HOLLAND/ BELGIUM TOUR 2012
17 May 2012

Another tour, another coach driver who couldn't find his way, another brilliant weekend. No trophies to bring home this year but what a fantastic experience for all the lads.
Setting off from the Transport Ground in the early hours of Friday for the eurotunnel,you could feel the excitement, certainly as all 15 players were travelling. We arrived (late) on Friday afternoon and the boys (and sisters) promptly went crackers in the superb swimming pool and waterslides complex.
The first days football was, yet again, at a wonderful Dutch club where the facilities make our's look embarrassing. A slightly slow start saw us miss loads of chances in the first game v RKSV Volkel (Holland) but come away with a 0-0 draw.
It was apparent that the lads we were playing against were all older, the differences in Dutch age groups meant we were playing in an u13s division with allowance for some u14s and the size of some of the lads there was incredible!
The second game however saw us totally dominate Berghem Sport (Holland) with a resounding 3-0 win (Tareek 2, Aaron). It again could have been more but it was also apparent that there was a fairly strong anti English feeling amongst the referees and opponents! Cast iron penalties turned down and the most bizarre decisions and behaviour you could wish to see all added to the fun of the day.
So a draw in the last game would take us through to the group winners stage on the second day. Playing IF Midtdjurs (Denmark), we were totally outplayed and lost 2-0 (again a very very very dodgy penalty) but no complaints. It's very rare we walk off knowing we didn't deserve anything but this was one of those games - an older, faster, superior side left us chasing shadows in the second half as they produced a passing/ moving masterclass.
So from being able to win the group we finished third on goal difference.
The second day saw us in the third place pot and whilst we wanted to win, we decided to mix it up a little and change some of the lads' positions. First out v Leede 1 (Holland), we drew 1-1 (Tom) after a very competitive game. Next up Leede 2 (Holland)and a 2-0 win (James, Ben H) enabled James to play up front and score with a 30 yarder top corner. The celebrations were mad, the dutch didn't know what was going on and I think that moment made the weekend so much more special!
Last up Juliana (Holland) and a 1-0 win (Joe) meant we finished top of the group and finished 9th out of 16. On reflection a great performance against some very good teams.
The football is important on a weekend last this but so is the bonding experience for the lads and also the parents. I think it's fair to say everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and yet again there wasn't one fall out, which shows what a great bunch we have.
There were so many fantastic moments, it's hard to pick out a favourite, so I'll list a few that come to mind and let you decide..

1) James Gamble 30 yarder.
2) Bill Rose forgetting his son.
3) Craig Hanson forgetting his son.
4) The driver getting lost.
5) The boys songs on the coach.
7) Ron Mushet's drunken attempt to eat a full steak in one.
8) Trying to find the chalets.
9) Random drunken blokes walking in to the chalets.
10) The sight of that bloke pulling up in his van to take the cases.
11) Dave Fisher breakdown moment 'I can't go on'
12) Dave Fisher's face whilst hugging Easter Bunny.
13) The driver getting lost and being abused by the boys.
14) Colin Gamble's lipstick antics.
15) Lets all do the peacock
16) Small curly haired lad from Diversity playing for Dutch team on second day.
17) Bradley Richards marking Peter Crouch.
18) Dutch teams fighting, including parents.
19) Dutch celebration when every player took shirts off to avoid player who had scored getting booked for taking shirt off.
20) Richard Cooper's rendition of 'Rat in me kitchen'.

I'm sure there's load more that I can't think of but will come to mind suddenly on a boring day at work and raise a smile.

Fantastic weekend, fantastic company, bring on next year!

Season 2011-12
15 May 2012

What an amazing achievement for the boys this season. Written off by many at the beginning of the season, they proceeded to go unbeaten and win the A division and league cup double.
The season started with 8 new players making up a squad of 16 and pre season looked good with 2 tournament wins and some excellent friendly performances suggesting the boys were gelling very quickly.
They hit the ground running with a 4-0 win at Wickersley and never looked back, gaining 1-1 draws in tricky games away to league challengers, Thorncliffe, Handsworth & Woodhouse.
However, the league table was very tight and a 1-1 draw at home to Wickersley in November dropped us down the table after an awful performance.
The reaction though was a winning run in league and cup from then until the end of the season, an astonishing 16 game run. 
There's no doubt that despite our normal attacking threat, this season's success has been built on a solid foundation at the back and 13 clean sheets are testament to this.
So a third league and cup double in 4 seasons and the boys are yet to lose a cup game since the competition started at u9s.
Without doubt this is the strongest and best squad we have had and the attitude and desire of the team to win is frightening at times.
We're proud of all of you,a wonderfull achievement, Double Winners!!

Aylestone Park Diamond Cup - 03/07/2011
04 Jul 2011

Congratulations to all the boys after winning their second consecutive tournament on Sunday in Leicester.

