It’s been a long road to where we are now.
The end of the season is looming for Pat and his u16’s team mates. And it’s a far cry from his training sessions and first start for Charnock Ridgeway u8’s. It’s also a very strange feeling, while I’m coaching him, thinking this is his last season of junior football.
As the City Schoolboys finishes at u15’s and with not bothering trialling for South Yorkshire this season (see 32 – All keepers are equal…) this season Pat looked to pastures new for Saturday football. Sadly, Covid was still lurking on the side lines, looking to play its own part in proceedings, although at least from a football perspective thankfully it wasn’t as disruptive as previous.
But his new Saturday team is a familiar face, having played against them just about every pre-season since he signed for Greenhill, Evo Soccer is like an old friend. An ideology of developing players – not only as footballers but also as people – is in contrast to the vast majority of junior grassroots clubs.
Even in their Junior Premier League fixtures there’s no particular emphasis on them winning games, they’re more of an opportunity for the players to make their own decisions, not get screamed at if they make a mistake but then learn how to deal with that situation next time it occurs. Everything is reviewed, after the event or at half time (in the case of games), or on the spot during training sessions. All the games are filmed using VEO cameras which is a great tool to have at your disposal, to be able to look back at full games, or pinpoint specific incidents or passages of play.
The main difference between Evo and other private academy environments though, is that Evo look to move players on. That is, to pro club academies. It’s basically a shop window. Evo develop the lad’s skills with the goal being for them to find their way into the academy system.
I’d never really considered Evo as something for Pat but that was as much due to our circumstances than anything else. Season tickets at United for the last few years and then him playing for both Sheffield and South Yorkshire Schoolboys on Saturdays has meant he’s been busy enough. Another reason for not looking into Evo for Pat was because of him being a keeper. Evo’s style is very much being comfortable on the ball and keeping possession but very much outfield based. Little did I know.
Anyway, the keeper the same age as Pat, was going to be away for a couple of weeks. So Pat’s initial introduction was being asked by Dean (the founder of Evo) if he wanted to train for a couple of weeks, play in any friendlies and basically see if he enjoyed it. He did, very much. And he did well enough.
So if Pat wanted to join Evo, the plan was to use three keepers across the u15’s and u16’s age groups for the coming season. Isaac – last years u14’s keeper – Pat, and the lad he was covering for would all share game time. There are always going to be times throughout the season where one of them isn’t available, so it sounded like the most sensible option.
The three lads weren’t in competition with each other but could learn from each others strengths and weaknesses and push each other throughout the season in training and games. Pat was happy enough with that, particularly as he still had playing for Sheffield FC on Sundays to take into consideration, so the odd free Saturday or half game here and there wouldn’t be the end of the world.
A fair amount of the training was varied but involved shooting practice for the outfield lads, which meant the chance to make saves for Pat. It wasn’t just pot shots though. It was attack v defend (sometimes top heavy with defenders, sometimes with attackers), crosses, free kicks, so it kept him busy and in game like scenarios.
All in all, Pat took to it straight away. He knew a few of the lads already but those that he didn’t (and the coaches) made him feel welcome from the off. Dean in particular showed a lot of interest in Pat, made him part of the setup straight away and generally made him feel about 10 feet tall.
Dean would also be the coach of the u16’s team in the coming season, so Pat was raring to go.
There was also a lot of playing out from the back (defenders and keeper) but not just goal kicks and throws, it was game realistic stuff with the attackers pressing and making life difficult for Pat and the defenders.
The first game Pat was involved in was a game towards the end of the u15’s season, away at Stoke in the quarter finals of the National Cup. With the keeper situation already explained to the lads, the plan was for Pat and the other keeper to play half each, as much as anything to keep them both playing but also to give Pat a feel for the team and the style of play.
Pat played the first half and did well. The work he’d been doing with his feet in training was already showing and he looked composed with back passes and playing out from the back. 0-0 at half time, so he’d kept a clean sheet and given a decent account of himself. Evo lost 1-0 but there were a couple of dubious offside calls from the Stoke parent acting as linesman when Evo were on the attack.
He was now looking forward to the possibility of the season ahead with a new team. Trials were to be held for the u16’s team over two weekends at the end of June. Before the trials came round though, the other keeper decided he wasn’t up for sharing game time and left. No other keepers at Pat’s age trialled, so when the squad was announced, he was in. Unless anything dramatic changed, he’d be number 1.
Fast forward 10 months to yesterday and the lads once again found themselves in the quarter finals of the National Cup. This time against South Liverpool. Unfortunately, it was another narrow defeat, this time on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Throughout the years though, with the different teams Pat’s played for; Charnock Ridgeway, Greenhill/Sheffield FC, Westfield School, Sheffield Schoolboys, South Yorkshire Schoolboys and Sheffield FC u18’s in the FA Youth Cup, there’s been one constant – which goes back even further to when I was playing in the junior league – my Dad.
To be honest, he’d give me a good run for my money for being Pat’s biggest fan. He was always there for me, getting me to my games, near or far and all throughout Pat’s goalkeeping progress, he’s been a keen spectator.
He’s had to be a bit more selective since Pat’s been playing Saturdays and Sundays, for fear of getting ear ache from my Mum and so he hasn’t been ever present over the last couple of years. Partly from a need to keep the peace but also having being badly affected by Pancreatitis over the last 12 months. It’s been quite a long road to recovery and the well wishes from other supporters showed how well thought of he is on the side lines.
Since the weather’s picked up a bit, we’ve been able to watch a couple of Evo’s games together which has been great because for Sheffield FC I’m on the opposite touchline so we don’t get the chance. More than one parent in the past has referred to him as ‘the voice of reason’ when watching games and being particularly unbiased when giving his views. Even when talking about his grandson.
It’ll be nice to spend some more time together as an older lad and Dad next season, watching Pat. I’ve no doubt it’ll help me to keep the faith.
Keeper of the faith 