Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust is a registered charity (Charity No: 1102239), having gained charitable status in April 2004.

Being registered with the Charities Commission the Trust is governed in accordance with charitable law.  A board of Trustees exists, further details of which are given under the heading ‘Patrons and Trustees’ which forms part of the ‘About Us’ section of the website.  The Trustees form an integral part of the Trust moving forward in relation to both decision making and in meeting its operational aims and objectives.

Due to the success and popularity of the Trust’s work it now employs twenty full time staff and in excess of fifty sessional staff.  This has enabled the Trust to strengthen and broaden its partnerships with a wide variety of individuals and organisations.  The Trust currently runs activity programmes within Hertfordshire and its surrounding areas, as well as in the London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon.

With a dedicated, committed and extremely passionate team of staff the Trust is able to not only develop a wide range of creative projects but also deliver them to a high quality.  As a Trust we currently focus on four key themes which are Sports Participation, Social Inclusion, Health and Education.  Each of our community projects and activities fits under one of these themes or cuts across a number of them.  In addition to this we are also involved in and are able to help organisations who are developing local community facilities.

Although we have traditionally been seen as a purely football provider, this is certainly no longer the case (as you will see under the ‘Sports’ section of this website).
Major accomplishments over the past three years include Community Club of the Year 2008, double Sportsmatch Award winner, Crimebeat Awards 2008 (Positive Futures), Services to Sport in Harrow and a commendation for bridging cultures.

www.watfordfccsetrust.com

1 - Pre wash your goalkeeper gloves - One of the first things that you should do when you get a new pair of goalkeeper gloves is always to prewash them.

Unpack your goalkeeper gloves from the packaging and wash them gently in luke warm water. During the manufacturing process, chemicals are put into the latex to preserve it. The only way to get rid of these chemicals is to pre wash them.

I personally recommend goalkeepers to wash their gloves twice prior to using them. The latex will only function properly if these chemicals are removed.

2 - One thing that a number of goalkeepers do after a game is they forget to take them out of the kit bag after a game or training. Especially if they are wet and dirty, do not leave them wet in your bag.

Take them out of your bag and store them in a cool dry place – not next to any direct sunglight and not next to a radiator – before you get a chance to wash them.

3 - Wash them again in luke warm water after a match or training. Especially if the gloves are dirty, then it is important to wash the latex, otherwise it will become impaired and therefore will not last as long.

4 - Improve your technique – goalkeeper coaching by experts such as Just 4 Keepers will help you to catch the ball using the right technique.

If you are not catching the ball using the correct ‘W’ shape then you may well find that you are pushing the ball away more than you need to. This means more wear and tear on the latex palms.

5 - Learn about using the right latexes for right circumstances. There are many latexes that are designed for different conditions.

For instance you can buy goalkeeper gloves with an aqua foam latex palm that are designed specifically for wet conditions.

You can also buy goalkeeper gloves with a contact lite or contact foam palm that are designed specifically for dry conditions.

The most widely popular type of latex is called supersoft latex – and this can be used well in both wet and dry conditions.

Flat palm cuts are recommended by some professionals during the summer months as they can prove to be more durable.

6 – Buy a pair of goalkeeper gloves for training and a pair for matches. Many goalkeepers buy a pair of goalkeeper gloves for training and a more expensive pair for match play.

When training you nearly always use the palms of your goalkeeper gloves more than in a match situation.

You will often find that more expensive goalkeeper gloves will wear more quickly as they use more expensive and softer professional latexes.

After you have been using your match gloves for a while, you can switch them over to your training gloves – and get a new pair for matches.

7 - Do not wash your gloves in the washing machine. Goalkeeper gloves are not designed to be washed in a washing machine – and doing so may ruin a number of features on the gloves.

They certainly will not last as long as if you hand wash them in luke warm water.

On the same note do not dry them in a tumble dryer as they may shrink.

8 - Do not dry or leave your gloves in direct sunlight as it will cause the latex to crack.

