MIDDLESEX FA HOLD UNDER 16 REPRESENTATIVE TEAM TRIALS

On Saturday last, 31 August, at the Heston Centre, Middlesex FA held the first of their open trials to identify potential players for the forthcoming season’s Under 16 representative team.

20 boys (from 10 different clubs) attended a very worthwhile session. Manager Darrel Gyngell was pleased with the overall standard of play and impressed by the skills exhibited by several of the participants. He has invited all of the attendees back to the second (and final) trial, scheduled for Saturday, 21^st September, 2019.

Darrel and his coaching staff would also like to look at any further candidates for places in the squad on 21^st September. They should currently be playing at a good standard, ideally in the higher divisions of youth football or have had experience of representative football at schools FA or a similar level.

These are open trials and present an opportunity for all eligible boys. However, County FA selection is a prestigious achievement and standards of selection are high.

Therefore, mindful of this playing standard criteria, we are happy for eligible boys to nominate themselves but are also seeking recommendations from club managers, secretaries or coaches.

Middlesex are scheduled to play South East Counties Youth Championship games at Under 16 level against London, Jersey and the Amateur Football Alliance. If we win our group we would play the winners of the other group, comprising Essex, Guernsey, Kent and Sussex in the final. We also have an early season match, for the Cyril Butler Trophy, against Berks and Bucks FA.

Selected players will remain with their parent club throughout the season but when players are selected for Middlesex, should the fixture clash with a player’s parent club league fixture, that club is given the opportunity to move or defer their game. Therefore, clubs need not be concerned that their players being selected for Middlesex FA matches would be to the detriment of their team.

To be eligible for this squad players must have been born between 1^st Sep 2003 and 31^st Aug 2004 and must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be registered as a player with a Middlesex FA affiliated club.

• Have been born within the County of Middlesex.

• Currently be residing in the County of Middlesex.

The final trials, on Saturday, 21^st Sep, 2019 will again be held at the Heston Centre (formerly BA Concorde Club), Crane Lodge Road, Cranford, Middlesex, TW5 9PQ,  between 10,30 am and 12.30 pm. Registration will start promptly at 9.45 am.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SELECTION OF PHOTOS, COURTESY OF CHRIS BENN