Author: afcunity

Last night, on the 3rd of May, we celebrated our fifth season as a club and recognised individual achievements by first team players this 2018/19 season. In what has been a difficult season points and results wise, the collective unity and team spirit that this team has developed over the last year is incredibly strong as summed up by this year’s multi-award winner, goalkeeper and No.1 Hannah Lamb who spoke about how inclusive the team is and how that has reflected in her playing this season.

The night opened with a ‘bruise quiz’ that had been decided on at the last Team Meeting, which was made up of player bruises from this season that people had to guess the player each bruise belonged to. The winner of the quiz, first team player Amy Brown, won a selection of first aid gifts for guessing the most player bruises. Manager, now Head Coach, Jay Baker then officially introduced the Awards Night, discussing the development of an AFC Unity legacy approach, mentioning the previous awards we have won as a club and how far we have come since 2014, when the club started. This involved a look back on the previous seasons and how in our first season we achieved promotion but that the collectivism, team spirit and approach now is unlike anything we have ever known. For the first time ever, all players that can stay on are doing so, as we build something incredibly special. Linked to this, Jay talked about what we mean by ‘success’ citing a quote by Johan Cruyff and how important collectivism is over individualism, and as well as winning games – for us as a club – ‘success’ is about how harmonious and enjoyable the environment is and on this we have been very successful this season. Jay finished his introduction by talking about the meaning of external validation and whether you win an award or not, what matters is that you believe in yourself, the belief has to come from within, not outside (even though outside acknowledgement and appraisal is obviously nice!)

Jay then moved on to presenting the Red Star Awards, which are about recognising first team players for different individual traits that they have brought to the team this season. Jay spoke about what each player brings to the team alongside the individual statistics – goals, appearances and assists – of each player. The team then thanked Jenna Bacon who has been amazing this season looking after everyone by providing first aid to most of the team. We then broke for some lovely food from The Showroom, who we thank again for another amazing venue hosting!

When we returned from food, first team player Amy Brown presented the Silly Awards, which had been nominated by players. The winners of these awards were as follows:

Clumsiest player: Jodie Spillings – who was awarded some first aid supplies.
Best miss…training and game: Stacey Leigh at training (we are still trying to work out how this happened!) – who was awarded her own personalised water bottle (anyone who has tried to give water to Stacey in a game before will understand why).
Club comedian: Becky Gay – who was awarded a Peppa Pig microphone.
Wackiest goal celebration: Becky Gay – who was awarded a unicorn for her galloping celebration.
Best changing room Dj: Amy Brown – who had to pick herself a Boyzone CD as an award.
Cleanest boots: Jane Watkinson – despite strong competition from Michelle Garrigan for her very clean boot baths, Jane was awarded some vegan soap and sponge given her injuries have meant her boots have stayed very clean (or dusty)!

After the Silly Awards, we moved onto the Integrity Award, which is for a first team player involved in the club, based on its vision, values, and mission, overtly standing up for and defending these, showing a dedication and commitment to setting an example to others – shortlist proposed by and voted on by the team. This was such an unanimous decision, there was only one nomination put forward by six different players rendering voting unnecessary! First team player and Director, Sophie Smith, presented the award to the winner, Jaimee Reeve, in recognition for all she has done in terms of the Football for Food campaign and more recently with tackling Period Poverty, alongside Jaimee’s overall very supportive and inclusive approach to everyone around her.

Next up was the Collective Award, selected primarily by Ultras (secondarily by other supporters) as being the fan favourite this season. Supporters Marc Duffy and Mike Leigh presented the award to the winner, Rachel Rodgers, who now becomes one of the most decorated AFC Unity players as she adds to last year’s Hope Over Fear and Unity Awards!

Jay & Jane then presented the Solidarity Award, which is for outstanding achievements by any (usually non-playing) club personnel who have demonstrated dedication and a long-standing commitment to the club. This went to Anna Cordwell, who has just recently resigned as Chair and Director at the club after 5 years, with Anna involved from the very beginning. Anna has been a fantastic critical friend and without her we wouldn’t be where we are now. To recognise these 5 years, Anna was presented with her own AFC Unity kit, with No. 5 on the back!

Jaimee then spoke about the Football for Food campaign adding to what she said when winning the Integrity Award, mentioning that this season we have collected an incredible 340kg of food donations for the S2 Foodbank, which we aim to build upon next season!

