futureplayers

Future Players is pleased to announce that ‘BoxFit’, one of its Healthy Lifestyles projects in the form of community based Boxercise Fitness Classes is now offering an additional programme in the Sydenham/Penge area of South London.

Sessions will run weekly, initially for a six week block, starting July 09 on a Monday evening from 7pm until 8pm at Holy Trinity Church, Lennard Road, SE20. Classes are open to all adults, male and female and no experience is necessary. Cost is a credit crunching £5 per session (paid as £30 for the six week block). All equipment is provided, all you need to bring is suitable training kit, water and a sweat towel!

Boxercise sessions are non contact using gloves and pads, the ultimate workout, challenging but fun and friendly. Improve your self esteem/confidence, get fit, trim and tone up. Attend regularly and see the results! Sessions are delivered by fully qualified and registered instructors.

To book your place simply call or email us (see contact us). Places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. Please note that our other BoxFit sessions are currently full, however if you wish to attend either the East Dulwich or Honor Oak/Brockley centre please forward your details and we will contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

May 2009 saw the conclusion of the first year of the Football Performance Programme at Bromley College. It has proved to be a hugely successful project both on the pitch and in the classroom.

On the field the following honours have been achieved:

• Kent Colleges League – Champions (unbeaten)
• Kent Colleges Cup – Runners Up
• British Colleges Cup (South East England Region) -Winners
• British Colleges Nationals – Semi Finalists
 
All of the above are considerable achievements for the college, students, Steve and the rest of the coaching team in their first year together.
 
Off the pitch there has been considerable success too with the greater majority of the squad, aged 16-21, progressing to the next year of their academic studies and the football performance programme and some are moving on to higher education.

Importantly and in the bigger picture, the experience of representing the college and being part of the structure of the programme for the past season has seen the players develop as individuals as well as in their playing and academic performance.

We have thoroughly enjoyed leading and managing this project and working with the staff and students at Bromley College. The future certainly looks brightfor this talented group of young people!

Bromley College Football Performance Programme has topped a successful first season with confirmation that they are Champions of the Kent Colleges League 2008/09.

Kent Colleges League Table

Team GP W D L Pts. GF GC GD
Bromley College FC 14 12 1 1 37 54 16 38
Canterbury College FC 14 11 1 2 34 62 22 40
NWK College (Dartford) FC 14 8 2 4 26 36 27 9
West Kent College FC 14 7 1 6 22 49 41 8
MK College (Horsted) FC 14 5 3 6 18 39 35 4
MK College (Oakwood) FC 13 4 0 9 12 32 45 -13
UCCA College (Maidstone) FC13 2 0 11 6 35 75 -40
NWK College (Gravesend) FC 14 2 0 12 6 29 75 -46

* NWK = North West Kent
* MK = Mid Kent

The League title is such a notable achievement as it demonstates the students/players consistency and application over the duration of the whole nine month season.

Impressively, Bromley were also unbeaten throughout their League campaign, drawing just the once. The only blip on this record being the unfortunate decision to award points to the opposition for their final game due to the time deadline for fulfilling fixtures passing. A back log of fixtures for the opposition and the British Colleges Cup run for Bromley preventing the game from taking place before the deadline despite both teams desire to play the game.

The League title added to the success in the British Colleges Cup and National’s and of course finalists in the Kent Colleges Cup shows that the future really is bright for these talented youngsters.

The players/students on Bromley College’s Football Performance Programme came withing touching distance of the British Colleges National Final at Doncaster Rovers FC as they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by East Norfolk.

East Norfolk were always going to be a tough test, their sporting pedigree highlited by having an incredible 3 teams already through to various National sporting finals. They had the better of the first half, a physically strong side who could play too. They allowed Bromley little time to settle and their huge central midfielder dominated. Whilst Norfolk applied themselves well and showed little affect of their long journey, Bromley started slowly, struggled to get their passing game going and create in the final third.

