Teddington Lights Up

Thank you to all the girls and parents for coming along on Thursday Night to Moidul's to help us celebrate Teddington Lights Up and the news that we had become League Champs!

We were also there to present our very generous sponsor Moidul's Restaurants with a framed shirt and to show our appreciation for his support.

Here are a few pictures from the evening.  If you have anymore please can you send them to Caroline at info@do-events.co.uk and we will upload them.

Also we have been getting lots of fantastic online support - take a look at Teddington People's photo gallery and thanks also to our Twitter Followers the Women's Sport Trust and TWING_IT spreading our news across the Twittersphere!  Don't forget to Follow the girls @TAFCU12GIRLS

CHAMPIONS

Not all trophies are won on the pitch.

Back before he was a knight, Alex Ferguson found out about his first English league title win on the golf course: second-placed Aston Villa had failed to beat Oldham, and Manchester United were champions.

Teddington Athletic manager Dave W has no time for golf - he's far too busy managing the U12 girls and U11 Sharks while also holding down a proper job. And it was at that proper job that Dave was informed that Sunday's opponents Kempton, the only team that can catch the U12 table-toppers, can't raise a team for the fixture – and so Teddington are crowned champions.

In November.

Hearty congratulations to all involved. The girls can celebrate when they meet at Moidul's tomorrow (Thursday) as part of the Teddington Christmas lights switch-on. Meet at 7pm with hoodies and home shirts on, please. (Not the parents, that would look awful...)

And here they are, the champions:

Sun 24 Nov: Caterham Pumas (A) W 4-1

When they say this Teddington side has come a long way, they don't often mean literally. But the 17-mile journey to Caterham didn't faze the league leaders, and nor did the miserable weather at the Happy Valley recreation ground.

Play from the back: Saskia...

Indeed, Teddington tore at their hosts from the off with great teamwork. In the very first minute, leading scorer Phoebe Head ripped down the right wing, looked up and found Ale Fairn who shot just wide of the near post.

...and Millie T, passing their way to promotion

Within that team framework are effective individuals, and they came to the fore: on-fire Phoebe leathered a first-time shot onto the angle of post and bar, before midfield menacer Ruby Rudkin had a lovely first-time shot well saved.

Emily on the front foot, Ruby on the run 

A minute later, a super crossfield pass from Phoebe found her opposite winger Sinead Morris, who beat the defender and fired wide. Then it was Emily Coulson, playing despite being well under the weather with an ear infection, who cut inside two players and fired on target.

Ale celebrates her goal

But it was teamwork that put Teddington on top, of the league and the match, and their opening goal was just about their finest of the season. With 11 minutes on the clock, Millie Theobald found her defensive partner Saskia Brewster. Sas strode forward and supplied Ruby, who in turn ran forward and supplied Emily; the schemer slipped the ball wide to Phoebe, who cut in and hammered the league leaders in front.

Sinead strikes fear into the Pumas

After the five-girl move, the opportunist strike. Phoebe's throw found Emily, whose shot from distance was saved but squirmed loose; on the spot was Ale with a superb striker's goal, instinctively dinking it over the despairing keeper.

Phoebe beats one as Ale nips into a space

Four minutes later came Athletic's 100th goal of the season. Again it was Emily driving at the heart of the defence, and although the shot deflected past the luckless goalkeeper, the initial effort was on target and the goal is Emily's.

Phoebe has a shot on goal

If that effectively won the game, any lingering Caterham hopes were extinguished when an innocuous challenge from Ruby led to the home captain limping off. With the hosts already a girl short, Latics manager Dave W immediately withdrew the perplexed Ruby. Although the Caterham skipper would come back on the in the second half, Dave would make further reductions in the second half to test his players' resolve.

Ruby feeds Phoebe, Sadie gets on her bike

Just before half-time, Teddington made it four. Sinead rampaged down the left, and the ball found its way to Phoebe whose left-foot first-time shot made it 4-0.

Sadie and Sophie take it to the Pumas

The second half was much less impressive. The side that had streaked past Caterham with stunning teamwork suddenly turned selfish, shooting instead of passing, looking for glory instead of team-mates. It's notable that this was the only half this season in which Teddington haven't scored, and Caterham's late consolation was well deserved.

Get past Brewster and there's a Wallman waiting...

