In a major piece of positive news for Mousehole AFC, striker Jorome Slew has moved six steps up the non-league pyramid to sign for full-time professional club Chester.

The 19-year old joined Mousehole’s newly-established Academy in July after being released by Championship club Sheffield United.  He had played and scored regularly for The Blades’ Reserves before his promising progress was dealt a set-back by a broken leg.

Mousehole’s Academy Director Jason Blunt, who was appointed in June, brought Jorome in soon afterwards as part of the club’s strategy of offering full-time training and regular first-team football for young players released by their professional clubs.

Jorome made an instant impact with The Seagulls in pre-season and scored superb hat-tricks in each of the first two away League games of the new season as well as two more crucial goals in the League Cup win at previously unbeaten Ludgvan.  He quickly became a club favourite not only for his dynamic play, but also his willing contribution to youth training.

Following recommendations from Jason Blunt, Jorome came to the attention of several clubs back in his native Yorkshire.  He had extended trials with Championship club Barnsley before signing for semi-professional Northern Premier League side Goole AFC, for whom he scored within minutes of his debut two weeks ago.

This week, Chester moved to bring Slew to the Deva Stadium with the club currently lying in the lower reaches of the National Conference – effectively the ‘fifth Division’.  If selected, Jorome will make his debut in front of the BT Sport cameras in the live coverage of the Chester versus Dagenham & Redbridge fixture this Saturday (25^th) at 12:30pm.

Jason Blunt was upbeat about the news:  “I always knew Jorome had the potential, but having a broken leg and being released by Sheffield United severely dented his confidence.  I’m absolutely delighted that we at Mousehole have played a big part in getting him back on track.  His ambition is to be a full-time professional footballer, so going to a club like Chester could be the start of a journey back to the level he wants to – and should – be at.  We’re now developing a relationship with Chester FC to create some initiatives that will be beneficial to Mousehole.  In the meantime, we intend to carry on our policy of attracting more of the young Joromes down to Mousehole, as they can make a big contribution to the club, as well as playing men’s football, putting themselves back in the shop window, and looking after their own development away from football.  A good example of this is Max Hill, who was released by Leeds United Academy and has come down to Mousehole, established himself as first-choice centre back, won himself an apprenticeship with a local company, and is studying for professional qualifications at the same time.”

Mousehole Chairman Tim Richardson added:  “We wish Jorome all the best and will be keeping an eye on his progress from afar.  His scorching start to the season will be long-remembered, but apart from anything else he showed the technical qualities that other players can aspire to, and helped the club in the first stage of its own ambition to raise the standard of football in this part of the world.”

MOUSEHOLE WOMEN 11 – 0 WADEBRIDGE LADIES

CORNWALL WOMEN’S LEAGUE

SUNDAY 11^TH NOVEMBER 2017, AT TRUNGLE PARC

 100% RECORD FOR MOUSEHOLE WOMEN AFTER DOMINANT WIN

 Mousehole continued their outstanding start to the Cornwall Women’s League season with a sixth straight victory to remain in second place, three points behind St Agnes with two games in hand.

Wadebridge came into the match with only one win to their name and were shown no mercy on a wind-swept afternoon by the powerful hosts, who are the only unbeaten side in the league.

Jo Barker opened the scoring on 20 minutes, heading home Sophie Wilson’s left-wing cross from six yards.  Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Katy Barker’s inswinging corner was helped into the roof of the net by a defender.  A great move involving a superb one-two involving Emily Hardaker put Katy Barker in the clear down the right and her low cross was converted by Jo Barker at the far post for 3-0 on 35 minutes.  A minute later, after clever work on the left of the penalty area, Carly Jacka crossed low for Jo Barker to back-heel the ball into Tamara de Silva’s path for 4-0.  After 42 minutes, the fifth goal came as Sophie Wilson’s right-sided corner was tapped in by Leena Mannon from close range.

Mousehole continued to play the ball from the back with all members of the team involved, but the first notable action of the second half saw Lyndsey Mayers in the home goal injure herself after sticking out a foot to block a driven 54^th minute penalty, awarded after a rare defensive mix-up.  Back came Mousehole, and Emily Hardaker grabbed the sixth goal on 64 minutes, running through the defence to slot a low shot into the far corner, and did the same on 71 minutes.  Two minutes later she put Sophie Wilson in for a shot inside the far post for 8-0.  Katy Barker at last got on the scoresheet running past the overworked defence on to a pass from Sophie Wilson on 81 minutes, and two minutes later it was double figures when Megan Davidson’s shot hit the bar and Emily Hardaker pounced for a 19-minute hat-trick.  Sophie Wilson completed the scoring in the 88^th minute, siding a precise shot into the far corner after neat build-up play by Tamara de Silva.

