27th September 2006 - Coreley cup fixture preview

Royals travel to Clee Hill this weekend to take on Coreley in the first round of the cup. The teams only met once last season, on the very first day, a game which ended in a victory for the Royals by two goals to one.

Royals should have a full squad to select from with the return from Groom and Carless-Turland from suspension, whilst Smith came through a tough 30 minute run out at Shrewsbury Sports Village tonight with no sign of the slight groin injury picked up last weekend.

The match takes place at Coreley with a 11:30am kick off.

27th September 2006 - Last weekends results round up

Royals and Ludlow North are now top of the league with both teams on 9 points, with the Royals slightly ahead on goal difference.

Last weekends other results were:

Presteigne Colts North 0-6 Onny Eagles
Coreley 1-2 Craven Arms
Red Rovers 4-0 Tenbury
Ludlow North 11-2 Onny Plus

25th September 2006 - Royals drawn away to Coreley in cup first round

Royals have been drawn away against Coreley in the first round of the cup. With 5 teams having byes, Royals were the last team to be drawn out of the hat, and so can consider themselves unlucky not to also have received a bye.

The last time Royals played Coreley was in the summer at the Orleton tournament, when they were defeated by two goals to one.

24th September 2006 - Royals battle to claim the points

Royals came away as worthy 3-2 winners today, over a physical Presteigne South side who were unbeaten prior to today's game. Royals played some of their best football to date and after a shaky first 10 minutes they settled down to passing the ball about with their normal style.

They went in at half time with a 3-0 lead and despite conceding 2 early goals in the second half, and enforced substitutions due to injuries to Smith and Bourne, they managed to hold on to their lead.

Goals by Lewis, Bourne and Miles sealed the victory.

A full match report can be found here.

21st September 2006 - Presteigne South match preview

Royals travel to Presteigne South this weekend for their first away game of the season. The match will not be as easy as their previous 2 matches, as Presteigne are 2nd year U12s.

Both teams have 100% records so far, although Presteigne have had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player. Royals will again be without the suspended Groom and Carless-Turland.

The match takes place on Sunday with an 11:45am kick off.

21st September 2006 - Stoke City Academy trip cancelled

Stoke City have cancelled the academy trip for the development centre players which was due to take place this Saturday. No reason has been given, but they hope to re-arrange the trip for an alternative date prior to Christmas.

Seven Royals players are currently receiving coaching at the Stoke City Development Centre.

20th September 2006 - Teams in points deduction

Presteigne South have been deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player. This reduces their total from 6 to 3 points and means that Royals sit 3 points clear of them going in to this weekends clash.

Church Stretton Magpies U10s North have also had 3 points deducted for the same reason.

19th September 2006 - U12s round up

Other results from the U12s league from last weekend were:

Presteigne North 3-7 Ludlow North
Orleton 5-3 Onny Plus
Craven Arms 1-4 Presteigne South
Coreley 0-2 Onny Eagles

17th September 2006 - Royals net nine to see off Tenbury

Royals continued their winning ways today at Russell's Meadow where they defeated Tenbury 9-0. Tenbury were very much in the game at the half way point, as the half time score was only 1-0, but in the second half Royals stepped up the tempo and found the net 8 more times.

Goals from Lewis 3, Bourne 2, Miles, Smith, Keugler and an own goal made sure of the result.

A full match report can be found here.

14th September 2006 - Tenbury match preview

Royals entertain Tenbury this weekend, in the second fixture of the new season. Although Tenbury were not the strongest of teams last season, it is unknown how many new signings they have made to strengthen their squad.

Royals will be keen to add to their victory last weekend, as it will be important to get off to a good start, if they are to mount a challenge to be in the top half of the table at the Christmas break.

The match takes place at Russell's Meadow with at 10:30am kick off.

14th September 2006 - Thursday night training

Training starts tonight at Russell's Meadow from 6pm until 7pm, and then again every Thursday until further notice. Once the clocks change it is hoped that we will be able to train at the school, possible on the tennis courts.

13th September 2006 - Opening day round up

Royals head the league table on goal difference, after one game, for what it's worth with the two Presteigne teams closely behind them.

There were also wins for Red Rovers and Ludlow North.

Full results were as follows:

Royals 12-0 Orleton
Presteigne Colts North 6-0 Onny Plus
Tenbury 0-8 Presteigne Colts South
Red Rovers 5-2 Coreley
Craven Arms 4-7 Ludlow North

10th September 2006 - Royals cruise to opening day victory

Royals started their 2006-07 campaign with an emphatic 12-0 win against Orleton FC this morning, at Russell's Meadow. Their first league encounter was a vast improvement on last Thursday's friendly match against Meole Brace Juniors, particularly in the first half when the Royals kept their shape well and dominated.

A 6-0 half time score meant that the Royals were able to afford the luxury of experimenting with their formation in the second half.

Goals from Bourne 3, Groom 2, Lewis 2, Smith,  Hearle,  Holtz, Carless-Turland, and an own goal made sure of the victory.

A full match report can be found here.

8th September 2006 - Royals earn draw against Meole Brace

Royals put on a gutsy performance in their first match of the season against a strong and skillful Meole Brace Juniors side, coming away with a creditable 0-0 draw. Royals found themselves on the back foot for much of the game and only some sterling goalkeeping by goalkeepers Holtz and Keugler prevented the Shrewsbury team from building up a decent lead.

This was certainly a strong test for the team, as several of the Meole Brace team are at the Stoke City development centre, so the standard was high. That, and with the match being played on astro turf, meant that the Royals had to be at their best.

Substitutions were made regularly to experiment with players in different positions ahead of Sunday's game against Orleton FC.

6th September 2006 - Orleton match preview

Royals entertain Orleton FC this Sunday in their first match of the 2006-07 campaign. Orleton, who are also an U11 side playing in an U12 league will be keen to put up a better fight than when the two teams met last season, a game in which Royals won by five goals to one.

The match takes place at Russell's Meadow with a 10:30 kick-off.

4th September 2006 - Magpies article in Stretton Focus

Royals are given a quarter page write up as part of the Magpies story in this month's Stretton Focus. The main article concentrates on the 5 week mini soccer course held in June/July, with the Royals getting a write up of their treble winning 2005-06 season.

Here is a transcript of the article:

"The Royals Success"
The benefit of coaching was exemplified by the outstanding success enjoyed by the Church Stretton Royals under 10s, a team that is part of the Magpies Club. Last season, the Royals won their league, the South Shropshire Journal Cup and the Tenbury Cup. The achievement was a magnificent treble that had never been achieved by any team before. Chris Smith, Royals manager, said the team was helped greatly because the lads had played together for three consecutive seasons and since they were all under 8s together. The Club success was recognised with five of their players representing the County during the season. For the latest information on the Church Stretton Royals, visit the website www.strettonroyals.net

"Man on the Touchline"