Post by QPR Report on Apr 15, 2009 13:47:14 GMT
Kilburn Times
\www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED15%20Apr%202009%2014%3A32%3A40%3A960
Kilburn Times
Champions Copland set their sights high
nwl.sport@archant.co.uk
15 April 2009
By Ben Kosky
AMBITIOUS Copland have clinched the title in their first season - and chairman Sir Alan Davies believes the club could eventually rise to Ryman League status.
Copland - a combination of current and former players, plus staff from Copland School in Wembley - were set up last summer and stormed to the Middlesex County League Division One Central/East championship.
The club have played their home games at Stonebridge Park to date, but have earmarked the proposed 3G floodlit pitch at the school as their long-term base.
Sir Alan, who is head teacher at the school as well as Copland FC chairman, said: "We've got some really good players, an excellent manager in Paul Lawrence and the team's going from strength to strength.
"Our aim is to take the club as high as we can and I think it's possible we could end up getting into the Isthmian [Ryman] League. We want to set up a new pitch as part of our development at the school and we could perhaps build around it if we needed to.
"My heart has always been in football. What I like is that this gives young people a chance to do something after school and be involved in a proper club instead of hanging around the streets.
"A lot of youngsters have their heart set on becoming footballers and don't make it, but this gives them an opportunity to stay involved and perhaps be scouted at a later date.
"It also creates a kind of old students' association, so people can keep in touch after they've left the school. Of course there's a social side to this and it soon becomes a way of life.
"We're hoping to bring in a reserve side next season - so many people want to play for the team and you can't keep everyone happy, so we're trying to create more spaces."
Copland FC enjoy the backing of the school governors - their chairman, Dr Indravadan Patel, is also club president - and have already established links with professional clubs, with QPR in the Community taking three training sessions there each week.
Sir Alan himself is steeped in a football background, having turned out for Slough Town, Southall and Finchley FC, as well as managing the latter prior to their merger with Wingate.
He is also a regular spectator at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and fondly recalls seeing the school's best-known footballing graduate, Kerrea Gilbert - currently on loan at Leicester - don the famous red and white shirt.
"It was a few years ago in a cup game and Kerrea ran down the line and crossed for Thierry Henry to score," Sir Alan added. "I could hardly believe that was one of our ex-students and that was a wonderful feeling."
Copland had already secured promotion to the Premier Division, but made sure of the title on Saturday despite a 2-0 defeat at London United Football Academy - only their fourth in the league this season.
Depleted by injury, illness and suspension, Copland began strongly and Melford Simpson's lob rattled the crossbar, while Ricci Roberts sped past three players, but was unable to get a shot in.
But LUFA caused Copland problems on the right wing and that area was the source of two goals in quick succession towards the end of the first half.
The visitors stepped up the pace in the second period and created a number of chances, but knew it was not to be their day when Robert Osborne's free-kick cannoned back off the bar.
But results elsewhere ensured Copland could not be caught and they will complete the campaign this Saturday against Sloane at Stonebridge (kick-off 11am
\www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED15%20Apr%202009%2014%3A32%3A40%3A960
Kilburn Times
Champions Copland set their sights high
nwl.sport@archant.co.uk
15 April 2009
By Ben Kosky
AMBITIOUS Copland have clinched the title in their first season - and chairman Sir Alan Davies believes the club could eventually rise to Ryman League status.
Copland - a combination of current and former players, plus staff from Copland School in Wembley - were set up last summer and stormed to the Middlesex County League Division One Central/East championship.
The club have played their home games at Stonebridge Park to date, but have earmarked the proposed 3G floodlit pitch at the school as their long-term base.
Sir Alan, who is head teacher at the school as well as Copland FC chairman, said: "We've got some really good players, an excellent manager in Paul Lawrence and the team's going from strength to strength.
"Our aim is to take the club as high as we can and I think it's possible we could end up getting into the Isthmian [Ryman] League. We want to set up a new pitch as part of our development at the school and we could perhaps build around it if we needed to.
"My heart has always been in football. What I like is that this gives young people a chance to do something after school and be involved in a proper club instead of hanging around the streets.
"A lot of youngsters have their heart set on becoming footballers and don't make it, but this gives them an opportunity to stay involved and perhaps be scouted at a later date.
"It also creates a kind of old students' association, so people can keep in touch after they've left the school. Of course there's a social side to this and it soon becomes a way of life.
"We're hoping to bring in a reserve side next season - so many people want to play for the team and you can't keep everyone happy, so we're trying to create more spaces."
Copland FC enjoy the backing of the school governors - their chairman, Dr Indravadan Patel, is also club president - and have already established links with professional clubs, with QPR in the Community taking three training sessions there each week.
Sir Alan himself is steeped in a football background, having turned out for Slough Town, Southall and Finchley FC, as well as managing the latter prior to their merger with Wingate.
He is also a regular spectator at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and fondly recalls seeing the school's best-known footballing graduate, Kerrea Gilbert - currently on loan at Leicester - don the famous red and white shirt.
"It was a few years ago in a cup game and Kerrea ran down the line and crossed for Thierry Henry to score," Sir Alan added. "I could hardly believe that was one of our ex-students and that was a wonderful feeling."
Copland had already secured promotion to the Premier Division, but made sure of the title on Saturday despite a 2-0 defeat at London United Football Academy - only their fourth in the league this season.
Depleted by injury, illness and suspension, Copland began strongly and Melford Simpson's lob rattled the crossbar, while Ricci Roberts sped past three players, but was unable to get a shot in.
But LUFA caused Copland problems on the right wing and that area was the source of two goals in quick succession towards the end of the first half.
The visitors stepped up the pace in the second period and created a number of chances, but knew it was not to be their day when Robert Osborne's free-kick cannoned back off the bar.
But results elsewhere ensured Copland could not be caught and they will complete the campaign this Saturday against Sloane at Stonebridge (kick-off 11am