A number of Dads sheepishly stepped forward to volunteer their time (hey, why stand around in the cold if you can keep warm and have fun?) and were quickly transformed from keen amateurs into the slick coaching unit they are today by one weekend of tutelage.

Over the first term, the many sessions of Dodgeball and Bulldog began to bear fruit. Parents commented that their children were harder to lay hands on - improvement in skills if not in behaviour! Running became more direct, catching less like soap in the shower and before we knew it came the great U6s Christmas Tournament (followed by the Club Christmas Party).

Parents went dewy-eyed at the sight of the Snakes strangling the Lions, Elephants rampaging around Pumas and the Hippos flattening the Cheetahs. Don't worry, the children weren't allowed to train with actual wildlife (other than the coaches) - they were just team names, so no animals were harmed in the making of this season. Medals were presented, presents received from Santa and a few eyebrows raised at the after-lunch entertainer. I can't remember who were the Tournament champions - maybe Sport itself was the winner...(sorry).

Great things of biblical proportions were expected in January, but it was less Samson and more Noah as the rain hit the paddy field. A couple of sessions were held on the Downs, proving that the Clifton U6s are as good on their travels as they are at home. To the credit of all we lost very few from the Club in that period - less hardy players would have given up the game altogether. So we plugged on - Russ's legs got whiter, Kevin's boots got brighter and Rich's hangovers got lighter. More of the boys and girls started sidling up to the warm up wearing a purple and black shirt, we got to know the regulars and laughed at the real characters (of which there are more than a few). Training got more muddy and the players got even keener. More and more parents discovered the joy of the Sunday morning breakfast bap from the serving hatch.

Towards the end of the season, if you squinted you could see the U16s of the 2023/4 season forming - a bullocking front five, indomitable but fair back row, a half back with a beaming toothy smile and a big boot, three quarters with dashing good looks and mazy running and a winger or two who knows where the corner is even in their sleep. Maybe we were looking at some of the same players but we probably saw a bit in each child. Add a bit of French, Welsh and Irish influence and I can't wait to see them grow up.

The season finished with a tournament even better than the first - 30 boys played a full-blooded affair with the "Incredibles" sweeping a clear path through the opposition.

Joking apart, getting over 30 children involved at this age is brilliant and they all play their part. We split in two next year - the Reception year stay in the U6s in the capable hands of Lee and Rajon, to be augmented by the new arrivals of 2014. I am amazed by some of the skills these boys show in training and some are only just past 4 years old. The older current Yr 1 boys and girls become the U7s and start their odyssey around the locality, spreading awe around them and generally terrifying the opposition. Well, once they work out that you can only pass backwards.....!

Our thanks go to the coaching team - Russ, Chris, Rajon, Ed, Kevin, Lee, Barney, Rich, James, Richard, Alan and Simon (forgive me if I've missed anyone) together with Chloe for her tremendous membership work and Trish for being able to organise a small hospitality event in a brewery (or a curry house).

Once most of them have gone soft over the summer on a diet of cricket and cucumber sandwiches, I'll see you all in August for pre-season.

Oh, and whoever has the "Player of the Week" trophy please remember to bring it or face 50 punishment laps of the pitch, parent and child!