In the Spotlight...

Welcome to the year 2019! We hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas and the New Year - we did! With January comes fresh hopes and plans for the coming months AND a new Spotlight article (hooray!). This month, please say hello to Oliver Bailey who attends our Intermediate Skills session. He tells us all about himself below:
1. How old are you? ~ I am 9 years old
2. Tell us about you and your family: ~ I live with my mummy and my sister is Maddison who is 5
3. Who is your favourite football team? ~ I dont have a favourite team. I like watching all football
4. Who is your favourite footballer? ~ Harry Kane
5. How did you first hear about Hull Football Skills Academy? ~ I saw the advertisement on Mr Taylors car after Dodgeball one night, so I asked my mum if I could join (Editor's note: Owen is a Sports Coach in several Hull schools)
6. When did you start your football journey with the Academy? ~ 27th January 2018
7. What made you stick with HFSA? ~ The other boys and girls are nice and it makes me happy when I am there. I like all the different things we do on a Saturday
8. Do you play football in a team? ~ Not yet
9. Do you have any other hobbies? ~ Playing Dodgeball at school, playing with my hotwheel cars, playing on the beach and throwing stones into the sea!
10. What do you think is the best part of your academy sessions? ~ Learning new football skills and playing football games
11. What is your favourite football skill, and can you do it? ~ Scoring goals is my favourite thing to do. Yes I can score goals
12. What other activities would you like to see at HFSA? ~ More penalty shoot outs games
13. What advice would you give to someone new wanting to join us? ~ Its fun and you learn lots of new skills. The coaches are nice, and positive
Mum Danni told us: I had struggled for months trying to find Oliver a place he could go and be himself, learn new football skills and try and develop his social skills with other children. He has now found a place with HFSA. He can play football and is learning new skills all the time and actually understanding what is expected of him in the session. The coaching team are amazing with all the children and their positive attitude towards the children’s development is clear to see at every session. HFSA has really helped Oliver in developing his social skills, and this has helped him become more confident when it comes to playing alongside other children. Oliver enjoys each session and really has developed in such a positive way in the year that he has been with the Academy. Thank you
We think this is a really lovely article by Oliver. We loved that his hobbies include throwing stones into the sea! Oliver rarely misses a session at HFSA and it's clear he really feels a part of the family, which of course he is! Massive thanks for finding us Danni, and for your very kind words. It is always a pleasure to have Oliver, and we are sure he will continue to go from strength to strength.

In the Spotlight...

Hello and welcome to the festive season! We had a little siesta on the Spotlight front last month, but we are back.. and this month we are meeting Oliver Birch. Oliver has been coming to the Academy for a little while now and his skills are really improving. He tells us all about himself below, so do read on!
1. How old are you? ~ I am 8 ½ years and 9 in June 2019
2. Tell us about you and your family: ~ I am the youngest of 5. I have 4 older sisters. I am also an uncle now to Phoebe who is 5 months old. My family are really sporty as my dad and my aunty did judo, and my sisters play netball. I also have loving and caring parents who support me
3. Who is your favourite football team? ~ I am a suffering Hull City fan. I love going to watch them with my grandad at the KC. Up the Tigers!
4. Who is your favourite footballer? ~ My favourite footballer is Cristiano Ronaldo who plays for Juventus and Portugal. He has awesome skills and he was great to watch in the world cup
5. How did you first hear about Hull Football Skills Academy? ~ My mum found out about HFSA from the internet and emailed Owen
6. When did you start your football journey with the Academy? ~ I started here in September 2017 and I love it
7. What made you stick with HFSA? ~ I have stayed here because I really like Owen - he is a great guy and a great coach. I think he believes in me and and my skills are getting better
8. Do you play football in a team? ~ I don't play for a team yet but I really want to after Christmas!
9. Do you have any other hobbies? ~ I used to do Judo, swimming and Karate. I love reading books like "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and "Tom Gates". I also love to draw and build Star Wars Lego and play on my Xbox to chill out
10. What do you think is the best part of your academy sessions? ~ I now enjoy the skills bits that I found hard at first; I want silky skills like Ronaldo. I love playing in a big match at the end
11. What is your favourite football skill, and can you do it? ~ I like to do the Maradona step over move when I can!
12. What other activities would you like to see at HFSA? ~ I really enjoy what Owen is already doing. I just want to build my confidence up in the older session
13. What advice would you give to someone new wanting to join us? I would say that HFSA is a great place to learn football. It's really friendly and the coach is really good with us and I am getting better
Wow! This is a great article, Ollie. Thanks for taking the time to write for us. Don't worry about gaining confidence in the Advanced Session; you are doing really well! We asked Dad Shaun if he had anything to add, and he told us: ~ I really enjoy taking Oliver to his Saturday morning session. I have seen Oliver grow in confidence and I think Owen has a great way with the kids. He is bringing them all on which you can clearly see in the matches and in their enthusiasm to take part.
That's all for 2018, folks! We will see you in the New Year with more Spotlight profiles. Merry Christmas to you all, and a VERY Happy New Year. Best wishes, The HFSA Team x

