Spotlight on Redditch United Under 13's

Redditch United's under 13 side are currently playing in Regional Group Four. Their results to date have shown a continuous improvement after opening with a defeat against Gloucester City. A much improved showing gained a draw in the next game aganst the same opponents before earning their first three-point haul against Worcester City.

Many of the players turning out this season have been with the team since it came into being as an under 8s squad. Manager Tim Delaney had previously been involved with Solihull Juniors before being invited by Ken Rae, who is now chairman of Redditch United, to develop the Reds' youth programme.

Tim made the move from Solihull and took a couple of the lads to play in Redditch's newly formed under 8s side. The new team entered the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League in Division D. Success came in their first season with a championship and promotion to Division C of the under 9s section. A further title in that age group was followed by a third-place finish in Division B at the Under-10 level. The next year the Under 11s, playing for the first time in eleven a side games, achieved runners-up spot in Division One.

Tim Delaney said "When the players got to the Under 12 level we considered everything and decided the time was good to attempt the bigger challenge offered by playing Saturday football in the MJPFL. We'd looked at all the options available to us but after discussing matters with League Chairman Andy Barnett we were sold on the benefits the MJPFL could provide."

"The principles which the league stands for are important to us at Redditch United and we have been impressed with how superbly run the league is and how it offers the kids the best chance to achieve their potential. The league's high standards help everyone to develop the right habits which will stand them in good stead for their future years at whatever level they end up playing."

"We knew that competing in a league of this standard was going to be a bigger challenge and that showed straight away when we lost our first game 11-0. We went on to win just two games last season and drew one but the results are far from being all that count. After years of being quite succesful it was better for the boys to be facing up to the bigger challenges that were being posed and it has done them good in their development as both players and young men. We can see that the much higher quality of football in the MJPFL will help our players to move on and maybe become Redditch United players of the future."

Tim is a Level 2 Coach and as well as being Assistant Director in charge of youth at Redditch United he is also the club secretary. He also said "My aim is to give the kids the best chance to come through and this league provides the best environment in which to do this. The contacts which the league has are tremendous; we had an Aston Villa scout watching at our last game. The facilities are excellent and, taking the pitches as an example, it's so much better to be playing at places with proper facilities instead of having to try to play games staged at local parks with loads of matches being played simultaneously and the problems that can sometimes cause"

"Most of the squad is Redditch-based and we have a fantastic group of lads, some of whom have been with me since they were six, with a great team spirit and ethos. I really enjoy the time I spend with them and there's nothing better for me than the longer journeys which the league provides, such as to Bristol, for the lads to build bonds with each other and with me."

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