'Digger's boys getting rewards for hard work

THE last time Sylvans won the Youth Two title, the side gave birth to one of the most dominant eras in the history of Priaulx League football and ultimately yielded half an island team. Fifteen years on, the westerners hope to have unveiled another championship-winning under-16 side, the seventh in their history.

With the season approaching halfway, Martyn de Garis' undefeated class of 2005 sit top of the table with real hope that they can go on and land the title.

De Garis, 35, is taking nothing for granted and certainly not suggesting the 2005/6 squad is capable of matching the feats of the last championship-winning side which included the Nobes brothers, to name just two, but is happy to suggest the club's youth development programme is working well and that the club's long-term future is brighter than recent first-team form suggests.

Indeed, de Garis, or 'Big Digger' as he is known to most in local football, would like to wrap up a Youth Two championship next spring and go on to take charge of the club's senior side.

'It's my ambition.

'I'd like to do it in the next couple of years. It's always been an ambition of mine to lead out a Sylvans side in an Upton or a Guernsey side in a Muratti.'

Sylvans have won back-to-back Youth Two titles twice previously and there are links between both those eras and today's team on and off the pitch.

Ivan de la Mare coached both the early 70s squad and early 90s team that won four championships between them.

Rob Sebire was a key performer in the first of those great teams and his son, Scott, is a member of the current side.

'Digger' himself was an assistant coach to the squad that won in 91 and 92 and a decade-and-a-half on, he has Steve Brehaut, a player then, as one of his assistants. The other is Dave Strawbridge.

The whole youth set-up at St Peter's is thriving.

The under-18s are going well under Clive Bateman and Youth Threes are, in de Garis' words, a 'decent side', who have already reached the Le Prevost Cup final.

Below that, Paul Le Cocq is doing a fine job at minis level, where every coach is qualified at either level one or two.

For a Sylvans diehard like de Garis it pleases him no end, particularly the transformation of the team.

'This year group finished second from bottom at Youth Three level two years ago.'

Now they are top, unbeaten in five and having already seen off their biggest challengers, North, once.

The 91-2 title teams was a special unit and de Garis agrees it would be unfair to compare the current crop to a list boasting John and Paul Nobes, Paul de Garis, Paul Ozanne, Clive Bateman, Steve Brehaut, Dave Gilman, Paul Saunders, Stuart Roberts and Jan Renouf.

That side scored 164 goals and conceded just one in the outstandingly successful 1991 season.

De Garis loves coaching and has impressed many with his work, not only at St Peter's but with Soccer School sides and with the island under-16 and under-18 teams.

He aims to do his level-three badge next year and loves getting the best out of players, organising youngsters and getting them to think about the game.

Understanding patterns and phases of play is so important, he said, as is hard work.

His philosophy is simple enough.

'You need to work hard as a team.

'I like players to work hard and just think about their football a bit more.'

Doing just that, coupled with some decent talent, has put Sylvans top of the table going into Christmas.

'They have got a good team spirit. This year, they've really gelled.

'There is no one outstanding but they listen and they all know what they are doing.'

The keeper, Ashley Williams, is the island under-16 one and in defence, Greg Roland is a budding star, too.

'He's absolutely terrific,' says the coach.

Greg had been forming a good central defensive partnership with his brother, Matt, until the latter broke a leg against Rangers in early October.

In midfield, Matt Le Prevost is the key.

'He's top drawer . . . technically very good and reads games well.'

Up front, Jamie Le Cheminant, like Le Prevost a vital capture from North, is fast and skilful with a fine left foot, while the strike force of Alex Rabey and Josh Gallienne are big and powerful.

In truth, de Garis spoke enthusiastically about each and every member of his squad, to the extent that it would require another page to detail it all. Needless to say, he is appreciative and rates them all.

Whether they will stay top of the pile is debatable.

Back in August the coach considered they would be there or thereabouts come the season's end, but he is wary of the challenge posed by the likes of North and Vale Rec.

'Rec are well organised. North we beat 3-1, but they are still the ones to worry about.'