Norfolk took the lead midway through the first half when a cross from the left was headed home at the far post. Bromley were then dealt a further blow when with one regular full back already unable to play, Lloyd Archer, a centre half who had filled in at full back admirably, had to leave the pitch with a bad rib injury, forcing Bromley into a further reshuffle. Bromley were restricted to two chance themselves in the first half, Porter heading a set piece over the bar and Brown’s free kick was tipped over. At the other end Parara made a superb last ditch tackle on a Norfolk striker as they continued to press.

A determined Bromley emerged in the second half and they battled their way back into the game with Mills performing well in midfield. They started to create too and after good build up play Wallen’s surging run and shot was parried as far as Brown, who with 25 goals to his credit this year, fired the rebound agonisingly over. Loizou then fired a left foot shot just wide as Bromley turned up the pressure. As they chased the game a switch to 4-3-3 saw further pressure mount on Norfolk, Porter epitimising the teams desire when the defender ran the length of the pitch to win a throw in the final third. Then came a defining moment when a neat move saw Wallen seemingly time his run across the back four to perfection, his cross from the right was met by Loizou who headed home only for the linesman to judge Wallen offside.

Norfolk still looked dangerous themselves and went close a number of times as Bromley pushed for that all important equaliser. The closing stages saw Martin make some driving runs from midfield and Davies cut in from full back to sting the keepers hand with a strike from just outside the box. However It was not to be Bromley’s day and Norfolk celebrated their victory at the whistle.

Whilst naturally the students were dissapointed they can take some consolation in the Norfolk Coach’s comments who stated that it was the biggest test they had had to date and that he was pleased to hear the whistle, describing the Bromley players as ‘robots’, their fitness levels and determination shining through the longer the game went on.

Whilst the adventure ends here for now the squad can be incredibly proud of their achievements, champions for the South East of Britain and one of the last four teams in the National’s is no mean feet. When you think that this group of students only met each other nine months ago it really is some achievement and surpasses all expectations. Everyone at the college is extremely proud of their efforts.

Bromley College ensured that their amazing journey in this competition continued following the 3-0 defeat of Plymouth in the Quarter Finals of the British Colleges Nationals.

They have produced arguably their best performances of the season in this competition, always managing to raise the bar and this was no exception, not just in the performance but when you consider the 6 hour journey there and the same back with the game sandwiched briefly inbetween it really was some achievement. The squad proudly represented the college conducting themselves professionally and courtiously throughout the day.

Plymouth were a strong and organised side and certainly one of, if not the best sides Bromley have faced. Plymouth started strongly in a first half which saw them hit the woodwork 3 times as Bromley adjusted to the 3G pitch. Bromley rode their luck and the storm as they battled and fought their way back into the game, the defensive unit standing firm to Plymouth’s dangerous mix of good football and invasion of long throws. The midfield pairing of Mills and Martin started to really compete and Nathan Gordon embarked on some mazy runs down the flanks. The teams went in 0-0 at half time.

The instruction at half time was simply to maintain the work rate and tempo and have confidence to play in possession on the perfect surface and it was always going to take time to break down such a good side. Bromley started the second half as they finished the first and began to boss the game and create some chances. It looked like one goal would settle it and Bromley thought they had done just than when in the 75th minute Brown rose to head home Johnson’s cross only for the referee to halt the celebrations with a decision of offside. Credit to the players as they stuck to their task and this was rewarded when George Porter scrambled home a delivery from the left to put Bromley 1-0 up a few minutes later.

Plymouth threw everything at Bromley in the final few minutes but as they commited more players forward they left themselves short at the back and Bromley clinically hit them twice on the counter attack. First of all Johnson cut in from the right to fire an unstoppable left footed strike into the top corner and then substitute Loizou tapped home an Elmar Brown shot that the goalkeeper could only parry for his first of the season. Pete Martin went close twice before the final whistle signalled a 3-0 win, wild celebrations and the long journey back to London!

The scoreline was indeed harsh on Plymouth but never the less a fantastic performance from the squad who are now through to the last 4 of the Nationals with East Norfolk standing in the way of a National final against either Tyneside or Polwegs Newtown of Wales.

