After a very early start from North Wales the Academy Squad arrived at Stoke to be given a tour of the training ground of Stoke City FC. The players enjoyed the opportunity to sit in the press room, changing rooms and most of all seeing the players’ boot room.

Apart from a friendly fixture against Rhyl in the week this was the first outing for the Nomads Boys. Two teams represented the U10s:

Nomads ‘As’ - Daniel Spaven, Harry Whitehouse, Alex Forsythe, Elliot Evans, Callum Manley, Jake Hampson, Jamie Nash & Harvey.

And in the other team: Nomads ‘Bs’ - Kai Tilley, Joe O’Gorman, Danny Malone, James Worthington, Jack Robinson, Tom Johnston, Leo Sumner & Leon Sumner.

The ‘Bs’ played South Moorland and got off to a fantastic start winning 1-0. The goal coming from a through ball from Leo Sumner to Leon Sumner who placed the ball past the South Moorland keeper. The possession from the Nomads looked very good from all squad players.

In the second match against Woodgate 80 (who had travelled from Leicester)Nomads got off to a shaky start. Kai Tilley in goal was kept busy and made some very good saves however Woodgate took their chances and went 2-0 up early on.

With the matches only 10 minutes long Nomads had to work hard to convert their chances. Jimmy Worthington took his chance in front of goal with a lifted ball over the keeper. Unfortunately it was not to be and Woodgate scored again, winning 3-1.

In the final group game Nomads played Sandbach, Leo Sumner had a header saved off the line early on and Leon Sumner had a cross across the face of the goal luckily clipping the defenders heel away from the path of Leo Sumner.

Danny Malone and Joe O’Gorman were solid at the back and it was an unmarked corner that led to a Sandbach opening goal. With only a few minutes remaining Sandbach went 2-0 up again from a corner, and a goal by Leon Sumner to make the score 2-1 was just too little too late.

The Nomads A squad played a home and away fixture against both Cheshire Blades and Sandford Hill. In their first game against Cheshire Blades the game finished in a 0-0 draw. In the second match against Sandford Hill also resulted in a 0-0 draw.

In the remaining two fixtures Nomads really picked up the pace and finished as leaders of their group after beating Cheshire Blades 2-0 and Sandford Hill 1-0. Two goals scored by Alex Forsythe and two by Jamie Nash.

A goal by Jake Hampson was the only thing that separated the Nomads As and Bs when they faced each other in the quarter finals.

In the semi final against Cheshire Blades the Nomads unfortunately lost 2-0 which was unfortunate as they had previously beat them earlier on in the morning.

A good day was had by all. Coaches Leighton and James were happy with the start the Nomads have made.

Report by Leighton Sumner (Under 10 coach)