Cockerham & Garstang Youth Football Club

Congratulations and Thank You Andy 🏆

"Like all of us Managers Andy started with the club as a Manager for his lad 16 years ago and took them all the way from under-7s to under-16s. He even managed to get to a play in a final at the global arena in a cup match.
After the under-16s he ran the Cockerham open-aged summer team and managed them to win the league and cup in the same season, which is a fantastic achievement.

14 years ago he stepped up to being Chairman of the club and he has been the main drive behind the fantastic growth of this club over the year. He has been the man that's taken us from a couple of pitches at Cockerham to now having eight pitches spread all over including Cockerham, Pilling, Bilsborrow, Winmarleigh and Scorton. He has also sorted countless amounts of funding to allow all of these pitches to have all the equipment we have today. He created safe storage and permanent fixed goals in place,( which when I started 10 years ago, we didn't have we had to make our nets every game which was very fun in the wind, rain and cold). If you know, you know!!
He was also one of the main drives that managed to sort out the levelling of Cockerham pitches, which some of you will appreciate how much this has made a huge difference to the playing on that field. As chair, he is the man that has dealt with every single player registration each year. Every meeting that the league holds, any problems within the club, he takes care of. He also takes on cutting of most of the pitches and is the man who lines every single Pitch.

To try and summarise what Andy does in the backgrounds of the club, with him stepping down we have had to find four volunteers to take over all his roles!!!!

For that dedication, time, effort, and sacrifice we cannot put into words how grateful each and every one of us at the club are to you. For all you have done for us and the hundreds of kids you have made a difference to over the years. For this we would like to present you with a little token of our appreciation from us all, and a huge round of applause from you all, please to our retiring chairman Andy Peck." (Speech by Mark Pye)

Congratulations Mark 🏆

"I also have another trophy to give to a Manager who has coached his team for the last ten years and is finally calling it a day.
He has both been a fantastic servant to the club over the last decade and has been a great help to me acting as my vice chairman.
So, for dedicated service to the club, this trophy goes to Mark Pye. Enjoy your retirement 😊"

Very well deserved!!

Calling U15’s (from September). ✨🫶
We are looking for Players to join our current U14’s for training over the summer, to play for our U15’s in the new season.

Training is Wednesday evenings and matches are usually a Sunday. All levers and experience welcomed, for details please contact Matt or Ken.

Congratulations, Chris 🏆

This year, the trophy goes to a Manager who has been quoted as being an exceptional Manager and coach by his team and parents alike… also he’s a wizard with a tape measure:😊.
As a club Manager, I can say without hesitation that Chris Rimmer is the rock of the team he coaches. His loyalty isn’t just something you notice now and then — it’s there every single day. Chris arrives early, stays late, and never misses a session. If there’s a job that needs doing, he’s already on it before anyone else has even realised, he’s never missed a manager’s meeting like ever, and if there are any jobs that need doing as in pitch or goal mouth repairs/maintenance Chris is always the first one there.

What really stands out is how deeply he cares about his players. He backs them completely, pushes them to be their best, and supports them through the tough moments as much as the good ones. The team knows they can rely on him, and that trust makes a huge difference.
His commitment, consistency, and his genuine love for the team make him someone we’re incredibly lucky to have.
Therefore, the Chairmans: - Manager/Clubman of the Year is Chris Rimmer.

Congratulations Simon 🏆

Gary Powers was a very keen, helpful and supportive parent of one of our former players, when suddenly in 2014 Gary passed away.
The Powers family have donated a trophy in Gary’s honour as an annual award for a parent, or parents associated with the club, who like Gary goes above and beyond with their helpfulness for their own team.
We are always honoured that Gary’s wife Gill, comes along to present Garys trophy, but this year she has other commitments and has asked me to me present the trophy on her behalf.
This year the award goes to a person that will be well known to many in the club as a former team manager, helpful parent and now volunteer coach. And in a slight break from tradition it is someone, who has given their time and energy, not to his own sons team this season, but to our youngest age groups to help set them on their way.
Simon stepped forward several years ago to manage a team that needed a coach and by doing so ensured that many children were able to belong to a team and enjoy playing football and after that team was eventually merged into other Cockerham teams he continued to help where he could as a parent.
Fast forward to last year, and the club was looking for someone once again to help ensure that a group of children could continue to play. After a chance conversation one evening at the cricket, Simon mentioned how much he missed coaching and I seized on the opportunity to get him involved once again!
So Simon took on the coaching of the U8 Blues, to help see them through to the start of the season and to assist the parents in setting up the coaching and managerial structure of the team.
Long after he achieved this goal he continued to help with the coaching, including putting on extra Saturday morning indoor sessions at GCA!
Now that the U8s are self-sufficient, and Simon has been able to fully hand over the reins, you’d think he would relax and just go back to supporting his Son Henry in the U14s from the sidelines! Not Simon!
He has now volunteered to coach the new U6s through the summer, who will be our U7s this September and also help set up that team with parents to give them the best start they can have.
So, for his selfless dedication to coaching the next generation of Cockerham football club, the recipient of the Gary powers, helpful parent/volunteer of the year goes to Cockerham’s very own Sam Allardyce 😊 Simon Bishop.

Congratulations Seth🏆

Daniel was a very talented former football player for Cockerham JFC, who tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2007. In Daniel’s memory The Lawson family have donated a trophy as an annual award for someone who has shown outstanding personal qualities.
We are always very honoured that Daniels parents, Stuart and Caroline come along and present this trophy, thank you

The winner of this year’s Daniel Lawson trophy is Seth.
From the earliest days of Cockerham Whites, Seth has been one of its constants — a loyal, determined player whose presence helped shape the team. But in February, during a hard fought match against Bowerham, he faced a moment that tested him more deeply than any challenge on the pitch.
While tracking the ball back toward his keeper, an opponent struck out in frustration, clipping Seth’s heels from behind. The impact sent him tumbling forward, and in the chaos his head collided with his own goalkeeper’s knee. The blow rendered him unconscious, leaving teammates, coaches, and parents deeply shaken.
When Seth came round, he was clearly distressed, and he was taken straight to hospital. Scans revealed a fractured skull — a serious injury that would sideline him for most of the season. For many young players, such an ordeal would have been enough to dim their confidence or end their campaign entirely.
But Seth is made of sterner stuff.
His recovery became its own quiet journey — one marked by patience, determination, and a steady refusal to give in. Week by week, he rebuilt his strength. Step by step, he worked his way back. And when the time finally came, he returned not tentatively, but with the same spirit that has always defined him.
He made it back for the final league game — and, more importantly, for the League Cup Final. His presence on that pitch was more than a return; it was a triumph.
His coaches, teammates, and everyone at Cockerham Junior Football Club are immensely proud of him. Seth’s resilience is a testament to his character: calm, courageous, and quietly unbreakable.
Well done, Seth. Your club stands with you — and celebrates your remarkable return.
Seth, for your outstanding personal qualities please accept the Daniel Lawson Trophy.

Join our Team! 🙌
We are looking for players of all levels to join our already established team.
If you would like to join us over the Summer get in touch now! 😎

Here are our teams 🫶🏆🫶🏆🫶🏆
So super proud of all who have won trophies today!
Now it’s time to put our feet up!
A successful day for Cockerham! Even the weather fairies were on our side 🧚 ☀️