CLUB PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - January 2012

As we welcome in the New Year, we can reflect on some pretty big achievements in 2011 - both on and off the field.

Foothills continues to be ranked as the number 1 ranked youth club in Canada based on 7 years of results at National competitions based on a report published by Dick Labrom in 2010. Our technical program also continues to develop to embrace the changing trends in soccer education around the world and yet again we continue to send more teams to compete at the provincial and national level than any other club in Calgary. 2011 saw the GU14 Gryphons girls reach the National Finals and in total we competed in 4 Provincial Finals. Without doubt, the biggest step forward our Club made in 2011 has been the acquisition of our own indoor training facility tin December 2011. The desire to have our own facility was driven by many different needs. The need to make technical enhancements by not playing on hardwood floors, the need to reduce injuries, the need stop paying extortionate rental rates for school gymnasiums and the need for our Club to have a home.

In the past, the soccer community has been affected by the "island effect". Teams train in isolation and clubs become a government of many different "islands". Our new home eliminates this. All our players now train here. They socialize, they interact and they get the chance to see and meet fellow club members they previously did not know. I have been at our facility some days at 4.45pm in the afternoon and see U10 and 12 players arriving for their 5.30pm practice!!! That never used to happen in a school gym. I am noticing an excitement in the players I have not seen before aswell as an excitement in our coaches and volunteers.

This facility was acquired for you -our members. Enjoy it and respect it.

Thank you to all members who have made 2011 a success.

Andy Cowlishaw
President
president@calgaryfoothillssoccer.com