The Breakout Award was then next, which is picked by the manager – for the player that responded to the coaching during the season and notably developed as a player technically, tactically, socially, psychologically and physically, on and off the pitch, in line with the club’s ethos. The winner was Pippa Joseph who has had an amazing first year at the club, with Jay mentioning how coachable Pippa is, her phenomenal ability to press off the ball, pass on the ball and her 100% positivity and warmness to all around her.

We then had a break with players voting on the Unity Award, which is for the first team player voted on by their teammates on the night (or via proxy), confidentially chosen, in reference to ability, attendance, and attitude, and how they have represented the club and their team on and off the pitch. Winning her first of three awards on the night, Hannah Lamb was recognised by her team mates for an amazing season where she has been a role model to all off and on the pitch and who has left us – any many opposition teams – all marvelling at her many amazing saves all season!

Next was the Solidarity Soccer Award, which was a new award to recognise outstanding achievement by a regular Solidarity Soccer participant. The award winner was Laura Strafford, who has been a regular attendee at Solidarity Soccer for 3 years, with this award acknowledging the incredible importance of Solidarity Soccer providing women the opportunity to play football without the pressures of 11-a-side. Laura was rewarded for her inclusive, supportive and technically fantastic approach at Solidarity Soccer, with Jay noting Laura’s nickname the “sharp shooter”.

Katie Mishner, a Solidarity Soccer attendee who will be starting her trial for the 11-a-side team from June, presented the Ambassador Award, which is picked by Solidarity Soccer participants based on which Ambassador they would like to acknowledge in terms of the help and support they have given attendees of Solidarity Soccer. Katie talked about how valuable Solidarity Soccer has been for her as a player and how inclusive and welcoming the session and importantly the Ambassadors have been. One of these Ambassadors, Hannah Lamb, has attended no less than 45 Solidarity Soccer sessions in the last year providing help and support to the participants; for this and her inclusive and fun approach, Hannah won her second award of the night.

Finally, Jay presented the Hope Over Fear Award, which is the manager’s award for best player of the season, for a first team player who has turned negatives into positives and adhered to, trusted in, and enacted the manager’s vision, AFC Unity’s football philosophy, and acted as a role model, inspiration, and positive influence on the team as a whole. Jay said that this player was someone who has challenged him to be a better manager, coach and person; someone who plays our style perfectly and is only going to get better and better; someone who joined for the ethos; someone who attends everything – every social, every meeting, every training; and someone who, like last year’s winner, was in his mind for this award since the autumn. The winner of this award was Hannah Lamb, with this the second year running the players and manager have chosen the same player for their respective awards. Jay added that defeats would have been much worse without Hannah’s performances and that she won her awards entirely on merit as a goalkeeper truly ahead of her time.

We also said a sad goodbye to first team player Molly Manterfield who will be moving abroad after a very successful first season with the club, tallying up 24 appearances and 1 goal!

This was also No.14 Corinne Heritage’s last season playing 11-a-side football. After 3 seasons with the club Corinne has been an invaluable part of every aspect of the club. In her 2 seasons as part of the first team, Corinne has 34 appearances scoring 2 goals, and was last season’s Integrity Award winner in recognition for her hard work at Solidarity Soccer and furthering the community ethos and vision of AFC Unity. We are very proud of all Corinne has achieved and she will be sorely missed by everyone at the club.

Now we have a few weeks off before we return for the start of pre-season in June where Jay outlines his 2020 Vision, as we start to translate the unity off the pitch into results on it! Thank you to everyone who has come and watched us play this season, thank you to families of players that support them in doing what they love, thank you to sponsors who enabled us to have the awesome kit we do, thank you to our AFC Unity Ultras, thank you to our Solidarity Soccer participants who are such an important part of this club and thank you to everyone else that supports the club and what we are trying to do on and off the pitch.

Until June, Hope Over Fear!

 

 

by Jay Baker

I’m pleased to say my days as AFC Unity manager are over – as the role will instead be replaced by that of Head Coach, given the exciting changes just around the corner as part of the proposed “2020 Vision” that is about to be unveiled, where I will be facilitating the changes based on the remaining foundation to build on, and a team that wants me to carry out this role of Head Coach.

I never liked being a “manager” anyway…besides, I haven’t felt like I’ve done any such thing in recent games. Allow me to explain.