Overall, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic but for the sterling efforts of the frequently exposed Wadebridge goalkeeper and the home side’s wasteful finishing, but manager Dawn Bateman will be pleased with the way her team retrieved and kept the ball and the fact that there were six different scorers on the day.

Mousehole Women:  (starting line-up)  Lyndsey Mayers, Leena Mannon, Lucy Brown, Lyndsey Williams (captain), Tamara de Silva, Sophie Wilson, Carly Jacka, Scarlett Clouter, Emily Hardaker, Katy Barker, Jo Barker.  Substitutes (all used):  Megan Davidson, Megan Edwards, Becky Edwards, Stacey George.

Scorers:  Jo Barker (20, 35), OG (25),Tamara de Silva (36), Leena Mannon (42), Emily Hardaker (64, 71, 83), Sophie Wilson (73, 88), Katy Barker (81).

Mousehole Women now have two consecutive home games – firstly, next Sunday (19^th) they face St Breward in the first round of the Cornwall Women’s Cup (2pm kick off), followed by a league game against Porthleven on Sunday 26^th (2:30pm).

Mousehole AFC have announced the signing of 30-year old former Scottish Premier League striker Calum Elliot as player and full-time academy coach while also working alongside first-team manager Kevin Richards.  Calum made 144 top-flight appearances for Hearts, Motherwell, Dundee and Livingston, being named Scottish Player of the Month three times, scoring 51 goals in a total of 234 games and representing Scotland 15 times at Under-20 and U21 levels.  A UEFA ‘B’ coach, Calum was most recently the technical director of a major football academy in Canada.

Director of Football Jason Blunt said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Calum Elliot to the club.  Having already spent some time with us, he’s seen first-hand the enormous potential in what we’re intending to achieve here, and is ready and able to make a major contribution both on and off the pitch.”

“We’re still in the early stages of our 5-year plan, but so many amazing things have happened already.  Our Junior teams recently went to Yorkshire, playing both Leeds United and Sheffield United and having training sessions with league professional coaches, together with visits to Manchester United and Manchester City.  Our new Endorsed Academy Youth teams – with more age groups getting off the ground in the near future – operate from our recently acquired excellent second ground, at Marazion, which has proved to be a major asset for training and fixtures.  We’ve brought in Kevin Richards as first team manager with his unsurpassed knowledge of the footballing scene in West Cornwall and beyond.  One of our Academy players, 19-year old Jorome Slew, is currently in his third week of trials with Championship club Barnsley.”

“And there’s much more to come.  We’re going to be running an international soccer camp in partnership with a Pro club next year and also launching a new pro tournament – the Endorsed Cup – in the summer:  more details to be announced later.  In the meantime, I’ll be continuing to define and reinforce the club’s footballing philosophy, directing coaching across the whole of the Academy, and developing relationships with professional clubs on a national and international basis.  Looking outwards, and because we’re passionate about helping Cornish football, we aim to be working closely with others including Cornwall FA to raise standards of coaching across the County, and establish a ‘cluster club partnership programme’ to share coaching ideas, strategies and resources, and create the necessary competitive environment for our talented youngsters to reach their full potential.”

#FlyingAllTogether

WEST CORNWALL U15s 2-5 PLYMOUTH U15s

ENGLISH SCHOOLS NATIONAL INTER-ASSOCIATION TROPHY, SECOND ROUND

AT MOUSEHOLE AFC, TRUNGLE PARC, ON WEDNESDAY 1^ST NOVEMBER 2017

Mousehole AFC’s recently refurbished Trungle Parc HQ was the venue for this second round tie in the English Schools Football Association U15s national competition between West Cornwall and Plymouth.  Both teams had received a bye in the first round.

Plymouth, who started as favourites, came out as 5-2 winners (3-1 at half time) in a match reduced to 35 minutes each way because of concerns about the fading light later in the afternoon.

Around 60 spectators were treated to a game of attractive and competitive football played by two sides demonstrating great technical skills and teamwork on a good surface following the pitch works over the summer.

Manager Kevin Lawrence was justifiably proud of the way his West Cornwall lads continued to pass and probe against some physically stronger opposition, with the main difference in the end being the power and speed of Plymouth’s two wide front players.

The players’ team sheets, and information about the English Schools Football Association and the West Cornwall and Plymouth District Associations, are in the attached four-page programme.

