Looking Forward to the 2009 Season – The Secret of our Success

Wing Commander Neil Jones RAF

Director Representative Teams/ Senior Men’s Team General Manager

From the disappointment of defeat in 2007 to the euphoria of victory in 2008. Nothing can match that feeling of success that the Senior Men’s Representative Team enjoyed in March 2008. After 8 years the RAF deservedly won the Inter-Service Championship, doing so in style, by beating the Army 3-0 at RAF Uxbridge and then lifting the Constantinople Cup at Victory Stadium after a 2-0 win over the Royal Navy. The victory was all the more rewarding as it came at the 3-year point of a 3 year plan set by Team Manager, Flight Sergeant Keith Christie. But what were the assets for our success. I truly believe that the defeat in the final seconds to the Army in the 2007 season proved to be a real strengthening experience for the young RAF Squad. Beating the Army soundly at RAF Uxbridge proved to be a realisation that the RAF were finally able to offer a competitive squad that could not only match but exceed the quality of the opposition. This stance is not meant to be disrespectful to our Army colleagues; on the contrary, it is an acknowledgement that we wanted to achieve the exceptional standards that Army football had produced over the last 4 years. It was evident throughout the 2007/2008 season that the Squad seemed mentally stronger and tougher and this proved to be the case in the matches that mattered. This improvement has been evident throughout the last three years and an interesting point to note is the RAF statistics in their last 4 Inter-Service matches reads as follows:

P 4 W 3 L 1 D 0 F 10 A 1

Maintaining this mental strength and performance on the pitch will be key to the continued stress that we are striving for in the 2008/2009 season. A major contribution to any successful team is the strength and cohesion of the backroom staff. Having a strong team off the field is as vital as having a strong team on the field. This is a philosophy that any number of professional clubs pursue, and the RAF FA is no different. The cohesive unit that exists within the Senior Team is second to none and the players realise that the coaching and support that they received throughout the season was a key driver in the deserved success that they enjoyed. A number of key positions will become available at the end of the 2009 season, the Team Manager and Kit Manger to name but 2. Finding the correctly qualified replacements who are well motivated with sound inter-personal skills will be essential to maintaining the success that the RAF FA strives for, and so recently achieved.

Our vision for 2009 remains the same that it has for the last 3 years; victory changes nothing. Winning the Inter-Service Championship remains our sole aim. We intend to travel to both Malta and Cyprus for Training Camps. The success we enjoyed last season was as a direct result of the ability to train, live and play together for 10 days prior to the Inter-Service Competition. Having this activity embedded within the RAF FA season is something that we look to continue for many seasons to come.

To achieve this vision we continue to see the development of our players and backroom staff as a key part of the infrastructure established within the Senior Team. The close links between the Senior Team and Development Squad have been re-affirmed and strengthened to allow the management team wider visibility of the player pool available within the RAF. This has been evident with a number of Development Squad players making the transition to the Senior Team and a select few making it to the top of the Military Football tree by representing the Combined Services. This will continue to be the focus of the Senior Team to ensure a strong and competent player base exists for future management teams and the RAF as a whole.

Everyone involved within the RAF Senior Men’s Team is passionate about the role they fulfil. They have all endeavoured to make themselves the most qualified they can be and commit themselves to many hours of extraneous activity to deliver football within the RAF to the highest standards. This is mirrored by the players who commit themselves fully to every tackle, attacking play or defensive pattern to ensure the success we have achieved continues. Representing the RAF at the highest level is a privilege and honour for all those involved. Emulating the success of last season will be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. With the playing and backroom staff well motivated and keen to enjoy that level of success again, I see no reason why we can’t repeat the achievements of 2008.

Mens Representative Team General Manager

Wing Commander N Jones (Neil)
Sea King Future Projects
Sea King IPT
Coldharobour Business Park

Sherborne

DT9 4JW

Tel. 93509 8750

Mens Representative Team Manager

Flight Sergeant K Christie (Keith)
FS PEd
RAF St Athan
Barry
Vale of Glamorgan
CF62 4WA

Tel. 95421 7270

Mens Representative Team Secretary

Flight Sergeant K Leeming (Jan)

Counter Sabotage Survey Team
Security Services Squadron
Specialist Police Wing
RAF Henlow
Bedfordshire
SG16 6DN
Tel: 95381 6736