AFC Unity director and former Hope Over Fear award-winner Sophie Smith recently hit the nail on the head with her summary of the season: ‘Worst on the pitch, best off the pitch.’ We’ve had the most harmonious team we’ve ever had week in, week out, but the results suggest an “expeditionem horribilis”: I made no less than ten signings this past season, which of course is an absolutely ridiculous scenario for a football club that prides itself on collectivism and bonding, and out of all the twenty-two league games, no two matches had the same team or formation — not ever. We’ve been blessed with the loveliest group of people you could ever wish for, but cursed with unfavourable work patterns, pregnancies, and injuries. So it’s been different every single week. It felt like almost every game was our very first; an entirely fresh learning experience, rather than a set pattern to follow from training, which saw hard work undone come matchday.

That’s an impossible situation. You can’t manage a squad when the team picks itself every week, and the formation is out of necessity rather than desire, and you barely even have a midfield; the engine of the whole team that is now my priority. “Management” becomes an oxymoron, when instead I’ve ended up being a motivational coach, getting to this finish line. I have some truly amazing players too, but to borrow an old joke, ‘I’ve been playing all the right notes…just not necessarily in the right order!’ That’s exactly how it’s been. Our better prepared weeks, with more depth to the squad, were when we beat Mexborough Athletic 4-2, lost to Mexborough Athletic 4-3, beat Worsbrough Athletic 3-2, drew with Wickersley Youth 2-2, and lost games to Dearne & District and Millmoor Juniors 0-1 and 0-2, respectively. Not a coincidence. But not everyone knows that.

Everyone around the league has their ideas or assumptions about why our results were so chaotic and extreme at times this season, and that’s fine. Many people don’t ask you for context, and those that do sometimes assume your explanations are simply excuses, like I said here before. What’s important is that this context is known and understood by this remarkable group of women who have stuck together, through all of this, and are this coming week about to celebrate their positivity, tenacity, and strength, and then look to the exciting, unprecedented changes here at AFC Unity with a “2020 Vision” that is going to blow away everything everyone thought they knew about AFC Unity.

By Elliot Makin

AFC Unity’s away trip to Sheffield Wednesday Development’s ground proved to be a tough fixture as they lost 13-1.

From the opening 20 minutes of the match Unity were pinned into their own half by Wednesday. However, Unity defended well and denied Wednesday from converting their numerous opportunities. Unity then broke forward and a cross was delivered into the box with which Wadsworth glanced a header across Wednesday’s goal in the 22nd minute. Wednesday then scrambled a goal into Unity’s net from close range following a brilliant save from Unity’s #1 Lamb making it 1-0 to Wednesday. The game was very uneventful for the next 15 minutes until Wednesday’s winger burst forward and slotted home her shot making the score 2-0. Shortly after this, Wednesday put away another chance extending the lead to 3-0. Despite falling 3-0 down Unity did not throw in the towel and attacked Wednesday’s defence which resulted in a free kick just outside the box with Wadsworth standing over the ball. She takes a shot from the free kick, but the ball flies just over the crossbar. Wednesday responded to Unity’s close chance and decide to throw players forward and as a result they scored 2 goals in quick succession just before the end of the first half making the score 5-0.

In the opening 10 minutes Wednesday started confidently and scored another 3 goals making the score worsen for Unity, 8-0. Although it could have been 9-0 if it wasn’t for Lamb’s great double save in the 55th minute. Wednesday continued to pile on the pressure upon Unity’s defence and a shot fired past Unity’s post. Wednesday pounced upon a loose ball and scored another goal extending the lead to 9-0 in the 62nd minute. There was an instance when Unity’s #17 Vizor made a fantastic last man tackle preventing Wednesday from scoring yet another goal. However, besides the heroics of Vizor Wednesday were able to put another two goals past Unity’s defence making the score 11-0 in the 78th minute. The game quietened down for the next 15 minutes, until Wednesday burst forward and converted another goal making it 12-0. Although Unity were looking at a 12-0 deficit, they didn’t let their heads drop and made sure when they did get their chance they were clinical as there was a sublime cross into Wednesday’s box which was met by #16 Smith who was able to slot home a goal making the score 12-1 in the 88th minute. However, just before the final whistle Wednesday scored to end the game 13-1.

by Elliot Makin

AFC Unity is a women’s football club situated in Sheffield that displays that all stereotypical views of football only being “a man’s game” are nonsensical as they are a football team that have extremely diverse and talented players who are all individually adept in different areas of the pitch. These include midfield maestros, pacey wingers, skilful dribblers, and many more. AFC Unity’s ethos is that it is one of collectivism: Unity promote and encapsulate the team-working spirit through the style of football they play. Furthermore, they encourage individuality and flair, and value every individual’s unique traits. However, AFC Unity reject the cutthroat individualism that is often affiliated with football and instead choose to embrace the more positive, unifying qualities that they feel are inherent in the sport: namely, teamwork.