 

PS:

‘Kevin Lawrence, manager of the West Cornwall side, thanked the club in an email..

Can i just ‘echo’ Andrews comments on the game.

The boys LOVED playing at the ground and on the pitch which by the way was complimented by all the players, coaching staff, match officials and parents.

Can i just say thank you to hosting the game, sorting the food, refreshments etc is such a nice gesture which allows me as the manager to concentrate on the game. The parents having access to refreshments was a very nice touch indeed.

Thanks again and i would love to host more district/county games at Mousehole in the future should you be able to accommodate.

Thanks again guys.

HELSTON LADIES 2-9 MOUSEHOLE WOMEN

CORNWALL WOMEN’S LEAGUE

SUNDAY 22^ND OCTOBER 2017, AT KELLAWAY PARK

Third-place Mousehole Women faced a tough-looking challenge on Sunday when they visited second-place Helston Ladies, but followed up their run of three away victories at Penryn, Illogan and Porthleven with another decisive victory to continue their excellent start to the season.  In so doing, The Seagulls became the only team in the League with a 100% record and are now just three points behind leaders St Agnes with two games in hand.

Mousehole started brightly, putting early pressure on Helston and setting the tone for the game.  In the early stages, the visitors were in control but the Helston goal led a charmed life, with chances being created and just going wide, some good saves from the keeper, and on one occasion a cross from the right deflected on to the bar by a defender.  Seagulls’ goalkeeper Lyndsey Mayers at the other end had little to do, but when Helston did threaten they forced her into a diving save to the right.

Sophie Wilson opened the scoring for Mousehole with a shot from 25 yards out, the ball striking the inside top of the post and giving the keeper no chance.  It was soon 2-0 when Emily Hardaker headed in at the far post, and Sophie Wilson then added a third before half time.

Mousehole started the second half in the same vein, soon going 4-0 up, this time a cross from Katy Barker being turned into goal by the Helston defender.  The hosts didn’t give up though and pounced on an error in the Mousehole defence to make it 4-1.  Sophie Wilson got her hat-trick and Mousehole’s 5th when Megan Davison beat the offside to roll the ball through for Sophie to score.

Helston pulled another one back before Mousehole scored two more quick goals, Megan Edwards going through to finish after the keeper fumbled under her pressure, and Sophie Wilson notching her 4^th of the game.  Tamara de Silva then scored from a very acute angle after some good work down the left, and Katy Barker finished the scoring by tapping in after rounding the keeper.

Next Sunday (29^th), Mousehole Women play their first home game of the season when mid-table St Teath are the visitors to Trungle Parc, kick off 2.30pm.

Team:  Lyndsey Mayers, Lucy Brown, Lyndsey Williams (captain), Emma Hurworth, Tamara de Silva, Katy Barker, Claire Hitchens Todd, Sophie Wilson, Scarlett Clouter, Emily Hardaker, Jo Barker.  Substitutes (all used):  Megan Davison, Megan Edwards, Flo Davies Kirsop, Lena Mannon, Robyn Ashurst

Mousehole scorers:  Sophie Wilson (4), Emily Hardaker, Megan Edwards, Tamara de Silva, Katy Barker, Helston OG.

 

Close to 600 people attended Mousehole’s Trungle Parc in Paul on Sunday for a celebration day to mark the launch of the club’s new Academy and Youth Development Programme and the re-opening of the refurbished pitch and facilities.

Spectators were treated to six hours of football which started off in wind-swept rainy conditions with a series of mini-games played by The Seagulls’ newly-created youth teams.  The centrepiece of the afternoon was a full-scale game between Mousehole’s First team and Leeds United’s youngsters, during which the weather helpfully relented.  And the day’s events concluded in bright sunshine with a 7-a-side ‘legends’ tournament between Mousehole, Leeds United, Cornish Veterans and RNLI.

Arriving on Saturday, the Leeds squad held an open coaching session in the afternoon at Mounts Bay Academy and were invited on to the Penlee Lifeboat in Newlyn Harbour on Sunday morning.

The visitors’ talented teenagers, playing in their club’s traditional all-white colours and in front of a large contingent of Leeds supporters travelling down for the weekend from Yorkshire as well as many located in the south west, won the match 5-1 with an impressive exhibition of ball control, passing, movement and athleticism.

