Muskham Cougars

The current Under 16 side of Muskham Cougars have been going since Under 6 level, when the team was originally set up under original coach, Mark Fryer. At Under 7’s Mark was soon joined by Ben Reed in the dugout when his son Lawrence joined the team, with Andy Taylor & Callum Walker and their sons joining shortly after as additional assistant coaches & players respectively.

With plenty of coaches now in place, Mark took the opportunity to switch teams, moving to coach the current Under 17 side for which his son Sam plays, and the Under 16’s have been co- managed by Andy, Ben & Callum (or “ABC” for short) ever since.

Unlike some of the other Cougars teams, the Under 16’s are yet to have any real taste of silverware or success, though we have come painstakingly close to it in both League & Cup competitions. We were runners up in the U11 League Cup in 2020, and the following year we pushed Nottingham Forest’s academy side all the way in the U12 League campaign, which culminated in a fantastic, high-stakes, final day shoot-out for the League title which saw top of the table Forest versus 2nd placed Cougars on home soil.

An incredible turn-out of more than 50 people were in attendance at MRCC to see a side representing Nottingham Forest – a World-famous professional football club – play a competitive league football match in Muskham. Unfortunately, it was a losing effort for us on the day, but the boys did bounce back to win a play-off game to earn promotion alongside Forest.

While we may not have much in the way of silverware & accolades, there are several things this side has in abundance – heart, hard work, team-work & camaraderie to name just a few. If the aim was trophies and glory, then we would have given it up many seasons ago, but the love of the game & the joy of taking part in something as a collective team of players, coaches & parents is what makes this side very special indeed.

The team currently compete as a member of the Nottinghamshire Youth Football League (NYFL).

Team Information

Notable Honours / Achievements : 2020 U11 League Cup - Runners Up
2021 U12 Spring League – Runners Up / Promoted
League : Notts Youth Football League (U16 Saturday)
Home Ground : Muskham Rural Community Centre, Nelson Lane, North Muskham
Match Format : 11-a-side / 40-minute halves
Coaches : Ben Reed – 07766 770750
Andy Taylor – 07931 798645
Callum Walker – 07766 113227