Ramsbury FC has had a long standing understanding that its youth section is the heart of the club and this has been validated by many of your youth players migrating from youth football to the club’s senior team and their children joining Ramsbury Youth. This is the essence of a true community based grass roots football club and we hope it continues to be just that.
The Importance of an Under 6s Development Programme
The most important element has been our thriving Under 6s Development programme that included both Class R and Class 1 boys and girls from across our community irrespective of ability. Our previous U6s have gone on to play a wide range of sports and, of course, be key to the success of our current crop of 12 youth sides from under 7s to under 18s.
2022 / 2023 Under 6s 
The 2022 / 2023 U6 cohort, who are now our two U7s teams, are a fantastic example of the importance of the U6 Development programme and what can be achieved. The two lead coaches Dan Creed and Hamish Gray have set up both teams evenly and with the right way with the right spirit and ethos to enjoy their football. Both Dan and Hamish completed the FA Level 1 Intro to Coaching course and have superb assistant coaches and team secretaries and parents that want to support and 
assist the team. It is great to see and the U7s have been rewarded with amazing matches, great coaching and support and huge amounts for fun.
2023 / 2024 Under 6s
The current U6s cohort stands at 36 players with 21 Class 1 (next season U7s) and 15 x from Class R. They are a fantastic group with the Class 1 group already having a Level 1 qualified coach and 2 x assistant coaches in place and a Team Secretary lined up for next season. Chris Roberts who captains the Ramsbury FC senior squad is the lead coach with Rob Freeman and George Radulescu the two assistant coaches. They have done a fantastic job and the progression of the Class 1 group has been incredible to see and huge fun to be involved with!
Our Class R cohort are as expected work in progress and a mixed ability group, but they have shown huge improvement in such as short time with many of them displaying superb character and a real willingness to listen and learn. They have no dedicated coaches as of yet, but are coached by Jon Symon, who oversees the U6 Development Programme and who is the Club Secretary and a Level 1 Coach, and Chloe Smith who has two boys in Ramsbury FC and has been a Team Secretary. We hope to have some volunteer coached for September when our Class R will be Class 1s.
The Importance of Fun in Football and Parent Involvement
Key to our success has been that football must be fun and a focus on games and activities that involve coordination, interaction and communication; and not just drills or kicking balls. The U6s will let you know when it is boring or not fun and also when its games they love and want to do more of and it is important that coaches listen to the players and vice versa. Behaviour and respecting each other and being kind to each other is essential and parental help is always welcomed and encouraged.
Parents must stay for all sessions and if they have more than one child training and need to split their time between children, then they must let the coaches know and have a nominated parent to deputise in their absence.
There is a no smoking or vaping policy on site and poor behaviour is not tolerated – paramount is child safeguarding and ensuring all children are safe, treated well and are included, have the right clothing including shin pads and have a drink with them. Communication is always key and we use our U6 Parent WhatsApp Group effectively using the poll feature for attendance. However, all parents can contact the Club Secretary and/or Club Welfare Officers or the Club directly via the Club Contact box on our web site www.ramsburyfc.co.uk.
Finally, our continued success is down to 3 key things: a great club infrastructure, culture and ethos; fantastic parent volunteers as coaches and team secretaries and, most importantly, fantastic kids of all abilities who feel safe, included and who want to keep coming back….and so far so good!
The future is bright – the future is blue and white – football should be fun!
Ramsbury FC