In the Spotlight

Welcome to October, the month where the smells of Autumn (and Hull Fair!) fill the air. This month, please welcome little Ben Young to In the Spotlight, as he tells us a little bit about himself. Read more below:
1. How old are you? ~ I am 5 years old
2. Tell us about you and your family: ~ I live with my mum (Lucy) and my two sisters Frances, 8 and Lauren 16
3. Who is your favourite football team? ~ I supported England during the World Cup!
4. Who is your favourite footballer? ~ Harry Maguire is my favourite
5. How did you first hear about Hull Football Skills Academy? ~ My mums friend at work told her about it!
6. When did you start your football journey with the Academy? ~ I joined in May 2017 when I was 4 years old and come every Saturday
7. What made you stick with HFSA? ~ HFSA makes me feel like I am in a team. My friends are there too!
8. Do you play football in a team? ~ No, not yet but I’d like to 9. Do you have any other hobbies? ~ I like playing with my friends…and playing basketball and tennis
10. What do you think is the best part of your academy sessions? ~ The matches are the best part. I love playing in a match!
11. What is your favourite football skill, and can you do it? ~ I can keep the ball between my ankles and do a forward roll!!
12. What other activities would you like to see at HFSA? ~ More football camp days- they’re great fun!
13. What advice would you give to someone new wanting to join us? ~ Listen to Owen, he’s the teacher!
Mum, Lucy, attends with Ben (and his sister) every week, even when it's super cold! Lucy told us: ~ I think Ben and I have been really lucky to find HFSA. Owen is friendly, personable and makes each child feel like they are important. Ben has tried one or two free “taster” sessions in the area with other coaches because he just loves playing so much but never went back because they are just not as good as HFSA. Owen is fab coach. He takes notice of everyone as they’re playing and it creates a really nice atmosphere… even on a freezing Saturday morning!
There was some great info about you there, Ben! Well done! Keep doing what you do best, and you'll go far :)

In the Spotlight...

