Each season Catholic United accept children of all abilities from Reception Class or School Year 1 to our Football Development Group every Saturday at Bridgewater Drive.

The group are currently coached by Mark Hunter and his staff from the Pro-academy of Football. Mark is a UEFA Licensed coach affiliated with West Ham United.

The sessions take place on well maintained, private grounds and Mark creates a fun environment focussing on football games, general fitness, ball familiarisation, shooting techniques, passing and receiving, tackling, defending and attacking as a team. No pressure and the focus on personal development is the key philosophy with regard to the young people playing the game.

Because we realise that not all the children will be ready for the game we charge no membership but collect a £3.00 subscription each session.

The second stage in the Development Group will take place around April/May of 2012 when the players will be migrated into teams based on ability, ready to play in the 2012-2013 season. We fully expect those kids who have been coming reguarly to the training to join the club. By this stage we will have hoped to identify volunteers, dads, mums and carers who want to get involved in managing, coaching and running the sides. All the appropriate courses and checks required will be funded by Catholic United.

Catholic United at the moment are providing seven-a-side football for the age groups starting as U7 players (school year 2). This is as recommended and endorsed by the Essex County Football Association. Seven-a-side football has been designed to meet the needs of children between the ages of 6 and 10 years and so provide a more appropriate introduction to football which will lead to 11–a–side football once the children reach the age of 10. It's likely in the near future that this format will change in line with recomendations from the Football Association.

Any further information please contact Russell Hobbs, Club Chairman: catholicunited@rocketmail.com