The Queen set an example of Pressing On and that is what we will do. It took steely determination to conduct her audience with Liz Truss on the Tuesday before finally laying down to rest only two days later. She may have reflected on her first audience with Churchill as she shared pleasantries with her last, as she must have suspected, prime minister. The Queen was the Patron of the FA and was thrilled to present the FIFA World Cup trophy to Bobby Moore in 1966, little knowing it would be a long time before a similar triumph.  She would have been delighted that her long wait was rewarded by the Women winning the UEFA Euros this July. Hers was a “Life Well Lived” to quote her son.  

The First Team has been in action for some weeks: training;  playing friendlies and one League match – a draw. This last Saturday’s fixture was postponed out of respect to the Queen.

The Blues and Old Dragonians are due to start their fixtures this coming weekend

The Capital Girls League season also starts this coming weekend

The Harrow Youth Boys League starts the following weekend on 25 September

Best wishes to all as we crank back into gear.

I am sure you are enjoying putting your footballing feet up in this heat, but we thought it would help to put some dates in our footballing diaries:

• The Senior Teams have been training over the summer and look forward to their matches which start before the those of the Youth teams
• Our Youth training and match pitches are booked from the first week in September
• We will have a Full Youth Council Meeting, followed by a Reception, for Managers, Coaches, and Officers on Tuesday 13 September
• The CGL matches for the girls start on Saturday 17 September
• The HYFL matches for the boys start on Sunday 25 September

During the first couple of weeks in September we will use the match pitches to play other Dragons sides to get into peak condition for the first competitive matches.

Inevitably there will be some kerfuffle as we dust off our somnolent soccer selves but very quickly we will be surging ahead. 

This will be a very exciting season for reasons which will become apparent as it progresses.

Enjoy the rest of the Summer.

 Even as I email teams of Dragons are busy rewriting the annual Summer Soccer School Quiz answers – no longer is “1966” the answer to the perennial question “When did England last win a Major Soccer Championship?”

 The Lionesses beat Germany at Wembley in the Euro 2-1 in Extra time. The historically minded feared the worst when Germany equalised and the game drifted into extra time towards the seemingly inevitable penalty shoot out. As the Dragons know only two well it is better to hold onto a lead than be the victim of penalties. As the minutes ticked by the tension mounted and substitution policies were discussed throughout the world – should one go for penalty takers? or goal scorers? Eventually Chloe Kelly decided enough was enough;  shot and then poked the ball again on the rebound to score. The Lionesses had battled their way through disappointments and setbacks to win. A fantastic result.

The Soccer Summer School from the 23^rd to 27 July was a great success. Each day the numbers went up as players told their friends what a great time they were having. The Soccer School ended on the Wednesday with the players divided into four teams to compete in skills competitions, round robin matches and the much-anticipated Quiz – to which one of the answers in future will no longer be “1966” . This was a great event masterminded by the Director of Football and all the coaches. We owe them our collective thanks.

 Best wishes and happy holidays from all the Dragons

Soccer Schools – for Boys & Girls – Current & New Players 
 
DAY ONE: Saturday 23 July at Holland Park (Sports field)
11.00am to 1.00pm for 9 & 10 & 11 year olds
2.00pm to 4.00pm for 13 & 14 year olds
In collaboration with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

DAYS TWO to FIVE: at Kensington Memorial Park (St Mark’s Park)
10.00am to 1.00pm for 9 & 10 & 11 year olds
Sunday 24 to Wednesday 27 July

Register in advance, or on the Day. For more information, email:
operations@kensingtondragons.com

Voluntary contribution of £5 per day for Days Two to Five to help with costs.

Soccer Schools – for Boys & Girls – Current & New Players 
 
DAY ONE: Saturday 23 July at Holland Park (Sports field)
11.00am to 1.00pm for 9 & 10 & 11 year olds
2.00pm to 4.00pm for 13 & 14 year olds
In collaboration with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

DAYS TWO to FIVE: at Kensington Memorial Park (St Mark’s Park)
10.00am to 1.00pm for 9 & 10 & 11 year olds
Sunday 24 to Wednesday 27 July

To register in advance or for more information, please email
operations@kensingtondragons.com

Voluntary contribution of £5 per day for Days Two to Five to help with costs. 

Help! This is the last financial appeal of the season. If you enjoyed the football but have not found time to contribute, please help. As an inducement to those contributing £250 or over during the season you will be invited to the Supporters’ Reception on Wednesday 20 July. It’s fine if you cannot afford it but if you can please help – any amount, however small, is greatly appreciated. It cost around £100,000/year to run the club – pitches must be hired, equipment bought etc.. Donating remains a Delightful Experience – just click the button:

Dates for Your Diary:

Supporters’ Reception: Wednesday 20 July

Soccer School: For 9, 10 and 11 year old boys and girls on Sunday 23^rd July to Wednesday 27 July. Please email expressions of interest to: operations@kensingtondragons.com

Refereeing Course: Planned for early October 2022. Please email expressions of interest to:  operations@kensingtondragons.com . Under FA rules you need to be over 14 years old.

Our End of Season Presentations, Tournament and BBQ on Sunday were an absolute triumph of ambition over organisation.  

The Youth Tournament matches started on the near dot of 10am with teams playing three matches each against other Dragons teams.  Of particlualr note was the U10 Boys against the U11 Girls. The boys rather swaggered onto the pitch only to find the ruthless Girls push them aside to calmly score.  All the Dragons youth teams turned up in force and it was joy to watch the good natured but competitive matches  

The Presentations started 6 minutes late but a sharp increase in pace towards the middle kept the schedule to time. As the players bounced up to the podium near professional volunteer photographers recorded each presentation. There was no sign of attention flagging in the crowded room as tension mounted in anticipation of the coveted Players’ Player awards being revealed. There was near total silence as the Returning Officer strode into the packed hall to hand over the prized envelopes containing the names of the players who had received most votes from their teammates.  There was then a deafening crescendo as each name was revealed.  Finally the new Social Media Champions Awards were announced before the Dragons chant to end the Presentations.  

