COGS in Review – 2023.

Another year comes to an end and although not as packed as the last 7 ½ years, we’ve still played lots of football, had loads of fun, saw new faces join us and added another session, to make it 6 per week.   Our COGS inspired others, became coaches, increased their coaching knowledge, empowered each other and carried on supporting other COGS, too.

We enjoyed seeing even more growth in Women’s Rec. Football and meeting new teams and look forward to the Women’s Rec. Football community growing even further in 2024.  Every woman should have access to playing the game we all love.

We like to remember what we’ve done throughout the year so grab a coffee and enjoy!

JANUARY:

All 5 sessions were back nice and early on the 3rd January.

7th – A quick turnaround to sort out a team for the Athenlay Tournament was made and we set off to Dulwich for a 5 aside fun beginners tournament.  It was great to meet some new teams and we had a fab day!

11th – We held a Goalkeeper Training session, which was supported by Sussex County FA, and this was fully booked within a week.  With the help of 3 experienced goalkeepers – Kev, Josh and Grace, 24 women from all over Sussex came to Crawley to learn the basics of goalkeeping.

13th – After we had a poll about adding another session, we created COGS XTRA for Beginners/Intermediate players as well as using the session to give confidence in coaching to new female coaches.  This was promoted throughout January ready for its start on 6th February.

15th – The first Surrey FA Walking Football Showcase was held and we joined in with many other beginners, at the Meadowbank Stadium. This was a great opportunity for any woman to come and find out about Walking Football for the first time.

20th – Our Walking Football session celebrated its 3rd birthday.  What a great 3 years it’s been!

24th – The EFL Day of Action – Tracey & Jo were included in the video for the Community Foundation.  Go to 6.49 to watch the COGS clip.

27th – England Accreditation was renewed for another year.

FEBRUARY: 

6th – COGS XTRA was launched.  Our first session was a success!  We now have 6 sessions per week.

17th – Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival – Always a favourite to play in and this time it was Jorgia who played in her first games.

27th – Our first Guest Coach for COGS XTRA was Kerry, who took the session to gain some more confidence and it was a great success!  If you are a new female coach, you are very welcome to come to this female only session and deliver your practice in a safe, non-judgemental environment.  Well done, Ready!

MARCH:

8th – International Women’s Day.

We had some inspiring COGS tell their stories for IWD2023 and you can read about Jorgia and Susan below.

https://crawley-cogs.co.uk/jorgia-ponder-march-2023-iwd/

https://crawley-cogs.co.uk/susan-mancey-march-2023-iwd/

Carol was asked, by Surrey FA, to be on a panel for IWD2023 all about “Belonging and Togetherness in the Female Game”.  It really is good to see all the good work that Surrey FA have done and continue to do, in relation to the Women’s Rec. game.

10th – Everyone needs to have a social now and again and the COGS are no different!

11th – Despite a few hangovers, the next morning some COGS travelled down to Lewes to play in some friendly games for a fundraising tournament.  Always a great time down there!

16th – We were invited to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation appreciation evening, at Anfield, after previously raising money for the charity.  We were incredibly humbled to be there when many fundraisers had raised many tens of thousands of pounds more than us.  Nevertheless, we were treated exactly the same and were delighted to meet Dave Setters, Father in law to one of our COGS, Ellie.  Such a small world.  We hope to do some more fundraising in 2024.

17th – Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival and this time it was Sarah, Natalie and Amy who made their debuts! Although, not sure where Amy is hiding, from this photo!

19th – Mother’s Day – To celebrate Mother’s Day, we read about Margaret’s journey with joining the COGS walking football session.

https://crawley-cogs.co.uk/margaret-onions-mothers-day-march-2023/

26th – We organised the first of the Walking Football friendlies that we had with Horsham Eagles.  It was great fun and it was also amazing to see Susan play with her 2 daughters Lisa and Nicola.

APRIL:

3rd – We do love a sunset at our sessions!

13th – Nikki shared a LinkedIn post with us, from Women in Sport, which included some COGS, including the podcast with CB.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/women-in-sport_a-third-of-women-aged-41-to-60-are-not-active

14th – Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival – Our favourite festival and this time it was a debut for Jemma.

16th – Our 8th Birthday was spent in the pub.  How else would you spend it?

 

MAY:

6th – The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla – Carol was very lucky and extremely proud to be invited to the Coronation as part of a group of 400 people who had been given the British Empire Medal for services to their Communities.  What a day to remember!

13th – SWIFTS, who were set up by former COG Sarah Osborne and Gillian Weston, hosted a festival which was great fun.  We entered 2 teams and enjoyed a post match ice cream as it was so hot!

19th – Sussex Women’s Rec. Festival – Another fun night with Rachel playing in her first games.

20th – We travelled down to Lewes again for another fun tournament and contrary to popular belief it doesn’t always rain in Lewes!

JUNE:

11th – On a blistering hot day, we entered 2 teams into the Littlehampton AFC tournament for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed playing against some new teams and catching up with some old friends.  Apart from COGSEUROFEST22, this must have been the hottest day playing football.  Well done, Laura on your first games.

