Finally the weather look’s like it is picking up and we may soon be able to say a proper hello to summer and a sporting summer at that!

Grassroots caught up with me recently to get my opinions on the art of defending and if you click on the link below you can find out what I had to say…

Defending pdf

Don’t forget to check out the range of trophies we offer on the Proteam website

Best wishes

Darren Ward

Presenting football trophies to key players at the end of the season can be a great way to keep players motivated. Whether it be for a Premier League team or a Sunday side pub team, football trophies UK are key to rewarding those players who have played outstandingly well or have continuously worked hard during the season for their team.

There are a wide range of football trophies UK available on the market. They can come in all sorts of sizes and designs, such as bespoke ‘hero trophies’ to the classic ‘shield’ award. Female footballing trophies and trophies featuring child footballers are also manufactured, so all needs are catered for. Cheap football trophies are beneficial to a lot of smaller amateur clubs, who have a limited budget. By purchasing cheap football trophies, the clubs can engrave the trophies with the player’s name, making the trophy truly personal and a keepsake for years to come.

The end of season football presentation is often an event which many of the footballers and their partners look forward to. It can be a glitzy affair, and the footballers who win prizes can feel proud of their achievements. For those players who may have missed out on an award, it can give them the incentive to try even harder during the next season, so their hard work can be recognised.

A range of cheap football trophies are often presented to the players, such as top goal scorer, manager’s player and player’s player, where the players vote for who they believe has worked the hardest and been the most improved player over the previous season. The awards help to boost the confidence of the players, and can improve the camaraderie of the team which is vital for successful communication between the players on the pitch.

Banter is also important for the team members, and often light hearted awards such as ‘Donkey player’ are presented to the player who may have scored an own goal for example. These are always done in a jokey manner, hopefully without causing any offence to the award winner!

In sport, like in business, it is important to build up a good relationship with certain suppliers. This is because sporting teams rely on other suppliers to be able to play their game properly and to keep their player motivated. Items such as team kits for instance are an integral element of taking part in sporting activities and teams cannot be without these items.

At the end of the season or even part way through, players will need to be rewarded in order to recognise their hard work and keep them at the club – this will involve presenting them with football trophies (or whatever sport they play) so building up a relationship with a trophy supplier will also be a good idea.

Finding a good trophy shop will be a bit like finding an Aladdin’s cave because often these shops stock such a wide range of different trophies that it will take a while to choose the most appropriate ones. There are trophies for different sports ranging from football to netball, darts to diving and cricket to tennis – plus there will be plenty of different styles of these to choose from when it comes to making that final decision.

One of the great things about football trophies and other sporting trophies is that you can have them engraved so that they are personal to the award winner and also to make them all the more special and meaningful to the recipient. When ordering trophies online from a trophy shop it is still possible to have the items engraved as you can select this option before you reach the check out where you will be prompted to type in the words you would like to feature on the trophy and these will then be engraved on prior to packaging and delivery.

Whether you shop at a trophy retail store or order items online it is a good idea to always browse all of the items available so you can get a good idea of what is on offer. There may be trophies for instance that better suit male or female recipients and there may be those that are more appropriate for children rather than adults. This can be an important factor because if you are going to the trouble of choosing a trophy and having it engraved you want to make sure you select something appropriate for each recipient and the reason why they are being rewarded.

ProTeam Sport is the OFFICIAL supplier of Football Trophies to SCI Youth Football Festivals, who are one of the UK’s leading Football Tournament operators.

SCI Youth Football Festivals is staging 8 excellent football tournaments across the UK in 2012 at venues such as Southport, Prestatyn x 2 (North Wales), Great Yarmouth, Hastings, Isle of Wight, Scarborough, & Brean Sands in Somerset.

The 2012 SCI Mitre Ultimatch Cup at all 8 venues sees SCI using the PTS1003A football trophy from our website at www.proteam-sport.com which is a fantastic Winner’s trophy for each participant in the winning team in each age group. SCI are also using the PTS1004A football trophy from our exclusive range of trophies for each participant in the 2nd placed team in each age group across their football festivals.

All players that take part in this year’s festivals with SCI will also be receiving a participation trophy, and for 2012 SCI have selected the PTS1010B Ball on Boot Trophy which is one of ProTeam Sports best sellers, as well as the PTS1011B Ball & Star Trophy.

A Premier League Footballer will also be attending the SCI North Wales Mitre Ultimatch Cup football tournament with SCI on the weekend of 4th – 7th May 2012, where SCI will also be presenting the brand new Explode Trophy to the winning team in each age group!! The Explode Trophy XP021X stands at 32” tall or 80cm and is one of the Largest Football Trophies anywhere in the UK.