The girls were quietly but firmly told after the match that such selfishness is counter-productive. Playing individualistically, they might beat poor teams, but they need to play together to beat the better outfits.

Sinead tears at Caterham's backline 

There is much to be admired in this Teddington team. Phoebe, Emily, Ale and Sinead may be at the forefront of things, but they are nothing without the hard work of midfielders like the dogged Sophie Wallman and the increasingly confident Sadie Day. They, in turn, rely on defenders like Saskia and Millie T, the latter joined in defence by tough-tackling Ella Parkinson-Mearns when Sas replaced Ella V in goal.

One of many second-half chances unconverted 

Next week's game at Kempton Girls, the only team now capable of catching the leaders, could see Teddington win the league; it is the team that will be crowned champions, not a single player.

TEDDINGTON ATHETIC (2-3-3) Ella V; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Emily Coulson (1), Ruby Rudkin; Phoebe Head (2), Ale Fairn (1), Sinead Morris. Subs: Sadie Day, Sophie Wallman. 1.45pm, Happy Valley, light rain. 

A sight to gladden a coach: a player looking up for the right pass

Possibly a foul throw...!

Sas and Millie watch on as your reporter takes notes

Unorthodox effort from Ale

Parky with options to pass to

Jelly looking for the right ball 

Sinead with Sadie in support

"Oh no you don't..."

Encouraged by her coaches, Millie T charges out of defence with the ball

"Take one of us on, you take us all on"

More New Kit, A Local Mention & Teddington Lights Up

The New Away Kit, Hoodies and Smart Coaches Jackets for Gary & Dave have all arrived. Thank you to all of you who supported our Silver Sponsorship Raffle - parents and local businesses, plus of course the winner Physio & Therapy and our squad sponsor Moidul's as without your sponsorship we would not have such a lot of super new Kit to play in!

The U12 Girls Team had a fantastic mention locally in the Sport Update on the Teddington Town Website today.

The Girls will also be soaking up more of the limelight next Thursday at Teddington Lights Up when the local press come to town.  Our squad sponsor Moidul will be presented with his framed TAFC U12 Girls Team Home Shirt by the Girls themselves in the presence (we hope) of the Richmond & Twickenham Times. More details will follow....

Don't forget to Follow the Girls on Twitter @TAFCU12GIRLS 

Sun 17 Nov: Abbey Rangers (H) W 7-2

After the previous week's narrowish cup win over Caterham Pumas, a reaction was needed. 

The starting line-up certainly looked different, with five new faces from last week's team: only goalkeeper Charlotte Ward, defender Ella Parkinson-Mearns, midfielder Emily Coulson and striker Ale Fairn survived as Dave W rang the changes. Saskia Brewster returned to the defence, while all four of last week's subs started from the off: Sadie Day and Sophie Wallman in midfield, Amy Hallett and Millie MacEacharn out wide.

Emily in the action

However, it was one of the survivors who put Teddington ahead within the first minute. With seven goals in her seven games beforehand, Ale Fairn had been a reliable rather than remarkable goalscorer – even if it is her intelligent movement and ceaselessly selfless running that creates space and opportunities for her team-mates – but on this occasion her four goals were, quite simply, the difference between the two teams. 

Ale leads the line

The opener rewarded her running: spying a gap and inviting a composed through-ball from Sophie, Ale broke the offside trap and finished comfortably. The second, six minutes later, demonstrated her diligent teamwork. She started a move which ended with Millie Mac cutting in from the left wing; when the goalkeeper got down well to save Millie's shot, Ale was on hand to mop up the rebound. 

Ale celebrates her second

So far so good, but within a minute the lead was halved. As several Teddington players lost focus by watching an irritatingly noisy rugby open day, Abbey sliced through the Athletic defence and finished low past Charlotte's right hand. 

With eight minutes gone the scores were 2-1, and a Teddington side without its top two scorers were in a proper game. Frequently making quadruple substitutions to keep themselves fresh, a determined Abbey were tackling toughly (if fairly), but a relatively inexperienced Athletic side coped well with the questions asked: looking to pass to each other, moving with and without the ball and always playing as a team.