An early start to the day as we set off on a coach to Aylestone Park FC, the last time we visited there in Summer 2009, we were crowned Midlands Champions after a successfull day of mini soccer. How things have changed in 2 years - now at 11 a side and our 16 man squad contains 8 new signings after a summer of change. One thing is for sure already though, its plain to see that we have a great group who are already together, team spirit and friendships building by the week, players who are all proud to wear the Greenhill shirt and feel honoured to be part of the club plus parents who are all 100% supportive with none of the silliness evident that we saw at times last year.

20 teams were present, all boasting quality from Leicester, Coventry, Notts, Warwicks and even an international flavour from Sliema Wanderers, Malta, split into 4 groups of 5.

Greenhill started strongly and dominated their first game v Blaby but struggled to finish as chances went begging. Eventually Tareek broke the deadlock and a second followed after a flowing move from defence was finished by Lewis with a curled far top corner effort for a goal of the season contender, to give a convincing 2-0 win.

Next up were Ashby and a similar pattern emerged as domination was followed by frustration as chances were missed but again it was Tareek who eventually scored to give a 1-0 win.

a good start but Aylestone Park 94 sat top as they had won 2, drawn 1 and it meant a win was absolutely vital to give ourselves a chance of finishing top. Goals in either half from Ben Bower, his first for the club, and a neat edge of area shot from Josh ensured another comfortable 2-0 win and put us through to the quarters.

The final group game was against a Sileby side that had to win to finish second above Aylestone but in a completely one sided affair, a Max free kick special plus Jack (2) and Aaron ensured a 4-0 win and a 100% record with no goals conceded.

Onto the quarters v Ibstock Utd and again we weren't really troubled in a 2-0 win with Danny Jackson and Tareek sealing the win.

The fantastic pitches were suiting Greenhill's free flowing passing football style and the games of 10 minutes each way were ensuring the helter skelter score first usual tournament panic wasn't evident, and this was to prove vital going forward....

The semis saw us take on the hosts, Aylestone Park Youth and again Greenhill started quickly and created chances that weren't taken. However, for the first time we then conceded after a long ball wasn't dealt with and was dispatched into James' bottom corner. 1-0 down at half time and 10 minutes to ensure the coach ride home wasn't the longest and most miserable ever! The boys responded well penning Aylestone in their own half but couldn't find the equaliser until 4 minutes to go when a penalty was awarded - Ben Bower stepped up to take his first for the club and somehow saw his effort roll off the keeper into the net. The rest of the game was Greenhill pressure with Aylestone hanging on for penalties and the referee had already requested the linesman take note of the subs to ensure they weren't eligible for penalties, when Tareek burst through and chipped over the keeper for a winner with 20 seconds left - que mad celebrations both on and off the pitch!

The final v Barrow Town, who also had a 100% record, was a game where many were running on memory, the hot weather and long day taking it's toll on players from both sides. Greenhill's fitness and quality shone through and went 2-0 up in the first half through Dan Rose and Tareek. Dan scored another in the second half of absolute quality after receiving the ball on the right wing, skipping past 2 players and smashing the ball low into the far bottom corner, 3-0 and our 12th Tournament win in the bag.

Onto the club house for a well deserved drink and to receive the Diamond Cup plus individual trophies.

Our thanks to Aylestone Park FC for probably the best arranged and hosted tournament we have been involved in, to all our players for the great football, superb attitude and behaviour throughout the day plus parents for the magnificent support.

The coach journey home was a memorable one as the lads had a victory sing-a-long. Thoughts are already turning to September and the real stuff and maybe we might just have a competitive squad for season 2011-12?

Squad - James Gamble, Ben Bower, Max Fisher, Brad Richards, Josh Hawes, Charley Blunden, Tom Shaw, Lewis Hanson, Danny Jackson, Jack Joel, Aaron Mushet, Dan rose, Tareek Cooper.

FR v WICKERSLEY U13s
19 Jun 2011

It's very rare a friendly would get a mention but this one has to -
Quite possibly the best performance from a Greenhill team in the 6 years we've been running.

Up against a team a year older, the boys were'nt expected to do anything other than suffer a defeat, maybe heavy, and get outplayed and out muscled all over the pitch.

The scoreline of 2-2 doesn't tell half the story. From the kick off, Greenhill proceeded to pass the ball with such authority and confidence, that it was hard to believe, at times, that you weren't watching a premiership academy team, it really was that good.

Passing from the back, through midfield and up front, triangles, one-twos, pass and move, the whole team played superbly. To go in 1-0 down at half time and then concede right at the start of the second was harsh to say the least, particularly with the most cast iron penalty you'll ever see denied and a freekick given around 10 yards back from where the foul took place, outside the area!

Most teams in this situation would fold, but we actually started to play better, going up the considerable hill as well. Dragging back the score to 2-2, its no exaggeration to say we could then have gone on to win by 4 or 5 goals hitting the wordwork twice and Wickersley's keeper making some last ditch saves.

A parent mentioned 'we maybe haven't got the individual talent we had last year but as a team everyone is playing together' and how true. EVERY player played together, working, tackling, backing each other up and trying to pass the ball on the floor, whilst providing options to those with it.

I believe the word on the street is that we've been written off again, having changed so many players. We'll see won't we?