12th – After quite a long while of taking photos with a disposable camera, documenting COGS, Debbie had her piece published on Goal Click.  You can read it here.

https://www.goal-click.com/football-photography-stories/feeling-alive-through-football

Goal Click do some great work telling stories of football around the world by giving out disposable cameras and the person will capture what football means to them.   Well done, Deb!

16th – Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival – We were back again and this time Sussex FA had Simon Roe from Simon Roe Photography there to capture the fun and football, as it was “Sussex Day”.  Great to have some COGS captured by Simon, as always! If you need a good football photographer, get in touch with Simon.

Not professional photos above!

What a difference a professional photographer makes!

JULY:

15th – COGS ON MK Tour!  What a great weekend in Milton Keynes with MK United and Bury AFC Rec. teams.  You can read all about it here: https://crawley-cogs.co.uk/cogs-on-tour-mk-rec-fest-july-2023/

26th – With the FIFAWWC2023 already started, the COGS flag arrived in sunny Australia.  Meanwhile, at home, the sun definitely wasn’t out!

28th – The flag is up in the stadium for England vs. Denmark and Active Sussex released a piece on “Igniting the Passion for Women’s Football”, including images of the COGS and a good write up, especially from Jade at Sussex County FA on the Women’s game at grassroots level and the new SO GOOD Female Coaches Network for Sussex.  You can read it here: https://www.activesussex.org/igniting-the-passion-for-womens-football/

30th – Another Walking Football friendly with Horsham Eagles to celebrate the World Cup and another fun morning.  Well done to Colette who played in her first COGS games.

Thanks to Horsham Eagles for the “action” photos!

31st – Celebrating 6 months of COGS XTRA with a pink sky!

AUGUST:

7th – Our second Guest Coach for XTRA was Jo and following on from a Tik Tok from the Lionesses (involving a large gym ball) we were treated to a similar practice from Jo.  Great fun it was too!

14th – Another stunning weather evening which included everything!

15th – We were delighted that our favourite Getty Images photographer, Cath Ivill, captured our flag at the FIFAWWC QF game vs. Colombia.

20th – FIFAWWC Final Day – With not being in Australia, some of the COGS opted to go to Brighton instead to watch the Final and what a day that was.  Despite losing, it turned out a fun, soaking wet kind of day….

SEPTEMBER:

11th – We were extremely sad to hear that former COG, Maggie had passed away .  Rest in peace, Maggie, you were always fun to be with.

23rd – Happy 3rd Birthday to our late Weds. session!  Also, a day for a surprise, with one of our COGS Lisa sharing that “My daughter is doing BTEC Sport as part of her GCSE and yesterday the teacher showed them a video of COGS during their class”.  COGS in the Curriculum!

28th – During Covid, COGS donated money to an NHS crowdfunder organised by Crawley Town, to be in the Squad photo and after a few years this came to fruition.

29th – Back at the Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival and this time it was Heather and Jess’ turn to make their debuts.

OCTOBER:

At the beginning of October, we created a poll of all our COGS to see how many had actually played football before they joined us.  After receiving 100 votes, we learned that 64% had not played before joining us.  This goes to show that football is for everyone including those who have never played before.

18th – After Karen started a new trend by wearing a shower cap to protect her hair in the torrential rain, the shower cap trend started to spread.  It’s now gone to another level!

28th – Another Sussex Fec. Festival with Lisa making her debut.

NOVEMBER:

11th – Our first entry into the Sussex FA Walking Football Rec. Festival at Ringmer.  We hotfooted it from Crawley to play in some fun games of Walking Football and we were glad to see Kate, Jackie, Tina and Jane play in their first WF games.  After suffering from a few nerves, Kate managed to bag herself 2 goals and Tracey made a world class save which we just managed to capture!

15th – Thanks to Alison for sharing that the COGS photos that Getty Images took are now being used by all sorts of organisations.

DECEMBER: 

1st – There is no party like a COGS party!  Great to see so many COGS at the Christmas Do in Redz and well done to the following people who won certificates for Player of the Session.

Walking Football – Susan

COGS XTRA – Sarah

Beginners – Natalie

Beginners/Intermediate – Nicola

Intermediate – Rosemary

Advanced – Jen

Also, well done to Tracey for winning the Alkira Inspiration Award for 2023 and thanks to Rebecca for sponsoring the Award!

10th – England Accreditation renewed for another year.

11th – The last week of sessions before Christmas and the hats were out and used as part of the session practices!  That naughty elf kept turning up, too!

15th – The last Sussex FA Women’s Rec. Festival for 2023 was held.

 

17th – The launch of the CTFC History Exhibition at Crawley Museum, where COGS were included and produced an exhibit as well as a video.  It’s well worth a visit if you get the chance!

And that was another year done.   We have some great stuff coming up next year too so if you fancy joining us or just continue to support COGS, we really appreciate everyone.

Keep being inspired, keep inspiring others and enjoy being active with a football.  Remember, football is for everyone!

Happy 2024!