Express & Star

Free-scoring Ace Targets Sports Academy are blazing a trail

Coach Liam Smith is brimming with pride after a stunning debut season for Ace Targets Sports Academy, stating: “It couldn’t have gone any better.”

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The under-11s side, based in Great Barr, have took the Sandwell League by storm.

They have won all the games in the regular campaign, scoring a bucketload of goals along the way, and are now in the end-of-season cup.

“These bunch of lads, some hadn’t played football before and some had – without any major experience,” said Smith.

“Four are from under-10s and are playing in under-11s so they’ve done really well.

“We have scored 80 goals in eight matches, and only conceded six goals.

“We’ve gone undefeated in the league, won every game, and now we’re going into the cup.”

Smith has been involved in coaching for several years.

When asked how setting up the team came about, he said: “We’ve got no funding, no sponsor.

“My son plays and played for a team that was a bit money-orientated.

“My ethos is different. If I’m taking money, I’m putting my all into it.

“I started the team and a lot of local parents got behind it.

“That was a momentous occasion for me as I’ve coached for years, but never managed before.

“It couldn’t have gone any better.”

He added: “It just makes you wonder what could happen if we had a bit of grassroots funding, or a sponsor.

“We’ve got 13 kids here and they all feel included. We’d like to have the resources to start another team.

“I never really had opportunities like this growing up and that’s another angle to it, keeping these kids off the streets or from just sitting playing computer games.”