The Football Philosophy

Unity’s football philosophy has been developing over time. When they first established the club, they began by signing whatever players they could find, they were a lowly unknown start-up. Nonetheless, many of the original players that joined Unity were revelations, and some are still playing for them to this day. However, as time passed, they knew that they needed to make the football they play reflect who they are as a team and as a club. AFC Unity abide by Johan Cruyff’s (two-time Ballon d’Or winner) approach to football; they feel that this is the missing piece of the puzzle, as it is an appropriate fit for their style of play. For example, Unity place an emphasis upon passing, which would be to work the ball upfield utilising each and every player, where the goalkeeper would be the first attacking player and the strikers are the first defensive players. This style of play has been a difficult task to execute, as at Unity’s level there’s a common culture where, due to there being no assistant referees, teams tend to sit deeper defensively, and then play long balls for aerial battles, often to one or two key target players, which of course is not sustainable and partly the reason so many clubs flash and fade.

AFC Unity is one of around six of the nineteen clubs that played in their league when they first began. This shows just how many dominant teams lost their key players that they were too heavily reliant upon, or lost funding that was used for the men’s team in their club. Unity don’t play the long ball game, but they have played the long game – they are immensely proud of what they’ve accomplished, and that their club is sustainable and is strong, and bigger than any one individual (yes, including the manager). They are a feminist football club, that are wanting to promote the women rather than make it about the man who manages the team, and they are extremely proud to be one of the very few teams to be independent, separate from any men’s club.

Improving AFC Unity as a team

The most recent occurrence for Unity was learning the style for the new additional players who signed for Unity over the summer period and incorporating each player into the positions suitable for them. This has however taken time and just now they have had to switch up the formation to accommodate for the uniqueness of each and every one of the players. It isn’t just as simple as shoe-horning a system upon a squad; they need to play to their strengths and accentuate their positives, rather than be dogmatic. Fortunately, they have been able to do that recently, realising that the core nexus of the squad week in, week out, is now more befitting a slightly varied system – and the system is not to be confused with the style of play, as any coach would tell you. They are still able to maintain their style of play, regardless of the system.

Therefore, in training they have had to tweak certain things. For example, while they still want to get better at cutting out basic horizontal passes in their own half, they need to feed the forwards differently given that the formation has been modified. Previously, they often had to go inwards first because if passed directly to wide forwards down the flanks, they would have their backs to the goal; whereas now, they are having to find different ways of doing that as up front is where it has really changed as much if not more than in midfield and at the back. This has been reflected already in recent games, where they have conceded less goals but also haven’t been able to convert as many chances. Therefore, they will need to work on these tasks in the coming weeks in training.

Solidarity Soccer Programme

The Solidarity Soccer programme is Unity’s own informal weekly session that is aimed at all women who have the urge to play some football in Unity’s own style of play without having to be committed to the club. Some women just want to attend as and when they choose, and enjoy the atmosphere, and an activity that is good for their physical and mental health, in a completely positive environment. Others embrace all that, but also have ambitions to play for the first team. Therefore, this offers something for the local community, and an option that very few clubs provide (where it’s usually only focusing upon the development of solely the first team or nothing), but it also acts as a sort of development system for Unity as well. They have had several players recently come through up into the first team after training for months or even years at Solidarity Soccer.

By Elliot Makin

The match today was a lively one in the sense that there were continuous gale force winds throughout as well as the contest between the two sides being end-to-end from the first blow of the whistle until the full-time whistle.

Unity got stuck into the game and piled their attack upon Shaw Lane’s defence as Unity’s #11, Gay, had three shots one after another from close range at Shaw Lane’s keeper to which the keeper denied each shot from shooting past her. In the 20^th minute was a very well built-up attack from Unity which was ended with a sublime finish from #24, Spillings, who fired her shot straight above Shaw Lane’s #1 and into the back of the net, 1-0. However, just 7 minutes later Shaw Lane’s #9 put away a close range shot which was gifted to her as Lamb saved a great shot which then fell into the path of their #9, 1-1. The game continued its liveliness towards the close of the first half as Unity had a brilliant shot which skimmed over the crossbar.

