30/05/2026
Comets U11’s ⭐️🔴⚫️ ⭐️
⭐️ In the glorious Salford sunshine at Manchester United’s The Cliff training ground, the Comets were competing for the Europa Cup after finishing 2nd in their qualifying group. We have won a trophy in each of the last two seasons, including this particular one last year, but today we were only asking for a competitive performance against a strong team who had soundly beaten us when we last played.
⭐️ Despite the result not going our way on this occasion either, we couldn’t be prouder of the effort, grit, and determination on display from every single one of the boys for the whole game.
⭐️ The opening 30 minutes was as tight a game as I’ve watched as a coach that I can remember, and both Steve and I are thankful for the lack of hair on our heads; otherwise it would be several shades greyer…
⭐️ We were defending really well, with Percy, Seb, Richard, Conor and Will all putting in imperious defensive displays. We were a constant threat on the counter attack, with the pace of Leon, Findley, Issa and Teddy giving the opposition nightmares whenever we got on the front foot. Theo, Nathaniel Alfie and Alex were composed in midfield, and were constantly looking to play forward when we could, and tracking back when out of possession. Charlie was assured in goal, made some great saves as usual and his distribution was quality.
⭐️ Unfortunately, a sucker punch of a goal just on the stroke of half time saw us go in behind at the break.
⭐️ This clearly took the wind out of our sails a bit. We encouraged the boys to just keep working, and they didn’t disappoint. We had chances to equalise, but luck wasn’t on our side and we just couldn’t get the goal we needed. We kept pressing, we kept grafting, and we made them work for every ball and every inch of space on that pitch.
⭐️ Unfortunately, we conceded again against the run of play towards the end, and we just had too much to do. Credit to the opposition, they were very well organised defensively and we just couldn’t find a clear way through.
⭐️Today wasn’t our day. But considering our recent form, we genuinely couldn’t be happier with how the boys not only represented the shirt and the club, but how they worked so hard for each other. Even when mistakes were made, we were always encouraging each other to pick ourselves up and keep going - and this is the true spirit of grassroots football.
⭐️ Nobody wins every game.
⭐️ What matters is what we learn in defeat.
⭐️ How we hold each other up when things get tough.
⭐️ How we stick together, as a team, not a collection of individuals.
⭐️ Every single one of them embodied this today, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Next season, we go again.
Bigger.
Better.
Stronger.
Faster.
Together.
⚽️☄️⚽️☄️⚽️☄️⚽️