But they did not have it all their own way.  After falling behind 3-0 within 15 minutes, Mousehole started to play the confident football they are capable of and came close on several occasions before conceding a penalty just before half time.  The biggest cheer of the afternoon came on 80 minutes for the hosts’ solitary goal when Yeshe Briar’s superb cross from the right was nodded down by Matt McIlroy for Paolo Sousa to touch in from close range.  A further Leeds goal in the last minute put paid to any chance of Mousehole ‘winning’ the second half.  The game proved to be very competitive and a useful test for the young Mousehole squad, who had unfortunately lost Liam Andrew with a broken nose after an accidental collision during the warm up.

A Leeds United team then made it a ‘double’, with ‘legends’ goalkeeper Neil Sullivan picking up the trophy after his side won all their games in the round-robin 7-a-side tournament.

In their programme notes, Mousehole AFC advisor Ezra Chapman wrote:  “How incredible that Leeds United agreed to send their talented starlets – as well as some of their ‘legends’ – all the way down here to mark a milestone in our club’s journey.  We have a 5-year plan to develop the club in a sustainable manner: on the playing side by focussing on youth and nurturing talent through modern coaching methods, and by improving the club’s infrastructure both in terms of facilities and commercial opportunities”.

Visitors to Trungle Parc were impressed with the new pitch – refurbished during the summer with an £80k grant from Sport England and the National Lottery – and the new 70-seater stand, contemporary-style ‘dugouts’ and re-painted clubhouse exterior.

Photos of the new Trungle Parc and match pictures can be seen on the club Facebook Page. facebook.com/mouseholeafc

Mousehole Chairman Tim Richardson paid tribute to the dedicated group of club volunteers who helped organise the day, and to all the players who participated, adding:  “Today’s big event – which has required a huge amount of planning (and learning!) – shows what a club like ours can do.  This could be the start of similar things in the future, as plans are already in place for more big-name guests visiting over the next 12 months.”

Sunday’s occasion came a few days after Mousehole announced the appointment of Kevin Richards as new First team manager.  A club statement said:  Mousehole AFC are pleased to welcome Kevin Richards to the club’s leadership team.  An experienced and well-respected person throughout Cornish football, having previously managed Mullion, Porthleven and most recently Premier Division Godolphin Atlantic, Kevin joins a highly-qualified and ambitious coaching team to help the club realise its 5-year progression plan.  He will take responsibility for First team duties next week, reporting to Football and Academy Director Jason Blunt, while Jason will continue his development work with the younger players and be in overall charge of all football matters at the club.

Speaking enthusiastically about his new post, Camborne-based Richards had this to say:  “I am absolutely delighted to be offered the opportunity to join such an exciting adventure at Mousehole AFC.  I have already seen first-hand the work and commitment of everyone involved in this project, and I can say that I have never seen anything quite like it in Cornwall. The chance to work with a lot of people who have been friends for a long time at this football club was too good to miss, and I can’t wait to start working with the committee, the coaching staff and the players.”  The new manager was among Sunday’s crowd watching his new players in action and observed:  “There are many positive and promising signs.”

*Sunday’s ‘souvenir’ programme is available to purchase by contacting mouseholefootballprogramme@outlook.com.

*In a further strengthening of links with Leeds United, Mousehole Under-9s manager Darren Wakefield – whose team reached the semi-final of the Southampton Cup in August – will take a party of players and parents on a weekend visit to West Yorkshire on 20^th October to spend time at the Leeds academy and play a game against the hosts’ under-9s side.

Mousehole’s First team travelled to Wadebridge Town on Tuesday for a South West Peninsula League Division 1 West match, and have a bye in this Saturday’s Cornwall Senior Cup 1^st round.  Their next game is on Saturday 14^th October – an interesting challenge when Premier Division Camelford visit Trungle Parc for a League Cup 2^nd round tie, which will be the first competitive fixture on the ground this season.

This weekend, under-9s manager Darren Wakefield takes his youngsters to Southampton to compete in a brand-new annual football tournament being held at various venues across the city.

The main ‘Southampton Cup’ is played between youngsters from professional academies at home and abroad, while the ‘Community Tournament’ is for under-7 to under-12 teams from across the country.

Mousehole AFC are one of 20 under-9 boys’ teams divided into four groups of five in a round-robin 5-a-side format played on Monday 7^th August .

They will also receive complimentary tickets to the Southampton v Sevilla pre-season friendly at the Premier Division’s St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, pose for a team photo, and take part in the tournament’s opening ceremony after the match.

Darren Wakefield was enthusiastic about the weekend ahead:  “We are delighted to be given this fantastic opportunity to be involved in this new tournament. The boys have been training very hard over the last few weeks in preparation, and are really excited to play against some of the best teams in the country”.