It’s a familiar sight to many a parent. Footballs being passed around, some staying in the drills, some on a wayward trajectory toward the outfield. Sprightly children, clad in Bardon Latrobe red, flash between bright markers and poles.
It’s just after 5:30pm on a Wednesday, the sun is setting but there are several junior teams scattered around the field.
I see a familiar face in Capital player Jack Hamilton, newly installed coach of the Under 15s team.
“How’s the training going Jack?” I shout. He waves me away. He’s clearly being kept on his toes, as he plays in goal as part of the drill.
“They haven’t beat me yet.” He boasts.
I move across the field and see another Capital player, and long-time junior coach, Ant Powell working on a drill with his squad.
“Play the ball to each other…pass like this…pay attention, pay attention! And go”
I’m amazed as two players dart towards me to touch the cone first. Both desperate to win, they dive head first toward the marker. And repeat. Each contest fought as competitively as the last.
Ant and Jack aren’t the only senior players lending a hand. Capital Head Coach Mark Strickland, Stephen Jobbins and Chris Ransley all coach teams. David Gillman and Phil Cowlishaw act as age-coordinators.
I also see the familiar faces of Tom Eckersley training a team. Several parents assisting Iain MacKenzie with his skills academy. There’s a few faces I don’t know yet but each set up is a hive of clipboards and stopwatches. In fact the vast majority of the coaches are parent volunteers.
Vice-President of the Juniors, Eamonn McCaffrey is with Committee Member David Bounds assessing some goal posts. I ask Eamonn about the organised chaos across the field.
“There’s a lot to do still,” he says.
“We’ve recently had some sponsors come in and we’ve ordered some equipment upgrades. There’s work on the field to complete and the distribution of all the equipment and kit.”
A little while later I meet Under 6s coordinator Mark Keane for the first time. He’s getting some equipment from David Bounds. A ball for each player and a match ball. He mentions how many of the coaches are completely new.
“It’s great that I’ve been able to offer them the grassroots coaching course at Bowman Park,” he says.
By now it’s time to get ready for my own training session and as I come out of the clubhouse to the field, all the various set ups have been packed down. There’s no sign that just moments before, that perhaps, future first team players have been taking their first steps toward that goal.