We are off! All the Senior teams played this weekend and the Girls had their first match. Next weekend almost all the Dragon teams will be in action. Who knows what trials, tribulations, and triumphs there are to come.  

The Firsts beat Kodak 1-0 at home. The Dragons had a full, talented squad which can only improve as the season progresses. Some might say it was a scrappy game in places but others would say “Job Done!”

The Blues thumped Southall Athletic  6-1 away. This was the Blues first match of the season but they looked as if they are already a finely tuned football machine.

The Old Dragonians may have lost to 0 – 4 to “The 3 Steps” at home but nevertheless showed promise. Certainly the “3 Steps” deserve some sort of accolade for their name – the Dragons literary manager assumed a “9” was missing after the “3” but no. The Dragons played well but were hampered by early multiple early injuries which left them battling with 10 players in this their first match of the season. There was much to point to better results in the future.    

The U17 Boys just beat the U16 Boys 4-2 in a friendly at home. The U17s were shocked at the speed of some of the U16s players which kept their defence on their footballing toes. This was  good natured very competitive match between last season’s two division winning sides.   

The U15 Boys played an in house friendly. The coaches were on the pitch, talking the Dragons through the tactics that they will implement this season. Last Sunday the Dragons beat AFC Wembley 6-2 in a friendly to record an impressive victory.

The U16 Girls lost to Vicky Park Rangers at home. This was the Dragons first game of the season and they were not helped by their goalie being injured just before half time. The Dragons are rebuilding as 6 players left to for Pro Clubs last season but, in any event, the first match is  more about  building than the result.

All the remaining teams trained in preparation for next weekend’s avalanche of matches.

The summer break is almost over with schools returning on 4^th September. The Firsts have been training and playing for a couple of weeks with the remaining Senior and Youth teams dusting their football boots off as they return from holidays eager to get the season started.  

The Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park in August was a huge success with a continual stream of boys and girls joining in as the day progressed.

The ten weeks stretch of Pan-disability Free Football Training sessions for 5-11 year olds has come to an end. We will now review the lessons learnt before starting again.

The 2023/24 season league matches start for most teams in mid September with the Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August.  

We are running free football sessions this coming Thursday. The weather looks like it will be fine so come along and join in. There is no need to book – details below.  Also, if you know of any children with disabilities, aged around 5 -11, who would like to have a go at football please contact Angela on admin@kensingtondragons.com Thursday 10th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park, also known as St Marks Park, W10 6BZ The Dragons are running free football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome. Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre on Mondays from 6-7pm. The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified KDFC coaches. To register or for further information: Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or Click on: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August.

 

Our Soccer School was a stonking success master minded by Tony, Director of Football, ably assisted by the Kensington Dragons Coaches and trainees. We are confident that we now have the seed corn for a new U11 Boys and U11 Girls teams next season. On another matter if you know of any children with disabilities, aged around 5 -11, who would like to play football please contact Angela on admin@kensingtondragons.com

Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre on Mondays from 6-7pm.
The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified KDFC coaches. To register or for further information:

• Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or
• Click on: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA

Thursday 10^th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park, also known as St Marks Park, W10 6BZ
The Dragons are running free football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome.

The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August. 

Our annual Summer Soccer School starts this Saturday in preparation for the 2023/24 season – more details below:

The Firsts beat CB Hounslow Reserves 5-1 in a friendly in preparation for their early start to the season on the 12 August.  Hounslow scored first; the Dragons equalised before playing superbly to score another 4 goals in 20 minutes. The final period was rather quieter with no goals.

Sat 22 to Wed 26  July – The Dragons Summer Soccer School from 10am to 1pm each day at Kensington Memorial Park (also known as St Marks Park), St Mark’s Rd, London W10 6BZ
The Soccer School is for 9, 10 and 11 year old Boys and Girls wanting to play football next season. To preregister contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or register on the day. There is no charge but voluntary contributions are always welcomed via the website.  

Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre on Mondays from 6-7pm.
The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified KDFC coaches. To register or for further information:

• Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or
• Click on: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA

Thursday 10^th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park, also known as St Marks Park, W10 6BZ
The Dragons are running free football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome.

The National Theatre is running  a theatre-making project in North Kensington, for 14–21 year olds from Monday 14th August to Friday. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a Theatre Director and Actors. Further details at:  https://airtable.com/shr6CUh1BCrM2oKgd

The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August.

Our Summer Soccer School starts on Saturday in preparation for next season:

Sat 22 to Wed 26  July – The Dragons Summer Soccer School   
10am to 1pm each day at  Kensington Memorial Park (also known as St Marks Park), St Mark’s Rd, London W10 6BZ
The Soccer School is for 9, 10 and 11 year old Boys and Girls wanting to play football next season. To preregister contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or register on the day.
There is no charge but voluntary contributions are welcomed via the website.  

Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre on Mondays from 6-7pm.
The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified KDFC coaches. To register or for further information:

• Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or
• Click on: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA

Thursday 10^th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park W10 6BZ
The Dragons are running football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome.

The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August. 

