Gladesville Ravens Sport Club

Are you a Rising Star? Girls 10 to 13 years of age.

Are you are Youth Sensation? Girls 14 to 17 years of age.

Do you want to take your game to a higher level? Come play Women’s Super League— Football NSW elite youth competition

You will develop a combination of many skills- strategic thinking, speed, agility, endurance and above all, teamwork.

Enjoy high level coaching by accredited FFA coaches.

WSL Ravens Head Coach – Paul Wade

Paul Wade also known as 'Wadey' - has had a remarkable international career. He's competed in the Olympic games (Seoul 1988), and two World Cup campaigns.

Wadey has appeared for his country more than 100 times between 1984 and 1996.

46 of his 84 appearances for the Socceroos were as captain. Ravens are proud to announce Paul Wade is to continue as Head Coach for 2009.

Tom Sermanni, the current Matilda’s Coach also has involvement with Ravens, having taken Ravens Training sessions.

To be part of a great squad, register your expression of interest with your Name, Age and Contact details at:

Email: robbarba@bigpond.com

For further information contact
Andrew Francis on 0413 999 271 or
Rob Barbagallo on 0408 440 698

As a club we would like to provide opportunities for all girls, those who wish to achieve results and for those who are happy to participate and develop socially in a team environment. NWSWF association are now providing 2 competitions per age groups and we intend to use this framework to provide opportunities for all players.

To this end, we propose in 2009 to support the 2 competitions per age group in the following manner.

• One team with a focus on results, development, commitment, participation and social enjoyment the other
• A focus on participation, development and social enjoyment.

Age groups that will be considered are U11 through to U16 how ever U12, U14 & U16 will be the primary focus. I am hopeful that there will be sufficient interest in those age groups.

U9 & U10 Age Groups who still play on ¾ field are still considered social and in a skill development period therefore the grading of this age groups will not occur, however I would like any input by coaches and parents relating to returning players and new recruits for the 2009 season. If there is sufficient interest then we shall consider the option to evaluate the girls who are interested.

U8 age groups. There may be players that may benefit moving up an age group. Consideration will be given based on parent & coaches input.

We understand the 2008 small fields were very frustrating for the children who participated this season 2008. We have evaluated the situation and would encourage any children with developed ball skills, awareness of positioning and who are physically capable to move to the U9. We will look to the coaches and parents to recommend if whole team or individual players should move.

I would also like to stress this proposal is for the development of the girls and their needs and this must come first. The evaluation will only be for girls who wish to be evaluated and would appreciate the support of all coaches with a view to the bigger picture.

The girls that seeking a focus on results, development, commitment as a primary objective will have an opportunity to undergo evaluation in October. We will circulating nomination as soon as venue and dates are confirmed typically this will be Sundays in mid to late October 2008. They will run in parallel with Raven’s Women’s Super League evaluations.

For further information please contact me on 0408 440 698 or Chris Rudge on 0414 819 799

Last time the two sides met Illawarra had scored an emphatic 5-0 win; the type of scoreline The Stingrays have been putting on a number of their opponents this season. Despite a few injury concerns I couldn’t see why the Illawarra girls wouldn’t repeat the dose. I have to apologise to Gladesville. I sold them short despite having lauded their courage more than once this season. This was a match which the Gladesville girls should remember if they happen to hit a rough in coming weeks.

I suppose I should go through my usual blow by blow description of events but a review of this match requires a different approach. The match started with that usual period of play where both teams try to find their rhythm. Both keepers were called upon for a little work early. However, the breakthrough came against the general run of play when, in the 9th minute, Gladesville’s Alyssa Hardie dispossessed an Illawarra defender before laying on a nice pass for Fatma Agar. The Ravens striker beat the advancing Stingrays keeper to the ball, calmly slotting away her shot to give the locals a 1-0 lead.

