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| Youths
History |
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| 1991-94 |
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At the beginning of the Nineties, the club had five established teams in the Ipswich and District Sunday Youth League, from Under 12's through to Under 16's. In 1991 the club collected one of two pieces of silverware for the season, with the under 13's finishing runners up in the League Cup. The under 12's achieved the same feat, losing to St Johns in the final of the Vase competition. But it was this under 12's team that brought the first League title of the decade to the club, two years later in 1993, under the management of John Brooks and Paul Dixon. To this they added a further two Cup trophies in the same year, winning 30 of their 35 matches, scoring an incredible 183 goals.
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Nigel Shemmings became Chairman at the club in 1992, following the step down of former Chairman Dave Cotton. The club continued to expand with the introduction of Under 11's and Under 10's teams into The Black Tiles League and in 1992 it was agreed that all Woodbridge Youth teams would play in the same colours of black and white stripes. The club were playing their home matches at three venues - Farlingaye High School, Melton Playing Field and Kingston Park, where the players were able to enjoy the facilities of the new Pavilion which was officially opened on the 29th of January 1994. The previous August, volunteers from the Club had undertaken the demolition and removal of the old building.
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1994-97
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The successful Under 14's team of 1993 again won the league and Cup in 1994 as under 15's, before finishing as League and Cup runners-up at Under 16 level in 1995. In the same year at the other end of the age scale, the Under 10's were turning heads, with a League and Cup double in their first year, losing only one game all season, under the guidance of Nick Jones and Les Farthing. In that same year the Under 11's won the League Cup and finished runners up in the league, and further silverware was added by the Under 13's winning their Cup competition.
The most successful season of the Nineties for the club was also it's final year with Nigel Shemmings at the helm, who stepped down at he end of the season after four years of dedication to the club as Chairman. Simon Cook rejoined the club with his Woodbridge Cubs under 9's team, who were to become the following season's Under 10's side. The position of Chairman was held that following season, 1995-96, by John McNally, who took on the position only as a temporary measure, and in October 1996 an appeal went out to parents of players advising them that the Chairman, and its Treasurer and Secretary, Paul Dixon, wished to step down after many years of service to the club.
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1997-2001
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In 1997 Ivan Howlett stepped into the Chair with Nick Jones becoming Club Secretary. His team, the Under 11's followed up their success as under 10's, with a second league title. By 1997, the club had formed Under 8's and 9's teams who were the following year entered into The Felixstowe and District Junior Football League
(FADJFL), playing their matches on a newly marked out mini-soccer pitch at Kingston Park, managed by Dave Miller (U8) and Paul Smith (U9). The growth of the FADJFL would see both teams continue in this league until the present day. In 1999, further success was enjoyed in the Ipswich and District Sunday Youth League by the Under 14's, again winning their league and the Vase competition, whilst The under 8's, managed by Ray Smith, finished second in their league and as Cup winners in their first season.
In 1999, the Club appointed Maggie Fitzpatrick as manager of the new under 8's team, who continued the Club's excellent record at that level, finishing runner up in the A league and reaching the final of the B team Cup competition, whilst the other age groups collected three League titles and two runner-up positions between them. By the turn of the Century, the Club once again had a stable Committee and Management team in place, which continues today with the twelve current committee members sharing a total of 46 years of service to the Club.
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2001-03
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In the 2001-02 season, the Youths recorded their most successful season to date, a year which saw the club's teams winning four league titles and five league cup competitions. Off the field of play, the club welcomed Life-Vice President of the Ipswich & Suffolk Youth Football League, John Beecroft as Chairman and David Miller as Vice Chairman and a development initiative saw the club awarded FA Charter Standard Status in June 2002 followed by a joint application with Woodbridge Town FC in November 2002, resulting in the club becoming one of less than 100 FA Charter Standard Community Clubs in the UK.
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Back on the field of play, in April 2003 the Under 15's managed by Daniel Frost and Paul Downs, delivered the Suffolk County Minor Cup to Woodbridge for the first time since 1924 following a thrilling 3-1 victory over Ransomes at the ITFC Academy. Their outstanding season continued with the side lifting the league title and knockout cup to complete a treble.
The 2002-03 season also saw the introduction of Girls football at the club. Following an application to the Awards For All programme (Lottery Grants for Local Groups) the club was awarded £4000 for girls football development and the club became a founder member of Suffolk's first girls football league. A magnificent first season for the girls under 11 team, managed by Trevor
Fagg, saw them complete the club's second treble of the season winning the League Title and both Knockout and League Cups.
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2003-04
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At the beginning of the 2003-04 season the club appointed Daniel Frost as Secretary, with previous Secretary Richard Scott stepping aside to manage the clubs new and second girls team, the Under 12's. The club also welcomed Trevor Elmy and a new under 15's Sunday team, broadening the club's horizons in the Colchester & District Youth League.
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