As the second half opened, Unity’s first attack looked very dangerous and as they progressed up the field, from this attack, Unity’s #16 Smith was able to slot home her chance and make Unity regain their lead making it 2-1. However, in the 58^th minute Shaw Lane’s #4 took an audacious shot from outside of the box and her shot went flying into Unity’s goal, 2-2. Shaw Lane decided to keep pushing at Unity’s defence and scored once again allowing them to take the lead for the first time, 2-3. Shortly after this, Unity’s #1, Lamb, came rushing out of her box as a sweeper keeper but was unable to clear the ball which fell to Shaw Lane’s #9 who couldn’t put away her attempt at goal. Through to the dying minutes of the second half, Unity’s #3, J. Watkinson, made a Messi-esque run into Shaw Lane’s box to which she weaved in and out of their defence but was unable to finish her shot at the end of it. The score ends 3-2 giving Shaw Lane AFC their hard-fought win.

We spoke with Solidarity Soccer attendee, Clare Jones, about her experiences attending the weekly innovative, informal women’s football training engaging women (16+) of any experience and ability in non-competitive football.

Solidarity Soccer is a great introduction to our alternative ethos, playing style and approach as a club and runs at the U-Mix Centre, Wednesdays, 7-8pm. Get in touch to get involved!

AFC Unity: In a few words, how would you describe Solidarity Soccer to someone who hasn’t been?

Clare: Solidarity Soccer sessions provide a chance to have a run around, learn some soccer skills and meet a group of friendly people for an hour on a Wednesday evening. I’ve felt very welcome at the sessions, and really like the ethos of 100% positivity. It’s great that there are different people each time, and that there is a range of skill levels, with first team players coming along to support and encourage those of us who are new to football. The sessions are suitable for people who aspire to play football competitively, as well as for people who, like me, want to come along for a bit of football without a heavy commitment.

AFC Unity: Do you have any stories that stand out from your time of being involved in Solidarity Soccer?

Clare: It was great going along to an AFC Unity match and seeing the players who help out at the Solidarity Soccer sessions doing it for real.

AFC Unity: Has Solidarity Soccer had an impact on your outside football life?

Clare: It’s a chance for me to have a bit of fun and exercise without any pressure and I think this is great for my physical and mental wellbeing!

AFC Unity: Has Solidarity Soccer helped you with 11-a-side football at all?

Clare: The sessions have helped me understand the game a bit better, although I’m not looking to play 11-a-side football at the moment. I play hockey regularly and the Solidarity Soccer sessions help with keeping my fitness up and with thinking about structure and game play that is also relevant to hockey.

AFC Unity: If you could pick one word to describe Solidarity Soccer what would it be?

Clare: Inclusive

AFC Unity: What has been your favourite skill to learn and why?

Clare: The skill I seem to have had the most practice at is the Cruyff Turn. I’m nowhere near mastering it but who knows; if I keep coming along to the Solidarity Soccer sessions, maybe one day I will….!

AFC Unity: Anything else to add?

Clare: Jane and Jay are very welcoming and run the sessions really well. The club’s involvement in socially progressive community projects is really inspiring and I love that the club was established as a women’s football club from the start.

By Elliot Makin

Today’s match result was another loss for AFC Unity as they fell 0-9 to Thurcroft Miners.

Unity began the game well and had defended 7 corners throughout the first half. However, in the 20th minute Thurcroft’s number 9 converted one of their chances and made it 0-1. Although Unity were 0-1 down, they continued to chase down all 50:50 balls and won possession in many instances in the first half. Thurcroft were unable to convert many of their shots for the majority of the first half. Up until the 32nd minute when their number 10 scored 3 to earn a quick 10 minute hattrick for herself ending the first half as 0-4.

Once the second half was underway, Unity started brilliantly and Jane Watkinson’s shot missing the top corner by just a few inches. However, after Jane’s chance Thurcroft went straight into attack and number 9 scored making it 0-5. 5 minutes later, Jane weaved in and out of Thurcroft’s defence and narrowly missed once again. Despite Unity being 0-5 down they continued to keep their heads high and carried on fighting in the last 30 minutes of the game and still created chances for themselves. Although, this wasn’t quite enough and another quick hattrick was scored by Thurcroft’s number 13 making it 0-8 in the dying minutes of the game. Unity still carried on piling on pressure right up until the last minute of the game. In the 89th minute number 9 for Thurcroft converted her chance ending the game 0-9 to Thurcroft Miners.

Talking to Unity’s manager Jay Baker after the game he said, “In the first half it was really hard for us to get hold of the ball and get it on the floor and start playing football.” Speaking to Unity’s Jane Watkinson she felt that, “we played a lot better in the second half as we were more assertive, and we attacked a lot more. However, we made simple mistakes, things we know we’re doing wrong that we shouldn’t be doing and we can improve on this in our training.”