9 - Do not dry or leave your goalkeeping gloves on or near to a radiator as this will also cause the latex to crack and they will lose their functionality.

10 - Store your goalkeeper gloves in a cool dry place – with the palms not touching on the back (i.e. not the palm side).

One of the first things that you should always do when you get a new pair of goalkeeper gloves is to prewash them.

Pre-washing goalkeeper gloves involves unpacking the gloves and washing them in luke warm water. The reason behind prewashing the gloves is to get rid of the chemicals that are used during manufacture to preserve the latex.

I personally would recommend washing the gloves twice prior to their first use.

Never wash your goalkeeper gloves in a washing machine as this may well destroy any printing on the back hand (i.e. not the palm side) and may also impair stitching and the velcro strap over time.

If your gloves have been personalised, i.e. you have had your name printed on the velcro strap, the printing could well come off if you wash your gloves in the washing machine.

When drying your gloves – and this is very important – you should never dry them in direct sunlight, i.e. do not hang them out on the washing line; you should never dry them on or near to a radiator; and you should never dry them in a tumble dryer.

Using any of the methods above to dry your goalkeeper gloves could well dry out the latex completely, causing the latex to crack and therefore prove to be ineffective during further use.

Once you have used your gloves in a match (or training), you should always wash them especially if the ground is wet and therefore your palms have become dirty.

Many goalkeepers buy a pair of goalkeeper gloves for training and a more expensive pair for match play.

When training you nearly always use the palms of your goalkeeper gloves more than in a match situation.

You will often find that more expensive goalkeeping gloves will wear more quickly as they use more expensive and softer professional latexes.

These more expensive goalkeeper gloves will offer better adhesion and gripping properties on the ball when catching, but will last less which is why you should only use them in a match situation where you are using them less regularly.

Expensive professional latexes include Mega Grip, Giga Grip, Contact Lite, Aqua Foam and SuperSoft foams.

As I see it, there are currently three basic cuts. They are roll finger, flat palm and negative cut. There are various adaptations of these three main cuts.

The Flat Palm Cut

The flat palm cut was the traditional cut for goalkeeper gloves when they were invented. Flat palm gloves have the gussets (or seams) stitched on the outside (rather than on the inside like negative cut gloves).

The flat palm is probably the most popular glove cut internationally, although this has been more and more rivaled by the increasingly popular roll finger cut.

Because the gussets on the flat palm cut are stitched on the outside, it makes each fingers look like a box. Another name used by some goalkeepers for the flat palm cut is the ‘box cut’. The back hand is stitched to the palm of the glove by attaching two side gussets either side.

The flat palm cut usually doesn’t give as tighter feel on the ball as the roll finger cut, as it has less of a contact area with the fingers. The fact that the gloves are slightly looser than other cuts, is why this cut is the most popular cut used for finger spine gloves, that usually make goalkeepers have to go up at least a half size if not a whole size.

The Roll Finger Cut

The roll finger cut has become more and more popular over the last 5 years especially in Britain, but is now an internationally recognized cut.

This style does not use gussets unlike the other 2 main cuts (flat palm and negative cut) - and in fact the palm is directly attached to the backhand, wrapping the latex palm around the fingers giving a better all round ball contact and feel on the ball.

This cut is definitely a more snug fit (or tighter fit) than the traditional flat cut palm. Due to this, goalkeepers get a better contact and feel on the ball especially when catching or throwing.

Negative Cut

A popular glove cut choice in Europe, especially in Germany. The negative cut is very similar to the flat palm cut in that the palm is made of a single piece of latex – and that there are gussets between the palm and the backhand.

The difference is that the stitching that attaches the latex palm to the gussets is done so that the seam is on the inside of the goalkeeping gloves. As a result of this glove style fits snugger than a traditional flat palm, many consider it offer better ‘feel’ when catching and throwing. It fingers are not prone to twisting which results in better latex to ball contact when catching.

Those with thinner hands may prefer this cut. In fact, this style has been known to be marketed to the women’s market as it fits slimmer hands better than the traditional flat palm cut keeper gloves.