This setback seemed to lift the Illawarra side and they set about trying to find the equaliser. A couple of free kicks, an errant shot or two sustained the pressure by Illawarra. The Ravens, to their credit, scrambled admirably in defence. But, in the 20th minute, a corner by Illawarra found Cassie Halloway at the back post to volley away a fine goal. With The Stingrays back on an even keel there were supporters in the crowd who wondered if the Gladesville resolve would now weaken. Oh ye of little faith!

For the next ten minutes The Stingrays did threaten to break loose. Halloway and Carney both tested Ravens keeper Claire Cherrington. Illawarra nearly caused a disaster of their own making when a back pass to keeper Sarah Gallop was almost charged down by Fatma Agar.

The Stingrays looked more structured in attack but Gladesville’s defenders, led by the ever present Freysa Meere, were frustrating their more highly fancied opponents. The Ravens girls continued to come up with last ditch tackles or were willing to throw whatever body parts they could muster in the way of the ball. This was a side that were determined to show their worth.

Suddenly, in the 39th minute, Gladesville managed to win themselves a free kick about 35 metres from goal. Gladesville’s Nicole Ridley placed the kick beautifully to match a great run into the box by Fatma Agar who headed past keeper Gallop to give the Ravens the lead for a second time.

Illawarra charged forward with a blasting shot by Michelle Carney being blocked by Ravens keeper Cherrington. Free kicks and corners rained in on the Ravens defence up until half time but they managed to survive the onslaught to hold their 2-1 lead into the break.

Illawarra’s Michelle Heyman fired the first shot of the second half; winning a corner after a fine run. Whilst The Stingrays got a free header from the kick they only managed to put the ball wide. It was then The Ravens turn to shine as Courtenay Parrot found herself in front of goal twice. Her first effort comes after hesitation as the defence wait for an offside call. Parrott didn’t even seem to realise herself that she was on side and, by the time she reacts, she is off balance and shooting wide.

Moments later Parrott was again free on goal but hit her shot with her left foot, lacking power and easy prey for the keeper. This is a fine period of play for The Ravens who appeared to be getting the upper hand.

However, the missed opportunities prove costly for Gladesville when Heyman’s superb through ball finds Carney streaking into the clear. Carney beats the advancing Cherrington to score her side’s second goal and, once again, level the match.

What you get from here readers is a summary of events. To detail everything would run into a novel of War and Peace proportions. Needless to say Illawarra through everything bar the kitchen sink at Gladesville for the next 34 minutes. Carney, Heyman, the substitute Talitha Kramer twisted, turned, parried, ran but just could not get past the gutsy Ravens defensive line. Claire Cherrington put her body on the line more than once for the home side as did Freysa Meere. Yes, Ravens made their own forays up field, usually breaking from defence, but couldn’t land the telling blow. Illawarra were more dominant but couldn’t break their willing opponents down. Right up until the final whistle The Stingrays were pressing in attack but this was a day for The Ravens to savour as they held out to grab a 2-2 draw.

If my Under 16 Girls team turned in an effort like Gladesville’s I’d be immensely proud of them. Illawarra may have been the more skilful, dangerous side for the bulk of the match. But the Gladesville girls played with the hearts of lions, thoroughly deserving their share of the spoils.

Ravens Coach Paul Wade was a happy man. Wade commented that his side had managed a few “cheeky results” this season; this being another. He said that this was the gustiest performance he’d seen from his side and that they had lifted another rung up the ladder to compete.

Stingrays mentor Darren Sewalt, gave his team an A for effort. He felt that both teams fought extremely well and provided the spectators with a great game to watch. Sewalt paid full credit to Gladesville who he said had not let his team play their normal game.
A great match this one. Entertaining, plenty of thrills and spills, wonderful skills by a variety of players; I’d come to watch a match like this one every week. Full credit to both teams for the enthusiasm and energy they put into the game.

Gladesville Ravens 2 (F.Agar 2)
Illawarra Stingrays 2 (C.Halloway, M.Carney)