Proud but sad night

derek · Proud but sad night

After considering long and hard, I decided to make this my last football season as a football coach for a local club. I've really enjoyed the last 19 years, the coaching courses, first aid courses and child protection courses and have coached over 1,000 children - both boys and girls. Some of the players I've coached are now coaching and running teams themselves so I feel quite proud. It's been an amotional weekend and I was very nervous about last night's presentation night. However, it was all fine and now I get to spend more time with Mrs D and the camera (Boo - about Mrs D I mean -lol)

Derek

Here's my award and I recieved some Jessops vouchers (Hooray)

hil26

A fantastic achievement - I applaud you

salute

Evolution104

Congratulations Derek - well deserved.
I coached for two years, including an under 16 travel team for one year. That was enough - no support from the parents or organising committee, and too much time and effort for me. But in retrospect, it was one of the most memorable things I've ever done. The highlight was when one player from the travel team returned home while playing in college and said that I was the best coach he'd ever had, including college.

I don't regret leaving it behind, but I surely don't regret doing it.

jonH

you're a hero for doing it derek - if everyone put as much into their community as you obviously have done the world would be a much better place

shame you couldn't make it a nice round 20, but 19 years deserves nothing short of a medal!!

creators

Well done Derek, that's an amazing achievement, much more worthy than those silly trophy's given out for best film, best actor/actress even if the fanfare for them is a lot louder and gets reported in the news. What you have given to young people is infinitely more valuable than some daft Oscar. Well done again! Laughing

Gilly

derek, you ought to be proud. Thats one hell of an acheivement, and one that I KNOW i couldn't have done. Well done buddy!!!

By the way, what are you spending your vouchers on then? Rolling Eyes

derek

Thanks for all your kind replies. I started coaching after my son started playing, then just got more and more involved, my son stopped playing football but I carried on. We've had team trips to Weymouth which were great and are still remembered by the kids that are now in their twenties, as the best holiday they've ever had, trips to see England play at Wembley, two coaching sessions with Phil Neal the England and Liverpool player, I've accompanied my friend who is a scout for a premiership club to many matches and thoroughly enjoyed it (I had to buy a suit for that!)

Evo - are you in America? Some years ago we had a team from Florida come over and play matches in the local area. They were so well behaved, calling me Sir and raising their hand to speak. The English method of a warm up is usually to get a ball and hit it as hard as possible at the keeper but those lads did a proper 20 minute warm up unsupervised. The coach asked that they not be served alcohol in our clubhouse as they were only 18 and not legally allowed to drink according to USA law. So I taught them Bar Skittles and darts!

I just can't believe its been 19 years - I've really enjoyed it but over the last 2 years it's taken up too much time and I would like to be able to do other things at the weekends. Time for someone else to have a go. I will still go to watch the odd match now and then though.

Lots of good memories and funny stories to remember.

Got to think what to use the vouchers for now - suggestions? Put them towards a new lens perhaps? Do I need a macro lens? Rolling Eyes

cheers, Derek

flapjack · well done

Well done Derek. Superhero or what? 19 years what an achievement. Congratulations and a well deserved trophy.

Evolution104

Proud but sad night

well done