Having said this more and more of the male goalkeepers in the premier league are beginning to use this cut as their preferred choice.

Obviously there are many features that you must consider when buying Goalkeeper Gloves other than just price. In this article I will try to tell you what you should look out for in a match glove for a professional or elite player and in a training glove or a junior’s glove.

Glove Cut:

There are 3 main types of glove cuts called roll finger, flat palm and negative cut.

The most popular type of glove cut in the UK is the roll finger cut. Flat palm is still the most popular glove cut in the European market.

Negative cut is becoming more and more popular especially with Premier League goalkeepers – with keepers such as Edwin Van Der Saar of Manchester United wearing negative cut goalkeeper gloves.

There are other features that are available such as an extended palm – which means that the latex is extended over the top of the wrist strap. It would usually stop above the wrist on a traditional glove.

Back Hand:

There are popular types of back hand (i.e. not the palm side) that are available on the market in today’s market.

Firstly a number of professional goalkeeper gloves have a ‘soft’ latex on the back hand of their gloves, similar to that used on the palm of the gloves. This gives the goalkeeper a lot more protection than the other main types of material when punching a ball.

Other types of material include mesh which is suitable for use in hot conditions as it allows the goalkeeper gloves to breathe. The disadvantage of this material is that it does not give as much protection to the Keeper.

The third type of material used by a number of brands is embossed PU. This is a much thinner material than soft latex and does not give as much protection.

Latex Type:

You will often find that more expensive goalkeeper gloves will wear more quickly as they use more expensive and softer professional latexes.

These more expensive goalkeeper gloves will offer better adhesion and gripping properties on the ball when catching, but will last less which is why you should only use them in a match situation where you are using them less regularly.

Expensive professional latexes include Mega Grip, Giga Grip, Contact Lite, Aqua Foam and SuperSoft foams.

Strap Type:

You can get a half strap or a full strap. Full straps wrap around 360 degrees of the glove, where as half straps only wrap around 180 degrees.

The reason behind a half strap may be because the goalkeeper gloves have an extended palm.

There are many other types of straps designed for specific brands.

The thicker the strap generally the more support it gives to the wrist.

Wrist Type:

The most popular wrist type is the bandage wrist that literally wraps around the whole of your wrist like a bandage.

Other types include PU and mesh. Some wrist straps have openings in order to allow the goalkeeper to get into their goalkeeper gloves more easily.

Website Questionnaire

What size goalkeeper gloves do you wear?
Size 9

What is your preferred choice of goalkeeper gloves?
Surround Roll IGS SuperSoft 5MM Goalkeeper Gloves

How many pair of goalkeeper gloves do you take to a match?
Take 2 pairs to every match but wear the same pair during the warm up and game and have a spare pair incase my gloves split.

How often do you change your goalkeeper gloves?
Change my gloves every 4 to 5 games, but waer my match gloves in the Friday before the game if they’re new gloves so I can break them in.

Any tips on goalkeeper glove care?
Wash your goalkeeper gloves as soon as you get them so it removes the stuff they put on the latex in production of making the gloves.

How can I preserve the life of my goalkeeper gloves?
I wash my gloves after every training session and match in the shower and let them air dry but try not to let them dry out completely, so i can keep them moist.

How do you warm up for a match?
I go out an hour before kick off, so i dont have ro rush through it. I start off by jogging across the box, after that i strech for 10 mins, before going into a bit of 2 touch passing and one touch passing to get my feet going. then i get my hands going by going through a variety of handling exercises to get a feel of the ball Then i do some angle stuff. I then go into crossing taking about 8 crosses from each side, but from different areas of the pitch. Then lastly i go into kicking. Then go back into the changing rooms 15 minutes before kick off to pre pare mentally for the game an get my stuff ready.

Have you got any special preparations before a game?
Always turn up early because the worst thing for your preparation is to be rushing around because your late.

What do you eat before a game?
Before every game i always have scrambled egg, beans, pasta and a bit of chicken.