Roger Broadhead
ProTeam Sport

Having been a professional footballer for fifteen years now you realise how much of an impact your lifestyle
has on your game. Fortunately I have looked in to how to improve my lifestyle due to having a bad injury when
I was young which has helped and continuing to help as I play. Food and drink have a huge impact on your life
which enables you to do everyday things and with the training/playing programme I have it is vital you work
on this to give yourself the best chance to stay fit and healthy.

I am by no means an expert when it comes to being a nutritionist in terms of qualifications but with the
support and advice from some of the most respected experts out there, I now have a wealth of experience
to help prolong my career/future which is priceless.

Some of the areas in which I really focus on are;

1) Eating good quality food when possible (preferably organic) – getting your fruit and vegetables in you too!!

2) Concentrating on hydration (good quality water), whenever I can as this helps with the overall functioning
of the body a long with many other beneficial things.

3) Stretching – this is vital especially if you travel a lot as you need to stay supple/loose which will in turn help
to stay away from injuries.

4) Sleeping – getting an optimal amount of sleep goes such a long way and gives you the base to go and fulfil
your everyday targets with a fresh and focused mind.

5) Exercise – spending time in the gym or outside is really important to stay fit and finding a good programme
to improve on your weaknesses goes a long way to reach personal targets.

6) Massage – this is a big stress reliever for me and helps out with keeping loose. With what everyday life
brings…this is important!!

The above are just some of the areas which you can improve on, as this
is fuel for a healthy lifestyle.

My programme as a professional is based a lot around my gym work which gives me the chance to go outside and train/play hard knowing that I have given myself every chance to stay fit and continue to feel good.

At every level of football, lifestyle plays a part that you can always improve one way or the other as I have found out. What can you improve on to make yourself a better player, coach, fitness coach, even as a person which will in turn help to improve others?

Best Wishes

Darren Ward

Often when people are shopping around for the recreational products they need they may be tempted to look as far afield as necessary to get the best possible price but in many cases plenty of customers would rather choose a local supplier – one who they can visit to browse products as well as looking at their online store. In the case of items such as basketball trophies for the school team, bowls trophies for the Sunday over 50’s players or football trophies for the junior league, buying local trophies Weymouth will often be the best option.

When you buy items such as trophies from a local supplier you know that not only are you getting good quality items but also that they are from a local supplier so in effect you are also supporting your local economy. Whilst most suppliers will have effective online shopping cart websites they will most probably also have an actual store or warehouse that you can visit to have a better look at the wide range of trophies and other related sporting items that they offer.

Buying trophies Dorset does not only help to support the local economy but it gives local trophy retailers the chance to be part of and help support their local sporting teams – whether they are Sunday league football clubs, kids school teams, semi-professional sports teams or recreational activities for retired people, it always looks better to have a local trophy supplier providing the awards that will be issued at the end of the season.

There are so many different trophies to choose from at your local trophies Dorset shop including those for football, golf, rugby, darts, ballet, athletics and bowls. All are available either as off-the-shelf varieties or bespoke trophies. These items can be personalised with the names of the recipients and what they are being awarded the trophy for – this is done by engraving the trophy and this extra can be ordered either over the phone when making a purchase or online at the checkout stage where you can specify the wording you want added to your choice of trophies.

Whether you buy online or in store, supporting your local trophies Weymouth company will help not only the local economy to prosper but it will encourage greater participation between sporting teams and local sporting retailers.

Darren Ward was recently interviewed by On The Spot.

 

What was the name of your first grass roots/Sunday league team?

Parkfield FC based in Hatchend Middlesex.

 

Did any of your team-mates from this team follow you into the pro-game?

 

 

Yes, Morris Harkin (Wycombe), Vince Cave (Watford).

 

Would you say that your manager at that team played a big part in your career?

The manager at the time did as we were a very successful team and like any young player looking to learn you listen to those who know more than you. My Dad was involved as an assistant for a while (John Ward), and he has been a massive influence on my career likewise for my other three brothers (Lee, Scott and Elliott). Scott and Elliott signed professional contracts (Luton for Scott and West Ham for Elliott), and Lee was a YT at Watford then played at a high level at non-league for many years.

 

From experience, would you encourage a youngster to continue at grass roots level for a couple of years or go straight into an academy/school of excellence?

When I was young I played for Parkfield up until I was fourteen which I felt was very good for me as there was no pressure and it was really enjoyable. Things have moved on since then every club is trying to out do one another.

 

Whilst playing at grass roots level, did you ever have any thoughts of entering the pro-game?

