football. Pass and move – whatever the score, whether the first minute or the last. Each player is encouraged to aspire to be comfortable on the ball regardless of where they are on the pitch. Of course, the players want to win matches – but the coaches here skew the focus towards development of their motivation, confidence, technical skills, awareness, captains' skills, respect and sportsmanship.

Where?

Matches are on Saturdays at Sol Jol Park, kick off at 11.30

Match location and map:

Sol Joel Park,
Church Road,
Reading

[ Click here for Map & Directions ]

Training

The league team train at Bulmershe Goals on Friday evenings, 6-7.

Training location and map:

Goals Centre,
Woodlands Avenue,
Woodley,
Reading RG5 3EU

[ Click here for Map & Directions ]

The team training only play at Bulmershe campus of Reading University, 9.30-11am on Saturday mornings.

Location and map:

University of Reading - Entrance 3,
Bulmershe Court,
Woodlands Avenue,
Woodley,
Reading RG6 1HY

[ Click here for Map & Directions ]