Two of Castle Combe Colts’ youngest teams were among the prize-winners when the club staged its biggest tournament yet last weekend.

More than 1,200 youth footballers converged on the village’s sportsfield across three days as 186 teams from under-6s to 18s showcased their skills in the sunshine.

The oldest age group kicked off proceedings on Friday night, with Melksham United taking the honours.

Swindon Rangers were victorious in two categories, while the host club’s under-7s and 8s both scooped the fair play honours after receiving the highest sportsmanship marks from the event’s refereeing team.

Proud Colts chairman Trevor Newman said: "We are so lucky to have the facilities we have. They seem to make us a destination of choice when our colleague clubs are choosing which tournaments to enter – and the weather certainly helped as well.

“However, I think it is our committee and hard-working volunteers - the lifeblood of the club -  and the way they do things that provide such a positive and pleasant experience for those that visit us on an annual basis.  

“There were some fantastic skills, goals and saves on display but what I would most like to thank everyone for is the way they conducted themselves. Respect was high and behaviour was impeccable.”

CCCFC TOURNAMENT 2013 ROLL OF HONOUR

Under-7s: Fair play – Castle Combe Colts Stripes.

Under-8s: Fair play – Castle Combe Colts Whites.

Under-9s: Winners – FC Calne Pumas, runners-up – FC Chippenham A.

Under-10s: Winners – Croft Juniors, runners-up – Bath Arsenal Tigers.

Under-11s: Winners – Swindon Rangers B, runners-up – Swindon Rangers A.

Under-12s: Winners – Swindon Rangers, runners-up – Trowbridge Town Orange.

Under-13s: Winners – Yate United Whites, runners-up – Trowbridge Town A.

Under-14s: Winners – AFC Corsham, runners-up – Brinkworth Cats.

Under-15s: Winners – Didcot Town, runners-up – Devizes Town Stripes.

Under-16s: Winners – FC Abbey Meads, runners-up – AFC Corsham.

Under-18s: Winners – Melksham United, runners-up – Calne.

Chairman’s Message - New Season

Dear Players, Parents, Coaches & Supporters of CCCFC – new season, new start! We embark upon a new season with renewed hope and determination. Last year was one of the best ever in terms of cup finals, league wins and growing the club. It was also a great one for raising revenue enabling us to further hone our fantastic facilities and invest in the future. All this success is fine (great in fact!), but we have to remember who we are - and deploy our fantastic values in everything we do. Thankfully we do exactly that - every week without fail. One booking last year throughout the whole club is one indicator that we have things right - but we cannot be complacent. 

If the players work hard and display good attitude -I can ensure you the parent helpers, coaches and committee will do the same - and we will all improve and prosper as a result.

Volunteering

When you join this club you make one of the best decisions you can make. You immediately own part of the club and with that comes responsibility. If committee numbers dwindle as they have done in the last couple of years, the workload sits on fewer people and burn out rate accelerates - this is a real threat. We need new people and we need them from the whole range of age groups. There is nothing to be intimidated by - there are loads of admin roles not all needing football knowledge - we just need bodies. Please consider what you can do and step up:

Level 1 - we need everyone to volunteer for the set piece events (tea bar/car boot sale/tournament)

Level 2 -  assisting your coach weekly (match fees/goals/barriers/linesman etc) or minor role on committee

Level 3 - major role on committee

The workload has to be spread thinner - are you Level 1,2 or 3? Below that is not an option! If we cannot rely on volunteers and have to employ people instead fees will be unrecognisable as will the ethos of the club. If you are new to the club (or indeed an old timer), please come forward – you will be made to feel very welcome.

Respect

We have a well earned reputation - one we are proud of and one we absolutely demand is kept. We compete but we compete with respect. You can win with respect for authority, opponent, colleague and coach.Any victory achieved without that is very hollow indeed. Let’s go for absolute excellence, be determined about achieving it, but conduct ourselves in the right way whilst we strive.

We are very proud of being an FA approved Charter Standard Club - once again we have adopted the FA's Respect Codes of Conduct. Most of you will have already signed up to them – please apply them. You can find out more about the Respect programme at www.thefa.com

We value your Feedback

We always welcome your feedback - about any aspect of the club. So if you have any comments about what we do well, and probably more importantly - what we could do better, then please let me know.

Dates for the Diary

We have set some dates and will agree others in the coming months - I will edit this newsletter on the website as the remaining dates (TBA) become agreed:

Mini-Soccer Xmas Party – tba

AGM - tba

Presentation Evening – tba

Car Boot Sale Fund Raiser - tba

Registration Event - tba

Tournament - tba

Please make a note of these dates in your diaries (!) and keep them free. Have a great season, everyone.

Best Wishes

Trevor Newman
Chairman - Castle Combe Colts FC