 |
Portland United FC#theblues |
|
Portland United FC#theblues |
Thursday 25 Nov 2021
This interview took place after our away defeat to league leaders, Horndean FC. Josh Barton: We are getting to a point in the season where we can look back and reflect. How have you found it so far? Marcus Smith: There’s been ups-and-downs I’ve felt, it’s been really challenging, but we’re a young side and we are definitely learning. It’s somewhat similar to last season in some ways, but for the most part, we’ve improved as a group massively. Frank [Franklyn Clarke] and Sam [Sam Poole] have been outstanding with us as a group, helping us progress. The more experienced players in the dressing room have been a massive impact on us and they’ve been helping us a lot this season. JB: You’ve been given a little more responsibility with Macca [Ryan McKechnie] being unfortunately out injured, with you taking the vice-captain role, how have you found that so far? MS: I’m very happy with Frank trusting me with it. I’m glad I’m seen as that role now, but nothing changes, I’m always wanting to get better and progress. JB: From the point of view of the players, there’s been some up and down results. How far do you think this group can go? MS: This season, I think we’ll be having a flipping point soon. We’re getting some results now and we’re getting some good performances, and that’s the biggest thing for me. The Blackfield and Langley game for me is one of the turning points of the season. It’s a massive confidence boost and I feel like we can do that for more games this season. Obviously, the next game we played was against the top of the league, and it’s an unbelievable team, and a very hard place to come. I still feel we played well and made the chances, but they were just the better side. I feel like we can be pushing on now, picking up some results. As a team, we’re progressing, and that’s the way it’s going to go. JB: As Frank said to me earlier on, it’s just the one defeat in six, do you think it’s just a couple of wins and a bit of consistency away from being a really solid team? MS: One-hundred percent, yes. A couple of wins for us in the next few months would be outstanding. We’ve got another tough fixture next week [Home to Hamble Club FC], and that’ll be another chance to build on, but we’re looking forward to the rest of the season and I reckon we will get a lot better. JB: There seems to be a very good team spirit with a lot of camaraderie amongst the squad, it is important to have that squad ethic, isn’t it? MS: One-hundred percent, yes. That’s one of the differences from last season, not that we didn’t have that, but it’s improved. That helps with the performances on the pitch.
Monday 08 Nov 2021
Due to the huge success of our Pathway, which has seen many of our Youth players progress into Men’s football at the Club, we now have more spaces in our U18 Team squad managed by Andrew Mallett and Gary Rowe. We currently have eight of our original Youth team now playing for the Club on Saturdays at Dorset Premier League and Wessex Prem League level, which has far exceeded our expectations but this has created spaces in our Youth Team. If you are interested in joining our Youth Team, with a very realistic prospect of progressing along our proven Pathway and into Men’s football, please contact our Secretary, Randle: secretary.portlandutdfc@aol.co.uk This is a great chance to join our friendly and well-run club.
Thursday 23 Sep 2021
18 year old, local lad, Troy, has signed for The Blues as a striker. Troy has been featuring for Weymouth U23s.