Coach Owen with some of our Advanced Skills players
Hi all! It's a new academic school year, and with it comes another year for all at HFSA. We are proud to say that we celebrated our fourth birthday on 6th September AND this is our 1st Anniversary of our monthly profiles. In honour of this, we have decided to cover our very own Coach, Owen Taylor, in this month's In the Spotlight. Read on to find out a little more about him!
1) Tell us a little about yourself ~ I am 40 years old and I've been coaching football since 2002. I’ve coached on 3 different continents. Midweek, I’m a Sports Coach in various schools. I am a Dad to 2 children, Ellie & Henry. Currently, Ellie doesn't but Henry does have a little interest in football!
2) Which team do you support? ~ Tottenham Hotspur
3) Who are your 3 footballing heroes? ~ Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Paul Gascoigne
4) How old were you when you first showed an interest in football? ~ I was about 3 or 4 years old but I didn’t really start playing until 8 years old
5) What made you want to start up HFSA? ~ I wanted to project my own ideals into football coaching. I found other schools were more restrictive in what they taught, and I wanted to encourage a more skill-based, less rigid way of playing
6) What is your favourite football skill that you can do? ~ Brazillian Juggles
7) What is your favourite football skill that you wish you COULD do but CAN’T? ~ I actually can’t do the Rainbow Flick!
8) As a coach, what do you enjoy most about the Academy sessions? ~ I love to see the progression of each and every one of the kids. I get a real boost seeing the kids move up to the next group
9) How do you like to keep fit? ~ Gym and Running. And also football of course
10) Do you still play football regularly? ~ Yes! After a short retirement, I decided I missed it and now I play for Reckitt’s Veterans
11) What is your defining moment in sport, personally? ~ I once scored the perfect hattrick; left foot, right foot, header!
12) What is your defining moment in sport, as a spectator? ~ Watching Hull City go 2-0 up against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final
13) Do you enjoy watching/playing any other sports? ~ I enjoy playing Dodgeball, Tennis, Cricket. I enjoy watching Rugby League, particularly Hull KR
14) Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? ~ Hopefully, doing the same job; teaching sports to children. I would also like to see the Academy continue to grow from strength to strength
15) Would you like to say anything to our HFSA family in celebration of our 4th birthday? ~ I would like to say a huge thanks to all of you for coming along to those first sessions and sticking with us. It’s great to see so many people have settled in and made (hopefully) life-long friends at HFSA, and I look forward to seeing you all grow
Just to put things into perspective, many of the HFSA have been taught by Owen for several years (obviously pre-HFSA) and still come now, working with us alongside their own team training. Due to growth of the Academy and more and more interest from parents of younger children, we are also about to launch our very own Little Feet sessions. This means we will shortly be taking children as young as 2 years old. This is testament to the skills Owen shares, the dedication from the children and the massive support from all of our parents. Lifelong friendships are occuring right before our eyes; we really are like a little football family. Happy 4th birthday to all of you!

In the Spotlight...

Hello! We hope you are all enjoying a fun-packed hottest summer for 40 years (reportedly). We have definitely been enjoying ourselves both in and out of the Academy. The summer camps are proving successful for everyone who has attended, and our respective families have hardly spoken the word "bored" (so far). With the summer comes our 12th edition of In the Spotlight and, with this edition, comes Albert! Albert Hardy tells us a little about what life is like for him. See his story below
1. How old are you? ~ I am 8 years old
2. Tell us about you and your family: ~ I live with my Dad (Andy) and my mum (Lizzie) in Skidby. I have a big brother called Dillon who is 18, a big sister called Elsa who is 9 and a cat called Lola
3. Who is your favourite football team? ~ My favourite teams are Liverpool and Hull City
4. Who is your favourite footballer? ~ Mohammed Salah
5. How did you first hear about Hull Football Skills Academy? ~ From a leaflet in our school bags
6. When did you start your football journey with the Academy? ~ I can’t remember! 2016 I think (We checked Albert, you've been with us since Dec 2016!)
7. What made you stick with HFSA? ~ Because Owen is a really good coach and because of this I am much better at football now
8. Do you play football in a team? ~ No but i would like to one day
9. Do you have any other hobbies? ~ I like riding my bike and playing my xbox. I also like playing the guitar and listening to music
10. What do you think is the best part of your academy sessions? ~ Learning the skills
11. What is your favourite football skill, and can you do it? ~ Rainbow flick and I can just about do it, but I am still learning
12. What other activities would you like to see at HFSA? ~ I can’t think of any
13. What advice would you give to someone new wanting to join us? ~ Try your best and practice in your garden (We say that's an excellent tip!!)
When asked if Albert's parents had anything to add, Mum Lizzie said: We would like to say how much we have watched Albert progress since he started HFSA. Owen’s coaching style is perfect for children like Albert who wasn’t very interested in football to begin with and the results have been fantastic
We have to agree with your Mum, Albert, you really have come along in leaps and bounds. Your friendly smile and kind nature towards the other HFSA kids goes a long way and certainly doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, and we will see you and your sister at Camp!

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