Focused as we are on igniting the careers of adults we help into employment or transforming workplaces through partnership led apprenticeships, we don’t often get to talk about the under 10’s.
Except, that is the Forefield Rangers Blues.
Their story starts about 2 years ago – a class of under 8’s in a Merseyside village school – Great Crosby Primary School to be precise – from which a group of friends formed a football team – they turned up on the field with no manager, no playing experience beyond playground/back gardens and were entered into the under 8’s Hightown League.
They were nowhere and frankly it showed – they took a repeated battering – week after week saw heavy losses – it was a difficult start for these lads to say the least, and hard to watch.
So here comes the Cidori bit…
You see, two of the lads – Olly & Haz (back row far left & far right respectively team picture) are Kevin Roberts boys – and Kevin, when he’s not super busy as our Head of Operations is a part time coach for Forefield Rangers Blues.
Well, they didn’t give up – but got their heads down, did extra training in all weathers and secured their first victory 5 months into the 21-22 season – even going on to win the Lower League Spring Plate at the end of the season!
With a couple of smart transfer moves, and a strategy of developing good people relationships with everyone connected with the team, the 22-23 season saw things improve – games were becoming more competitive with closer outcomes and in May 23 the rangers got to the Spring Shield Cup Final where they lost – just – on penalties against a far better team when their sudden death penalty hit the crossbar. Hard but character building!
By this point the team was needing some financial support – and Cidori immediately agreed to fund brand new home/away kits ready for the 23-24 season early next month. Both kits proudly on display above!
And finally – should we even wonder who won the Europa League Cup at Marine FC – an under 10’s tournament across Merseyside over the recent bank holiday?
There must be a few business lessons here – but perhaps for another time.
We wish the team and all their support network every success in the coming season and will definitely let you know when they win another cup or turn professional.