• Tom Devaux was voted both Players, player & Supporters player of the year, along with the Managers player of the year award for 2009/10. This caps a fine 2nd year at the club for Tom, who played in 57 of the 58 games of this years gruelling schedule. Tom has now made 106 appearences in just 2 seasons.
  

• Reserve team awards went to Josh Palmer and Lewis Cunliffe, whilst Jordan Palmer, Danny Clements, and Ryan Debenham shared the various youth awards
• The Clubs Young Player of the Year was awarded to teenage midfield player Hyunjin Lee, whom played a major role in the 1st team, and scored a hat-trick in his 1 reserve team outing, whilst attracting interest from a number of clubs higher up the pyramid.

Saturday was a good day for all involved at the club despite what many would regard as two points dropped.

Having worked long and hard to establish a youth programme, that had the potential to develop and nurture young players for 1st team football, and ensure the long term future of Semi-Professional football in Halstead, those involved at the club can be very proud.

The 1-1 draw away at Whitton United saw a side with an average age of  20yrs old finish the game, which included 30yr old Adam Gillespie, obviously bringing up the overall average.

1st Year Academy players Danny Clements, Jack Smith, and Jordan Palmer all made noteable contributions, with the latter playing 90 minutes on debut. Coupled with 2nd year Colchester United Scholar's Oleary and Stamp, and our own 3rd year under 19 Hyunjin Lee the club is beginning to see its emphasis on youth, bearing fruit.

The side was also skippered by 20yr old centre back Tom Devaux, who has recently been the subject of interest from a Football League club, also there is Local lad, Andy Joslin at just 20, already a veteran of over 150 games, and the promising attacking trio of Tom Webb, Jimmy Pirie, and Jordan Page all still 20 or under the future is clearly very bright.

Manager Jody Brown reitterated the good work being done;

"Its important that whilst we are very happy with some of the progress in our Academy side, we must not forget the likes of Liam Morley (21), Adam Rushen (17), Seb Murfet (23), and even Ed Wooten, who at 25 is still a very young goalkeeper at senior level" 

"We have so many good young players now, with promotion out of reach i think its time we give the academy boys some valuable experience"

"To see this progress so soon, is credit to how well, and how professional the whole process has been carried out"

"With Hyunjin getting signed at Staines, and Jon Glowaki, albeit he was only with us for a few games getting a move to Grays, and now the interest in Tom from the League one club - we can certainly be pleased with the way things are going"

"The challenging thing for us at Halstead is excepting that if we do our job well as coaches, and as a club, then these players should be attracting interest from higher up the pyramid - however it is important that we generate success on the field whilst we have them in our side" 

The Halstead Town Academy continued their promising progress wth an impressive 1-0 home win over third placed Dulwich Hamlet.

Halstead looked solid and well organised throughout, with Jordan Palmer winning everything in the air, and full backs Danny Clements, and Adam Smith were dominant.

Halstead, looked the more likely throughout, with Kieran Raphael and Jonny Root linking up well on a number of occasions,.

The deadlock was eventually broken very late on, when Subomi Oguntoyinbo was pushed in the penalty area, and skipper Adam Smith hammered home the resultant spot kick, to secure a very satisfying three points.

Dulwich, who have a very impressive pedigree at youth level having taken Norwich City's Academy to a penalty shoot out in this years FA Youth Cup, and can boast Premiership full back George Elokobi amongst their graduates, are a great bench mark for our own progress. 

Halstead Town travelled To Tilbury for their long awaited East Anglian Cup Final, and faced an experienced Ryman League side that were full of strong experienced players, a number of whom have vast football league experience.

The Young Halstead side that compete two levels below their opponents in league football once again made a mockery of the current pyramid structure, pushing this tie, and probably deserving a little more, right to the 120th minute.

The side featured 4 under 18s, another 4 that are 21 or under, and only 3 over 25, which was in complete contrast to their experienced opponents.

Ray Turner had a decent goal ruled out for offside, had one cleared off the line, and saw his strike rebound off the inside of the post before rolling along the line and back out to safety in the dying moments of normal time. Turner also nicked the goal that regained the lead for the courageous side early in what was their eighth extra time of the season.

Alex Oleary had given Halstead the lead, but they were eventually broken in the dying moments, but the travelling support had witnessed a tremendous effort from their side, who once again proved that they have what it takes to play at the higher level, despite their league position.

The manager, who despite the defeat was in positive mood spoke;

"We created so much more than them, and were only ever tested from set plays, which is something our young players need to learn from, and will"

"We more than earned their respect, and were extremely unfortunate not to win"

"It was great to see our young players display the ability to play at that level, and it says a great deal about the bigger picture, and what we are doing at Halstead Town"

"Our 20 year old skipper Tom Devaux was immense, and what a better side we are with Chris Bryan in it. We have made such progress this year, and had he been available for even 50% of the season, im sure we'd have had great success"

"You have to remember that, that was our 43 competitive fixture this season, and our 4th in a week. I truly believe we'd have had too much for them in extra time had we not been forced to play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday"

"I dont tend to concern myself with what outside people think of us, but their manager made the kind gesture of congratulating our lads on what he described as "a credit to your league" "

"Perhaps our league should think the same, and be more considerate when arranging fixtures for a team that is promoting the league in regional competitions"

"I was so proud of them, because we outplayed our opponents for large periods of the game, despite giving up a huge physical disadvantage. If we played that level of football each week, we would be very competitive, and I honestly feel we'd be in and around the top six, given the lessons we would learn"

"I think finals should be at neutral venues, their crowd were very supportive of them, they had home adavantage, and in the end that does play a part"

"All that said, this was a night to savour, and a night to take great satisfaction from - we have come on so far as a club in the last two years, and despite the many injuries and departures we have had to endure, we are still competing on all fronts"

"Congratulations to Tilbury, who showed excellent character to keep coming back at us after going behind. Lee Hodges was a calming influence, got on the ball, and kept them going. Had we had that type of experienced player when we were ahead, I think we'd have seen the game out"

"We have to lift ourselves for Ipswich Wanderers now, we are tired, and it will be hard, but we will do all we can to be ready, and win the game"

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