It is every young lads dream to be a professional and it was no different with me although I didn’t see how I was going to achieve it as I came from a family who had no background in sport apart from my Dad who was on the books at QPR when he was a young lad. Luckily I learnt a lot from my older brother Lee and got my head down then played in the first team in my first year YTS then signed a professional contract at Watford at eighteen.

 

Do you ever get the chance to watch any grass roots football now?

The odd occasion I do if I watch my nephew Lewis but my other nephew Harrison and my son Ronnie are growing up quickly and getting involved now so it could be a common occurrence soon.

 

Do you think that some parents put too much pressure on their youngsters at grass rootslevel?

I do especially those who do not understand how the football industry works. Football for young players is supposed to be enjoyable and give them the chance to develop social skills, ability in the game, co-ordination and a foundation to help them in life like it did with myself and my brothers.

 

Which coach has had the most influence on your career in the professional game?

It has to be Dennis Wise. When he was the manager at Millwall the first time round, he progressed my game so much along side Ray Wilkins winning player of the season two years in a row, we reached the FA Cup Final vs Manchester United and we reached the UEFA Cup which was an outstanding achievement for the club and myself as a player. As a player, if you get the support you need it is amazing how much you can progress and give you confidence to achieve what you want to in football.

 

What advice would you give to any youngsters playing grass roots football?

Enjoy it and if you really want to become a professional footballer when you’re older you have to work hard, practice and listen to your coach.

 

What do you think the FA could do to develop the game at Grass Roots Level?

I feel as though more could be done in terms of some of the facilities and education towards the youngsters. This may be in terms of more player appearances to encourage/help young players and help grow clubs, fundraising events, etc.

Darren Ward was interviewed recently for The Irish World and we thought this would make a fitting blog post (our last of 2011). In the interview Darren speaks about football, business and his Irish heritage.

 

Please click on the image to read the full article.

All that remains is for us to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year!

With best wishes

Pro Team Sport

When you’ve got a lot of football trophies to order, either because you are reaching the end of the season, approaching your Christmas awards celebration or just simply because you want to reward a number of your players, then you will probably be wondering where the best place to purchase these items from is. Not having the endless cheque book of the premier league or first division clubs, small football clubs at schools, community centres or as part of a Sunday league will need to keep a close eye on the budget when buying these items.

When price is a deciding factor there is nothing comparable to the internet for being able to quickly and easily compare prices to find a suitable retailer of football trophies UK. All you need to do is type in the word ‘football trophies’ or something more specific and wait for the search engines to deliver results based on your enquiry. This will then give you a list of companies that supply these products and you are free to check out their websites to see what trophies they offer.

Once you get to the website of an online trophy retailer you can use their helpful navigation menus to browse the different types of trophies they have available, such as goal scorers trophies, boys trophies, girls trophies and bespoke trophy designs. You will find that these categories will help you to quickly and easily find what you are looking for.

Many football trophies online retailers will also offer you the opportunity to customise your trophies to include the recipient’s name. These details will be engraved on the trophy prior to it being sent out to you and all you need to do is make sure you spell the award winner’s name correctly at the checkout when you purchase a suitable trophy.

Whether you are looking for buy football trophies UK for adult or junior players, receiving these personalised awards will surely motivate the players to continue giving the best to their team, their club and their sport.

If you want to find out more about buying football trophies online why not check out our website where you can browse our full range of football trophies uk.

When you know that you need to purchase football trophies – perhaps for your end of season awards, Christmas presentation evening or just to keep your players motivated mid-season – then you will need to know what is the best product to choose. In this short article we will examine your choices when it comes to buying these trophies which will hopefully help you to make the right decision when you reach the checkout.

The first thing you will have to think about is your budget. If you are part of a small team, perhaps Sunday league or a school sports team then chances are you will not have a vast amount of money to spend on these things and thus you would be best to opt for cheap football trophies and save the remainder of your budget for more pressing items such as kits and other training equipment.

Secondly you will need to think about who you are rewarding. If, for example, your football team is made up entirely of girls it would be somewhat insensitive to present them with a trophy that depicted a boy playing football. In the same way a trophy to reward a top goal scorer would most likely need an adornment such as a golden boot so it is clear to the recipient and anyone who looks at the trophy what they have won it for.

A third top tip when picking football trophies is whether or not you are going to reuse the same ones year after year or whether recipients can take them home and keep them forever. In this case you might like to consider personalising these trophies with the name of the award winner and the title of the accolade.

Finally, when choosing the right cheap football trophies to recognise the achievements and talents of your team you want to pick the accolade that best suits the recipient, so if you want players to truly feel as though their place on the team is merited and their efforts recognised you need to pick something that will mean something to them and motivate them to continue giving their best.

If you are looking for cheap football trophies why not visit our website where you can browse our range of football trophies.