At half-time, the grinning visiting manager noted that this was "a proper game, for once" – but Teddington took control in the second half. With Sophie and Sadie having run themselves ragged in the first half, manager Dave brought them off for Ella V and Millie Theobald, the latter in her usual defensive role while Ella Parkinson-Mearns moved up into midfield. It worked a treat, Parky breaking up Abbey attacks before they reached the back-line, while 'Jelly' dominated the game in her usual prodigious way.  

Sadie runs herself into the ground

Three minutes after the restart, Jelly's long throw was finished at the near post by Sinead Morris, with all the confidence of a girl scoring her 18th of the season. The confidence spread, as it so often does: two minutes later, Jelly's corner was hammered toward goal by Parky, only for Ale to turn it home despite being flat on her back. Had it been a defender, Parky could have claimed her on-target shot wasn't an OG - but Ale is a striker, and rightly claimed the goal.

At that point, manager Dave prepared to bring her off and give Amy Hallett an education-extending run up front, but the girl in form hadn't finished with a mere hat-trick. Sinead's direct running down the right caused havoc for Abbey, and Ale was first to the falling ball to get her fourth and Teddington's fifth. 

Amy gets stuck in

As is so frequently the case, Athletic were in no mood for charity, and a weak goal-kick was ruthlessly collected and swept in by Ella V. That made it 6-1 and Teddington's four goals in less than 10 minutes had killed Abbey's hopes, although a much-improved away side - roared on by a sizeable travelling support - got a deserved second goal with 10 minutes left, a fine far-post finish from a right-wing cross. 

All that remained was for Emily to score for her fifth successive game, a typically confident near-post touch from another Jelly corner, and the job was done. Another magnificent seven goals – making it 97 scored in 10 fulfilled fixtures – and just as importantly, some good experience for players who haven't started as many games.

Sinead gets involved

That will certainly strengthen the squad for the four fixtures remaining this side of Christmas. Next week, after a run of six successive home games, Teddington travel to an impressive Caterham side who will surely want revenge for their league and cup defeats and are coming off the back of a 7-0 win at Colne Valley; then it's Kempton Girls, still Athletic's nearest challengers after beating Guildford 9-0; then it's that League Cup quarter-final at First Division side Carshalton Athletic. 

If Teddington beat their two closest rivals by winning those next two league games, they will be champions before that cup quarter-final.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-3-3): Charlotte Ward; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Saskia Brewster; Sophie Wallman, Emily Coulson (1), Sadie Day; Amy Hallett, Ale Fairn (4), Millie MacEacharn. Subs: Millie Theobald, Ella V (1), Sinead Morris (1).
10am, Teddington Cricket Club. Photos by David Theobald. Thanks!

Parky takes a throw

Millie bears down on goal...

...Ale finishes for 2-0...

...and rightly takes the plaudits

Sophie jumps to it

Athletic pour forward

Sun 10 Nov: Caterham Pumas (H) W 7-3 (League Cup 1st Round)

Of all Teddington Athletic's wins this season, this was the hardest fought - and the hardest lesson. Having come close to losing this cup game, the league leaders may have to scale down their ambition, stopping looking long and concentrate on doing the next thing right.

You can't blame Teddington for looking upwards. After nine straight wins in which they've rattled home 83 goals, the players and staff maybe forgiven for wondering how they would do against higher-division opposition – particularly when they knew that winning their first League Cup game, against a Caterham side they had beaten 9-1 a fortnight earlier, would send them through to a game against Division One opponents, with potential Premier Division opponents waiting thereafter.

But therein lies the problem: if you try to go forward too quickly, you can lose your footing. And against a determined Caterham not short on talent, Athletic very nearly threw away their cup run before it started.

Pre-match shooting practice.

The pattern was set from the off: an even game, with Teddington for some reason refusing to pass to each other, instead becoming bogged down in pointless dribbling. True, Ruby Rudkin opened the scoring after 10 minutes, and a minute later Emily Coulson planted a shot into the top corner – after the ref rightly ignored a premature offside flag given against an inactive player – but Teddington were not playing well.

Emily makes it 2-0.

That much was proved when Caterham dominated the next 10 minutes, deservedly halving the lead. Teddington players were trying to find individual answers rather than moving into spaces for each other and finding the right pass; even the defenders – Millie Theobald paired on this occasion with Ella Parkinson-Mearns – were initially guilty of trying to go forward with the ball rather than moving off into space for each other.