If you know any 5-11 year olds with a Pan-disability who want to play football please bring them along to our next session on Monday – details below. You can register on the day.

Huge congratulations to our U13 Girls who won the Champions Super League Tournament  on Sunday. What a great way to end their season.

Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre on Mondays from 6-7pm.
The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified KDFC coaches. To register or for further information:

• Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or
• Click on: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA

Sat 22 to Wed 26  July – The Dragons Summer Soccer School returns each day from 10am to 1pm
The training is for 9, 10 and 11 year old Boys and Girls wanting to play football next season.To preregister contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com

Thursday 10^th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park, also known as St Marks Park, W10 6BZ
The Dragons are running free football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome.

The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August.  

With the 2022/23 season ended there is much to look forward to over the Summer:

Saturday 1^st July: Festival of Activity and Wellbeing in Holland Park, W8 6LU
The Dragons are running free football sessions from 11am to 12.30pm and then again from 1.30 to 3pm. All ages welcome.

Pan-disability Free Football Training for 5-11 year olds on Pitch 2, Westway Sports Centre, W10 6R, on Mondays from 6-7pm. The training is part of the FA’s Comets Program with qualified Dragons coaches. To register or for further information:

• Contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com or
• Click: Comets Programme launches in Middlesex – Middlesex FA

Thursday 10^th August: Activity Day at Kensington Memorial Park, also known as St Marks Park, W10 6BZ
The Dragons are running free football sessions from 10am to 2pm. All ages welcome.

Sat 22 to Wed 26  July – The Dragons Summer Soccer School from 10am to 1pm.
The training is for 9, 10 and 11 year old Boys and Girls preparing for next season.
To preregister contact Angela on: admin@kensingtondragons.com

The 2023/24 season starts for most teams in mid September leaving our Firsts battling it out from their earlier start in August. 

End of Season Review

The annual Tournament, Presentations and BBQ on Sunday 11^th June were a huge success with over 300 players, parents, helpers and fans enjoying themselves in the glorious weather. If anything, it was hotter than the previous year.  The BBQ proved so popular that some parents had to be rather cruelly turned away in favour of players. If you have any photos of the event you would like to share with the Club, please email them to:  comms@kensingtondragons.com .

With so many teams playing there was the inevitable mix of triumphs and disasters but taken as a whole it was a thoroughly enjoyable, successful season:

The Firsts, playing on Saturdays, were looking at one point for a top three position before slipping back. There were some thrilling matches: some of which proved the point that it is not over to the final whistle – a lot can happen in the last five minutes!

The Blues, playing on Saturdays, had a run of just losing matches and then a run of winning to end the season with room for improvement but also for confidence in the future with younger players getting involved.

The Old Dragonians, playing on Sundays, secured its position as a permanent senior team in the Dragons roster.

The U17 Boys had a mixed season. The team was exceptional one week then missing players the next. This can be a difficult age group with players coming under pressure in many directions.

The U17 Girls also had a mixed season, in many ways similar to the U17 Boys. With their full team they were exceptional.  

The U16 Boys had a fantastic season to win their Division in exceptional circumstances. They had tied with the high scoring Old Actonians and so it was on to a Play Off. Everything pointed to an OA win but the Dragons battled through with depleted numbers to win 4-0 and leave the OAs shellshocked.

The U15 Boys also had a good season which culminated in them winning the Trophy Cup by beating LPOSSA 2-0 in the Final. Over the season the Dragons had developed into a very formidable side despite having ended the previous season with room for improvement.

The U15 Girls had a tremendous run of wins but faltered a little in the home stretch which prevented them winning their division.

The U14 Boys romped home to win their Division by a clear 4 points and it looks as if they have it in them to push hard next season.

The U14 Girls had a generally good season to finish second in the league which resulted in some players being entered in the London Youth Games – held on the same day as the Dragons End of Season BBQ.

The U13 Boys are settling down into a cohesive side but recruiting a goalie would make a huge difference to their performance.

The U13 Girls had a very sound season and recorded some thumping great wins to finish second in the League.
                   
The U12 Boys had a fantastic season to win their division by a massive 12 points recording 18 wins along the way. The challenge now is to harness their talents to cope with playing 11 a side next season on bigger pitches where passing becomes even more important.

The U12 Girls are a cheerful lot and have progressed remarkably from their wobbly start last season. With much the same players they are a match for most teams and finished mid table.        
                                                                                                                                       
The U11 Boys progressed from last years training squad into a properly functioning competitive side winning a string of matches.

The U10s now have to face the challenge of being entered in the Harrow Combination League.

The Dragon have kicked into action and the players know when they need to be at the Linford Christie Stadium to play matches. For those who want to watch the Presentations the times are:

12.15pm Prompt.  Presentations to: U10s; U11 Boys; U12 Boys; U12 Girls; U13 Boys; U13 Girls; U14 Boys; U14 Girls

1.00pm  Prompt. Presentations to: Senior Players (1sts, Blues & OD’s); U15 Girls; U15 Boys; U16 Boys; U17 Boys: U17 Girls

Players should bring water, apply sunscreen and sit in the stand in the shade when not playing.