Congratulations to all the squad and a big thank you to the college for finding the funds to make the journey to Plymouth possible.

Bromley College have topped off their amazing run in the British Colleges Cup by beating Tauntons 1-0 in the South East Regional Final at Holmesdale FC.

In a close fought game it was Bromley skipper Pete Martin’s classy run and finish in the 82nd minute that proved the difference between the two sides. An incredible achievement for the students in their first year together, the British Colleges Cup run has seen them succeed against some very strong sides including Basingstokes Academy side from the conference in the form of Queen Mary’s and grade A sports college Brockenhurst.

Bromley are all set to complete an amazing double with the Kent Colleges League Title just one point away. Add to that an impending adventure into the British Colleges National’s and it is really turning into an incredible season for this squad of players and the college!

We would like to thank Holmesdale FC for their hospitality and hosting the British Colleges SE Region Cup Final.

QUEEN MARY’S 1 – 3 BROMLEY COLLEGE

A display of commitment and class saw Bromley beat Queen Mary’s in an action packed semi final to book theirplace in the British Colleges Cup Final (SE England Region).

Queen Mary’s who are linked as Basingstoke Town’s Academy side and compete in the Conference Academy showed from the off that they were a good side with an initial keep ball session straight from the kick off in the opening minute. However Bromley quickly reacted to dominate and produce arguably their best first half performance of the season; with the essential mix of competing and battling for every ball to gain control of the game before showing their own quality in possession; passing the ball around quickly and creating a number of chances.

Bromley piled on the pressure and midway through the first half Pete Martin’s free kick was only half cleared, the ball dropped on the edge of the box for MarlonWallen to volley home in style.With all players performing admirably (including debutants Aaron Johnson & Lloyd Archer), inspirational skipper Pete Martin driving them on and Gary Mills andWallen bossing the centre of the park Bromley went on to dominate the play for the duration of the first half. It was therefore just reward when Queen Mary’s back 4 allowed Bromley keeper George Kamurasi’s long kick to bounce and Elmar Brown sneaked in to lift the ball over the advancing keeper to put Bromley 2 up.

Queen Mary’s raised their game in the second half and were awarded a dubious penalty kick early on for an alleged handball. The penalty was expertly dispatched to pull it back to 2-1. Queen Mary’s mixed some nice football with a constant bombardment of ‘Rory Delap style’ long throw and set pieces aimed at their sizeable target men but Bromley rose to the challenge and coped commendably, showing a marked improvement in defending against such direct, aerial play.

The second half was a real battle but Bromley’s display continued to demonstrate a real togetherness and the team spirit which has seen them claim other notable scalps in this competition including Godalming and top sports academy college Brockenhurst. It was end to end stuff but with winger Nathan Gordon coming more into the game Bromley continued to create chances of their own, including one that saw 2 goal line clearances and the resulting follow up fired agonisingly over the bar. In the final minutes and as Queen Mary’s pushed forward, Bromley broke quickly and Pete Martin teed up Brown to seal a 3-1 scoreline with his second of the game and 21st goal of the season. It proved to be literally the final kick of the game and an exhausted Bromley celebrated securing their place in the final against the winners of either Taunton or Farnborough.

The performance was made even more commendable given the recent loss of 3 key players and regular members of the defence to injury and another player in the warm up prior to the kick off of this game! The result highlights both the work ethic and ability within the squad and illustrates real progress made by each individual and the team as a whole. 1st team Coach/Manager Steve Baker would like to congratulate the players on their efforts and achievements to date. Bromley College currently top the Kent Colleges League, are also through to the Semi-Final of the Kent Colleges Cup and of course the British Colleges Cup adventure continues!

Bromley College Team against Queen Mary’s: George Kamurasi, Pete Martin (c), Lloyd Archer, Reece Parara, Neil Davies, Aaron Johnson, GaryMills, Marlon Wallen, Nathan Gordon, Elmar Brown, Lewis Goddard. Sub: Jack Loizou (for Aaron Johnson)

Other 1st team squad players: George Porter, Liam Bowman,Adam Lester, Victor Barrow, Ben Murphy.