Cheltenham Saracens U18 defeated Bishop’s Cleeve U18 at home in a floodlit Gloucestershire derby 3-1, and remained unbeaten in the league handing their rivals their first defeat of the season.
Coming off of a great result over their rivals, the U18 team’s manager Beckem Foley was satisfied with his team.
“For me, the main thing is maybe trying to keep the players reined in, as in slightly so that they don’t go a bit too over the top, I think it’s very easy in games like that for players to allow their emotions to sort of take over and the football ends up, you know, suffering.
“I thought last night when we played Bishop’s Cleeve, we did quite well of being motivated and driven to go and win the game, but not being so driven and so emotionally charged that it clouded our judgement really.”
This win not only good for the players , but also for Foley’s long-term plans. “For the players, it’s that excitement of one we beat our rivals, two, for a lot of them, they’ve beaten their close mates. So it’s that bit of smugness, that little bit of arrogant moment.
“I think, you know in long-term, and I always like to think long-term, it’s good for our recruitment next year in terms of you know players always look at who beats who and things like that. So that helps me.”
Cheltenham Saracens U18 currently sit in 4th place in the U18 CYFL Gloucestershire Floodlit league, however, in terms of points dropped, they sit at the top with Longlevens having missed out only two points so far this season.
However, for Foley, the league title is not a must, it is more about the players developing and reach a cup final come the end of the season.
“Let’s say for me it’s not about winning league titles and things like that. The players, they set their own targets and I allow them to set their own targets and they want to win everything. So if they want to go and win everything, then it’s down to me to make sure that I prepare them in the right way that they can go and achieve their goals.
“I always like to get to a cup final. I think cup finals are something for a little reward for players to have towards the end of the season, so I’d say my targets are finishing above rivals and get into a cup final.”
Cheltenham Saracens U18’s team will play two games over the festive period, which is a different challenge for the manager.
“I don’t think it massively affects them over the break. It’s nice to have that little recharge moment, especially when we’ve had so many games coming thick and fast and things like that,” Foley assured.
“In terms of preparation, it doesn’t massively change, probably the intensity towards the next game in January, we’ll raise slightly just so that we can get rid of, you know, any cobwebs that you know, extra turkey servings of that have given the lads.”
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