The BBQ was a massive success. The Mystery Chef was revealed as non other than Pepe who is known throughout the London Hotel five-star culinary world as a chef of distinction.  A particular highlight were the delicious, delectable hamburgers which one French epicurean described as “the best I have ever eaten” – praise indeed.  

The Senior Matches were great fun. With teams made up from players in their peak to others whose peak may have slipped a little the competition was fierce. It was a delight to see some of the Club’s superbly gifted First Team players marvel at the skills of supposedly retired players who clearly had not forgotten all they had learned. Added to the excitement was an All Stars Match with youth players mixing with the Coaches to take on all comers.    

All in all, it was a great day out which was made possible only by the Dragons working together as one huge team.

The last of the 2021/22 fixtures were finally played in preparation for the:

End of Season, Tournament and Awards on Sunday 12 June at LCS.

The U13 Girls beat Broomwood 8-0 away. This was a must win for the Dragons who started with the positive mental attitude sought by the Coaches to set the foundations for a thrilling victory. Digging deep, the Dragons clicked and played silky smooth football with an impressive clean sheet to match. A great end to the season.

The U11 Girls were beaten at home by Broomwood. The Dragons were missing key players so had a tough, but mostly cheerful time. Broomwood will be set back on their footballing haunches when they meet the Dragons at full strength next season.

The U10, U11 and U12 Boys played a three-way rolling Tournament, with all three sides leaving the pitch dwelling on footballing positives but also negatives to work on for next season. A very worthwhile exercise.

All other Dragons teams trained.

End of Season Tournaments, Presentations & BBQ Sunday 12 June at LCS

Kensington Dragons Results W/E 22^nd May 2022

The penultimate weekend brought a thrilling end to the league for the U14 Girls:

The U14 Girls beat Brent Schools FA 3-0 at home, guaranteeing promotion. After an incredible season with 13 wins from 16, plus Cup and tour successes, the Dragons showed how fierce they are. Determined to secure a win to finish 2^nd in the table, the Dragons displayed camaraderie and fighting spirit that exemplifies their season. An awesome and fitting end to a brilliant league campaign.

In the Grenfell Memorial Community Cup:

The Firsts narrowly lost out on reaching the Cup Final after winning two out of three group games. After back-to-back 1-0 wins against Eristars and Lancaster West United, the Dragons were eager to claim top of the group with Kensington Impact left to play. It was a hotly contested game. In an attempt to stamp his authority on the match, the fatigued referee flung a red card at a Dragon who seemed to be the victim of the foul. A goal against the Dragons ensued and Kensington Impact went through.

The U14 Boys were knocked out of the Youth Cup in the group stages. Faced with tough, well-drilled opposition in the group, the transition from 11-a-side league games to a 5-a-side tournament proved difficult. The Dragons nonetheless had a grand day out and continued to play football and enjoy the activities long after the tournament ended.

All other Youth Girls and Youth Boys teams trained.

The Blues and the Old Dragonians had no matches.

Save the Date: Whole Club End of Season Tournaments and Presentations Sunday 12 June at LCS

 Kensington Dragons Results W/E 15^th May 2022

A weekend marked by penalties as the FA Cup and Harrow Youth League Trophy alike were decided from the spot kick.

The Firsts drew 3-3 with CB Hounslow at home in their final game of the year. The Dragons started well, controlling the first half to score first. As the match progressed in the intense heat the Dragons relaxed, whilst CB Hounslow pressed to take advantage of sloppy play in the dying embers of the game to equalise.  Reviewing the season, it would be fair to say that the Dragons ended with a strong finish in the League and the Cup. The important next step is to start the 2022/23 season with practiced purpose with their Premiership position assured.

The Blues and the Old Dragonians had no games.

The U16 Girls were beaten 1-4 away at Hampstead. The Dragons were immediately at a disadvantage from missing some players, the deficit was made worse at half time due to players suffering from queasiness in the hot Saturday sun. The Dragons gave it their all but with another player down the challenge was too large. The Coach vows the Dragons will be “bigger and better next season,” .

The U14 Girls won 3-2 away at Ickenham. In the penultimate game of the season, the Dragons showed their usual high standard of heart, determination, and desire to win. The Dragons worked hard especially in the second half to retain their lead and have one more game to end a brilliant season.

The U13 Girls were beaten away by Actonians. If there was ever a game of two halves, this was it. In the first half the opposition had the privilege of fielding some of their brutish U14s and this was reflected in the unfavourable score line. However! In the second half the Dragons showed true grit with surprising organisation despite the score. The Dragons held their opponents 0-0 in the second half and won a deserved pat on their collective backs.

The U12 Girls and U11 Girls had no matches.

The U16, U14, U12 and U11 Boys had no games.

The U15 Boys lost at home to Kodak, ending hopes of reaching the League Trophy Cup Final. Kodak were a formidable opponent having only lost one match all season in the division above. The match proved even handed but with Kodak having the edge when presented with an opportunity to score. The Dragons have improved immeasurably over the season and will be promoted to chase Kodak up the rankings.

The U13 Boys just lost out on penalties away at Brook House in the League Trophy Semi Final. Another game of 2 halves where initially the Dragons were shaky and conceded midway through the first. In the second the Dragons composed themselves and equalised shortly after the break. With the final score 1-1, the contest went to penalties which the Dragons lost 2-3. Despite heartbreak, the Coaches are immensely proud of the boys for their unbeaten Trophy run of 8 wins and 2 draws.

The U10 Boys trained.