Earlier this month, Boro first team regulars goalkeeper Danny Coyne and Irish winger Mark Yeates visited Boro's MFC in the Community centre at Eston to re-launch the club's superb range of children's football courses. Whilst there they watched the youngsters train and were subjected to a no holds barred question and answer session with some of the young goalkeepers who were attending.
Children tend to be rather blunt in their line of questioning and were not about to let the player's off the hook without getting to the bottom of what they felt were the most important issues.
Q: Who is your best friend at the club?
DC: Well I was good friends, before we came, with Mark but I know him too well now!
Q: When did you start playing?
DC: I didn't play for an academy, I never did school boy football I just played for a local team.
Q: Is the Championship harder than the Premier League?
MY: Well, I only played a couple of games for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League but the Championship is a hard league.
Q: Do you think it's right that you got dropped for Brad Jones?
DC: Do you?
(The boy turns round to display his 'Coyne' shirt) NO!
Q: What does it feel like to get beat 5-0?!
DC: Well, its not a nice feeling when you get beat at home. You never like letting a goal in, let alone five! But you've got to work hard to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Q: What's the best goal you've ever seen go past you?
(Coyne is laughing) MY: The one that I put past him last season!
DC: Yes probably. Mark scored for Colchester when I was in goal for Tranmere and it was a brilliant goal.
Q: What is the worst thing about being a football?
DC: The warming up, especially at my age. I'd rather get stright on the field and start training but you have to get warmed up otherwise you will end up pulling something.
Q: Who did you look up to as a goalkeeper?
DC: I used to like Neville Southall for Everton. He's probably before your time.
Q: What about Peter Schmeichel?
DC: Yes after Neville Southall. He was a brilliant keeper as well.
The players left the boys outside and went to observe the four and five year olds who were practicing different kinds of 'turns' inside.
Yeates was called upon to demonstrate his skills and showed the boys how to do a 'Cruyff turn'.
Both players clearly enjoyed the day and stuck around to sign autographs and pose for photos.
Yeates said: "It is nice to see the little kids faces and its nice for the lads to get involved.
"As a young lad I didn't have such opportunities in Ireland, players in the big teams didn't do (community events) It's good crack as well."
EB: And they certainly didn't lack confidence either with a football or asking questions!
MY: They were showing me how to do a couple of tricks!
"Kids at that age say what they feel! [The Cruyff turn was easy, apparently] They gave Coyney a bit of stick as well!
It is good to get out, everyone at the club is very involved [in the community] it's a big thing here, community service for the kids, and its nice to help out."
Eston community centre schedule:
On Tuesday nights, the Community Centre offers 'Micro Soccer' for 3-4 year-olds from 4-5pm and 4-5 year olds from 5-6pm.
Between 6-7pm, coaches run a 'Minis' session for 5-7 year-olds and another course for 8-11 year-old juniors.
The centre is open on Wednesday nights from 6-7pm for any 6-14 year-old to take part in a 'Pay and Play' session. Children can go along and pay £2 to tale part in football matches coached by Boro's qualified coaching staff.
Tuesday's activities are repeated on a Thursday alongside two goalkeeping sessions, the first running from 5-6pm for 6-11 year-olds and the second from 6-7pm for 11-14 year-olds.
On Saturday mornings, a specialised Soccability course runs from 9.30-11am. This is an FA-endorsed course for footballers with a disability and/or learning difficulties with players of all ages and abilities welcome to attend.
Monday nights see Boro's coaches run an advanced goalkeeping session and advanced coaching evening, which is invite only.
Middlesbrough FC in the Community coach Tom Burke said: "In-centre programmes give the opportunity for children to develop their skills in specific areas by playing football with children of a similar age and ability.
"They are enjoyable sessions to coach as there is a wide range available and as children grow older they can move up to the next stage of coaching."
All sessions, apart from Pay and Play, are £3 for the hour. For more information and regular updates on these courses check out their website or contact the centre's reception on 0871 282 1280 or by email.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 16/10/2009
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