[/caption] Mark Quigley, U-11 manager opened the proceedings thanking all the sponsors and helpers for their kind support and said he would keep his promise of buying all the young players a McFlurry ice cream at McDonald’s!  He said that he was delighted at the performance of the young players this past year. Guest for the evening was Terry Pateman, IFA Vice-President, who addressed the players. He said, “All the great players I know started off just like you all, playing in youth soccer. There they learned all the football skills from their managers and coaches and enjoyed turning up each week for their games. “It is important to be enjoying the game and also to listen to to your teachers. They are the experts. They will make you play better and your teams play better. You just have to set yourself little targets and your game will gradually improve. Just look around the room. Here there are losts of people doing courses in soccer to help build up a good Killyleagh team. “Around £2 million has been set aside for Grassroots soccer this year and we have grants from the Department of Education for the next three years.  What we need now is for your parents to be on hand and all your managers and coaches as all of these courses and benefits start to come about. That is the future of the U-11’s in Killyleagh.” Two letters were also read out to the young players. The first was from David Healy, NI international player, who said, “This may be your first summer playing soccer so just try and improve your game with the help that you get.” And secondly, “Trevor Carson said, “It is good to have a keen interest every week in soccer. I enjoy training and still do. Just train hard, and the results will come. And enjoy your soccer and you will be winners.” The prize winners were: Most Improved Player:  Jake Drysdale. Top Goal Scorer and Player of Year:  Conor Drysdale. Managers’ Player of the Year:  Curtis Ross. [caption id="attachment_23819" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The Killyleagh U-11's with Charlene Kelly, Coach, Mark Quigley, Manager, George Fitzpatric, Killyleagh YC Chairman, Terry Pateman, IFA Vice President, Davy Irwin, Coach, and Drew Armstrong, U-10 Coach."][/caption] ]]>