On 20 minutes, and after a couple of early substitutions intended to shake the starters from their lethargy, the message screamed from the touchlines got through. A glorious passing move the length of the field led to an Athletic throw 10 yards from the touchline; Ella V launched a rocket of a throw into the box and Emily rifled high into the net.

The throw that launched a thousand opposition complaints....

But Caterham weren't done. At a corner minute later, they intelligently pulled a corner back to the near corner of the box and finished past the luckless Charlotte Ward for 3-2. Again, Teddington slipped back into schoolyard ways: head-down dribbling in possession, tactic-free ball-watching without it.

Half-time brought a shock for the girls: the biggest rocket they've yet had from the management. Warned in no uncertain terms that they would lose if they carried on as they were, they were quickly reminded of the team's aims: pass, move, spread the ball and play for each other.

Some of the lessons were clearly heeded, but the sloppy play didn't end there. Two minutes into the second half, Caterham broke down the right and half the Teddington team were dragged over, ignoring the three intelligent runners streaming unmarked into Charlotte's box. Unselfish cross, unfussy finish, 3-3 and undoubtedly the league leaders' biggest challenge yet.

It took until 12 minutes from time – a tense, fluctuating 15-minute period in which either side could have gone ahead – for Teddington to regain the lead. And it was a combination of two of the team's most experienced players that did the damage, a Phoebe Head corner finding the hugely influential Ella V who cut a low first-time shot into the bottom corner.

Ella V is congratulated on her key second-half goal.

The girls celebrated as explosively as they had any goal this season, and as Caterham pushed forward for another equaliser which would hardly have been unfair, Athletic started to stretch and punish their opponents. First Sinead Morris found her way in from the left wing to finish delightfully into that same bottom-right hand corner.

Now Teddington could scent victory. The wide runs of Phoebe and Sinead, supported by intelligent movement from Ale Fairn and Emily in the middle, were pulling Caterham around at the back. An unlucky own-goal deflected in from a dangerous Sinead cross made it 6-3, but the real delight came in the final minute. Chasing down opponents as tirelessly as ever, little Ale refused to let the ball go dead down on the right-hand touchline, immediately in front of her admiring coaching staff. Two swift, incisive passes later the ball had been worked out to the opposite flank, where Sinead again applied the finishing touch – "With my left foot!", as she delightedly noted after the final whistle.

Sinead makes it seven.

There's no doubt that 7-3 flatters Teddington but it also shows what they are capable of. After their worst half of football yet – selfish, unfocused, schoolyard stuff – they grew into the game and won by once more harnessing their individual talents into a team whole.

That applies across the squad. Substitutes Sadie Day, Sophie Wallman, Millie MacEacharn and Amy Hallett were introduced by manager Dave W with the determined instructions to stick to the team plan – pass, move, spread, combine – and with a full squad to choose from, they might be pressing for a first-team start at home to Abbey Rangers on Sunday.

The gaffer.

The following week brings the long trip to new biggest rivals Caterham, then it's second-placed Kempton Girls before that cup quarter-final clash – away at Division One side Carshalton Athletic on December 8th.

That cup game will tell us much about Teddington's mindset. Nobody would be astounded if they win the intervening three league matches, especially on the back of this warning, but they need to make sure they do the next small thing right – whether it's close down an opponent, look up in possession or beat Abbey Rangers.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-2-3-1): Charlotte Ward; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald; Ella V (1), Ruby Rudkin (1); Phoebe Head, Emily Coulson (2), Sinead Morris (2); Ale Fairn. Subs: Sadie Day, Amy Hallett, Millie MacEacharn, Sophie Wallman. +1og. Bushy Park, 10am.  

Images this week from Richie Coulson (cheers!). More:

Emily gets her eye in.

Panic in the goalmouth.

Phoebe sets off into the great beyond.

Parky sees 'em off.

Emily invents the dragback tackle.

Sadie on the ball.

Parky does what she likes best: crunching into a tackle.

Amy on the ball: note Emily on the supporting run.

Amy and Sadie try to get through.

A packed penalty box.

A typical Teddington shot: Emily on the ball, Ale on the move.

Millie T gets involved.

Phoebe: Didn't score, for once, but a key player throughout.

Millie T looks for the right ball.  

Last minute: Sinead receives the pass...

...draws the defender...

...and finishes the game.

The girls observe two minutes' silence for Remembrance Sunday.