Do you have any superstitions?
No dont have any superstitions.

The Ventura County Fusion women’s soccer team has acquired its first full international.

England goalkeeper Kay Hawke will join the second-year W-League club on May 9, a week before the Fusion’s season opener against Real Colorado.

“We’ve been having dialogue for the last couple months and finally everything is falling into place,” said Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill.

“It going to be very exciting to have a member of the England squad representing the Ventura County Fusion this summer.”

After playing for England at the U-21 and U-23 level, Hawke, 26, made her full England debut in a friendly against Norway on Feb. 14, 2008.

Hawke backstopped the Blackburn Rovers’ promotion to the English women’s national division in 2007 and currently has Lincoln City atop the Northern Premier League, again vying for promotion to the top division.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the States,” Hawke told Lincoln City’s Web site, LadyImps.com.

“It’s just going to be a great experience for me to be playing football in the U.S. and I’m thoroughly looking forward to joining Ventura next month.”

Lincoln chairman Geoff Adams told the Web site, “I’m absolutely delighted for Kay! I can think of no better way for our keeper to prepare herself for next season than to go over to America and play for Ventura.

“In my opinion, she’s the best keeper in this country, and deserves nothing less than opportunities such as this. We’re delighted to see her go, but we’ll be even more delighted to see her come back.”

Lincoln Ladies and England goalkeeper Kay Hawke is to play for Ventura County Fusion in the US for three months.

Hawke, 26, will fly out on 9 May, but will return in time for the new season.

“I asked Lincoln if it would be alright for me to go and they agreed, I’ve assured them I’m coming back in time for our first match,” Hawke said.

And Lady Imps chairman Geoff Adams said: “I can think of no better way for our goalkeeper to prepare herself for next season.”

Lincoln Ladies are still waiting to see if they will be promoted to the National League next season. Their main rivals Sunderland are five points behind them, but still have two games in hand.

The free event, which will be held at the grounds of Hertford Town FC on West Street, starts at 11am.

It has been organised by PC Mark Bullen and PC Andrew Palfreyman from the Hertford Neighbourhood Team, who set up the squad for people in Sele Farm in January. Both teams will be competing for the East Herts District Council Challenge Cup

PC Mark Bullen said: “This is going to be a great day for the local community and I would urge all local residents to come along and take part in the fun activities. I’m sure it will be a thrilling game between the two sides, with lots of friendly competition for the cup! It will also be a great chance to meet your local officers, discuss any local issues and get crime prevention advice.”

As well as the football match, there will also be other sporting events, a tug of war, face painting and refreshments. Officers from the Hertford Neighbourhood Team will also be on hand to talk with residents and the mobile police station will be on site so residents can get crime prevention advice and get their property marked with a UV pen for free.

The event will then finish with a match between Hertford Town FC vs. Kingsbury London Tigers in the Molten Spartan South Midlands Football League, which starts at 3pm*.

About Sele Farm FC

Mark and Andrew set up the 11-a side team up at the beginning of the year, in an effort to reduce crime in the area through sport. After being awarded £1500 from the East Herts Joint Action Group*, they recruited local players, 16-years old and upwards, and have carried out numerous training sessions. The team will play their matches in the East Herts Corinthian Sunday Football League with effect from the 2009/2010 season.

The kit worn by the squad has been designed following a competition by The Sele School pupils and team wear and equipment has been provided by www.zapkam.com.

PC Andrew Palfreyman said: “Over the last four months we have worked hard with Sele Farm residents to establish the team and it has given local people something really constructive to do. It has had a noticeable impact on the area and it has helped us make some really strong links with the community. I’m really grateful for the continued support of Sele Farm residents with this project.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mick Clarke, Chairman of Hertford Town FC, East Herts District Council and Will Pedrick from www.zapkam.com for all their help in organising the event.”

The East Herts Joint Action Group is made up of members including Hertfordshire Constabulary, East Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

For more information: Please contact Simon Feldman in Corporate Communication on 01707 35 4037.