Boldmere St Michaels
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Richard Harris, the club’s Junior Section Vice-
Chairman also took the time to speak with us.
FF: How long have you been involved and
what first attracted you to the club?
RH: I became involved in the summer
of 2015 during the 1st expansion of the
Junior section of the Football Club that
saw the number of Junior teams expand
from one to seven teams.
I had previously played for opposing
teams at Boldmere St Michaels FC and when
I moved to the area in 2006 I made an attempt
to play for the club. Unfortunately, I didn’t
quite do enough to make an impression, however
nine years later my eldest Son, as he often does, went one
better and was selected to join the club after attending trials.
The club were looking for volunteers to come forward to manage
a new team that was being created and before I knew it I was
sitting in the class room undertaking my Level 1 in Coaching
Football and Manager of this new team. The opportunity to
join such an historic Club that was at the beginning of a new
adventure in both expansion and development was too good
to miss out on.
Fast forward three years, I’m now Vice Chairman of the Junior
Section, Assistant Manager of an U13s Saturday Midland
Junior Premier League team, Manager of an U13s Central
Warwickshire Youth Football League team and Coach of my
younger Sons U9s team.
FF: What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of
your role?
RH: Having so many roles at the club this is a difficult question
to answer. As Vice Chairman of the Junior section the most
challenging part has to be trying to get to know everyone and
make them feel involved with the Football Club.
The Juniors now has over 400 children involved and this has to
be the most rewarding feeling, knowing that your involved in
playing the part of bringing the local community together and
putting smiles on the faces of so many boys and girls as they
are getting to play a sport they love.
As many managers will tell you the most challenging part of
this role is trying to make sure your players are happy, they
all want to play every minute of every match, but unless
you’ve got the minimum number of players available this is
impossible.
I believe the most rewarding part of being a manager is
development, in my 1st season I saw a bunch of individuals
finish the season as a team. I don’t think there is much more
satisfying than knowing that you’ve been an influence in
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the improvement in an individual’s confidence and
ability, teaching life-skills such as hard-work,
commitment, communication and teamwork
along the way.
One thing all Junior Managers are
challenged with is that if nothing else, each
player plays with Pride, Passion and Belief
(as featured on the Club badge).
FF: How’s the general mood down at the
club at the moment?
RH: I think the general mood is of excitement.
There are big plans for the club going forward
with work already started on plans relating to
the installation of new changing facilities; this will
eventually lead to the expansion of the Social Club.
From the Juniors we’re delighted with the impact we’re having
in the local community and excited about the interest some of
our Junior players are attracting from Professional Football
Clubs. We’re very much looking forward to the day one of our
Junior players comes through the ages to walk-out on to the
pitch as a player for the 1st Team.
FF: How would you say the season has gone so far for the
club?
RH: With my Junior Vice-Chairman’s hat on the season is going
extremely well. I don’t get fixated on results, but testament
to the fantastic volunteer coaches and managers we have
involved in the Club I am aware of a number of successes that
teams have already had so far this season with a number of
teams winning their respective age-group Cup Competitions
and those of a competitive age fairing particularly well in their
respective leagues.
FF: What are your plans for the rest of the campaign?
RH: During the 2nd half of the season we look forward to
hearing of further progression and development of our players
and teams. With so many teams I’m sure they’ll be a few more
trophies making their way on to the shelf in the Club
FF: How important is youth football to the club?
RH: Youth football is having a massive impact at this football
club. For the 2014/15 season there was just one Junior team.
This expanded to seven teams for the 2015/16 season, to
thirteen teams for the 2016/17 season, to 26 teams for the
2017/18 season to where we are now with 41 Junior Teams.
There’s a real buzz about the place with having so many