Popular youth team goalkeeper Liam Flynn continues to push his case as a worthy alternative to first team goalkeeper Stuart Brock, by being selected for the England Colleges Football national squad for 2010.

Further information on the British Colleges Sport website at http://bcs.fixtureslive.com/Newsall/tabid/222/ctl/Detail/mid/761/itemid/140/Default.aspx

We would all like to congratulate 'Flynny' on his selection.

We have another final now on Saturday 16^th May against Worcestershire at home kick off 2.00pm. With the football season for most now finished I would appeal to anyone who loves their football to come along and watch the best of the local non league talent on show. Admission is FREE.

The Hednesford players from the Birmingham County FA Cup Winning Team are, (from left to right) Dean Rathbone (captain), Dale Faultless, Oliver Casey and Jamey Osborne

Gillingham Football Club was the scene of an historic victory by the Birmingham County Football Association Youth Team on Saturday afternoon as the team became the first County to appear in four F.A. County Youth Cup Finals in any one decade

The Pitmen's Youth team reached another cup Final after a 3-2 away win at Malvern Town on Tuesday evening. They will now play either Solihull Moors or Kidderminster Harriers in the Midland Floodlit Youth Cup Final on Thursday 14th May. The match will be played at Solihull Moors FC. The Youth team have won the League Cup on three occasions, in 1985,1994 & 2007.

Before then the lads have a number of Leagues games still to play and also the Final of the Birmingham County FA Youth Cup which will be played against Castle Vale JKS at Tamworth FC on Wednesday 4th May, kick off 7.30pm. The admission for this game is £3 adults and £1 for concessions. The Final will give the youth team the opportunity to emulate the First team who recently won the Senior Cup for the first time in 73 years.The double of winning the Senior and Youth cup in the same season has only been done once before and that was by Burton Albion in 1997.

The Youth team have appeared twice before in the Final but lost on both occasions. In 2004 Bedworth United won 4-0 at Keys Park and in 2007 Atherstone Town won 3-0 at the Lamb, Tamworth. Let's hope for third time lucky as it has been a long and difficult season and it would be the perfect end to see some more silver ware at Keys Park.

RodH

With the young Pitmen now involved in their third match of the week, Paul Casey again fielded a much changed side from the team that beat Alvechurch 3-2 two days earlier.

Coventry Sphinx FC, when at full strength, are one of the better sides in the League and it would be necessary to play more experienced, physically stronger players. Hednesford started well with Oliver casey having a shot from 20 yards which just missed the post and in the 5^th minute the much improved Mark Bandurak came close with a header which the home goalkeeper dealt with well.

In the 9^th minute, somewhat against the early run of play, the home side broke away and the speed of the break caught the young Pitmen flat footed and Dale Faultless was beaten on his near post.

The hectic end to the season continued for the young Pitmen with a home match against Alvechurch FC. With the youths winning in the BCFA Semi-final at Tipton Town FC on the previous evening, it was the turn of the younger players to take centre stage.

The starting line up contained no less than seven Under 16 players and new signing Ben Smith.

The home side got off to an absolute flying start when debutant, Ben Smith, dribbled into the box showing fine ball skills and set up captain JAMES TRAVIS for a fine finish in the 6 yard box .

The first minute goal seemed to shock the visitors and for the next 15 minutes it was one way traffic with goal attempts from Tom O'Sullivan, a volley by Ben Smith in the 9^th minute and a couple of efforts from Chris Ward.

With the games coming thick and fast, manager Paul Casey made the decision to rest a few players for the visit to his former club Boldmere St Michaels. His squad, once again boosted by the inclusion of first teamer, Ben Bailey, included 5 of the current Under 16 team and new signing, Tyrone Borland.
The young Pitmen were first to come close when Adam Meacham made a good run to the near post to meet a Tyrone Borland cross but could only direct his first time shot over the crossbar.

The home side were using ‘route 1' tactics and in the 13th minute some static defending allowed the home side to take the lead with a shot into the roof of the net from 8 yards.

The young Pitmen were looking somewhat lethargic, with little movement through midfield but in the 31stminute some good work from Under 16 winger, Daniel Scragg, gave JACK HEPPLE the opportunity for a fine equalising goal.
As the first half drew to a close, Hednesford forced a free kick and the curling cross saw Mark Bandurak head past the post when a goal looked the more likely outcome.

As the 2008/09 season draws towards it's final few weeks, the MFYL Premier League's only unbeaten side, were the visitors to Keys Park. The young Pitmen were still smarting after the 4-1 loss at Solihull a couple of weeks ago and were well focussed on reversing that scoreline.

The first half started in competitive manner, with Paul Casey's line up set up to negate the excellent Solihull midfield.

After 8 minutes a needless free kick was conceded on the left but was defended well by the home defence to keep the scores level.