Linton Granta
Atmosphere
“We are just starting preseason and
everyone is very positive. We have had
a change in management with my father
stepping down at the age of 60 to
spend more time with family
and other interests. Lee
Miller has stepped
into the fold with
me staying on in
the same role.
The A team
manager
of
last year Tom
Faulkner
has
stepped up into
the reserve team
manager slot and
then we have a new
A team manager;
Andy Jones and he
is father to three of our
current players over the three
teams. So all change but we will have
the same sort of squads as last year and
we all get on so well, we look forward to
seeing each other at training in the week
and our upcoming friendly matches.”
Last Season
“Last season I would say the first
team under achieved. We finished 7th in
the league when we could and possibly
should have finished slightly higher. We
had some excellent results against teams
higher in the league but dropped vital
points to a few teams at the bottom. The
main disappointment however was in
the cup competitions where we reached
both semi-finals but couldn’t get beyond
that when we played well enough to
make at least one final. Maybe next year?
Success for the club came in the form
of the A team who achieved promotion
and will sit just one league behind our
reserves who consolidated their position
in their current league. Another positive
again was featuring younger players in
all our teams. Two players who started
the season in the A team finished up
with a few games in the first team at
only 16 years of age. Positive signs for
the future.”
2017/18
“We are extremely
motivated to build
on last year. We
want the players
to work harder
than ever in
preseason to be
fitter than ever
for the season
ahead. Games
at first team
level can often be
very tight so it is
important to try and
gain any advantage
possible.
All three teams will train
together with sessions twice a
week before the season starts
and we have an extensive
list of friendly fixtures
before the first team
league campaign
begins in August.
The aim is to
start the season
strongly while
continuing
the
clubs
philosophy
of
playing the ball
on the floor; one
and two touch. Once
the first team season
starts the training goes
down to once a week and
gets more specific, teams work on
separate exercises depending on what
each manager wants to work on.”
Youth
“We have a very close relationship
with Linton Aztecs who run sides of all
ages up to adult football. We even have
“I live in the next village and know the First Team
Manager so I have always taken a keen interest
in the club. Being an Estate Agency we tend to
work Saturdays but their Assistant Manager Ben
De’Ath works for Cheffins so we get to know what
is going on. We’ve sponsored the club for the past
three years and are delighted to be associated
with a club that has such a great community spirit.”
Martin Walshe, Cheffins Estate Agents
a couple of players who help coach and
manage the youth teams on Saturday
mornings before coming to play for us.
I would think that almost 75% of
the players at the club have played
for Aztecs at some point growing up.
Without the youth teams the club would
no doubt lose these players to rivals in
the area, so they are vital to developing
players from a young age and through to
adult football.”
Community
“For the reasons highlighted above
I would say that the club is very much
in the heart of the community. This is
no more evident than on a Saturday
afternoon down ‘The Meadow’. The
first team are always lucky to have an
excellent following of loyal supporters
home and indeed away, no matter where
we are travelling to.
However our games at home are
where you see how important
the club is to the village.
Not only do we get
our usual generous
support, there are
also children of
all ages watching
or playing their
own game of
football at the
side of the pitch.
This all results
in a packed
clubhouse at the
end of the game
where players from
all teams including the
opposition
congregate
and socialise together with
the supporters, families etc.”
Facilities
“We were lucky enough to get a
grant from the F.A. a couple of years
ago so we could improve our facilities.
We now have new changing rooms, a
referee’s room and large store for all
Cheffins is a market leading firm of
auctioneers, surveyors, property advisors and
estate agents.
Proud sponsors of Linton Granta FC
Cambridge Branch 01223 214214
Saffron Walden Branch 01799 523656
www.footballfocusmag.com
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