Southampton Women’s under-12 Reds coach Henry Stone was brand new to the club when he joined last summer but has now fully immersed himself into the club and youth football.

At times this season things have been tough for the Reds but why results haven’t gone their way they have developed wonderfully under the guidance of Stone, John Holden and the other youth coaches.

Stone has developed a love for the club in a short space of time working with the under-12s and looking to absorb the knowledge of all of the coaching staff at the club.

Reflecting on his first season with Southampton he said: “It has been incredible for myself and my team.

“There have been so many amazing moments and memories that I will not forget anytime soon.

“I have developed an amazing love for the club.”

Development is a keyword for the youth, especially for the u12s and under-13s and we have seen that in spades from the girls.

All the teams have progressed to different stages with the u12s now about to prepare for playing 11-a-side next season.

Stone said: “Every single one of them has made me incredibly proud.

“Firstly, speaking about individual development all of them have come on leaps and bounds. The best thing I’ve seen from all of them is the rise in confidence.”

“Their confidence has grown enormously especially in the last month or so, they have played like a real team.

“Fighting for each other in every single minute of each game. Football is a team sport and there is no room for individuals.

“We have created a family this season in my team, and I absolutely love that.

"Obviously, our core focus is the girls enjoying their football that should always be the main focus of youth football no matter where you are from.

"I’d also like to say that their individual development as players is equally as important and I feel we have achieved both of those goals."

There were times this season when the Reds suffered some heavy losses, but the team didn’t give up and eventually turned things around to pick up their first win of the season.

On reflection of the results, this season Stone said: “One thing that comes to mind after being asked this question is when we lost 13-0 to Stoneham.

“That was a dark day for us, but the girls didn’t give up or slow down.

“There wasn’t a moment in that game where I was disappointed with them.

“They were honest with themselves about the game, and they were together as a team at the final whistle.”

Then the team won beating St Francis 1-0 away from home and from there, things changed.

“I can’t lie, I’ve never been happier to win a game of football,” Stone said. “I genuinely could’ve cried when they won that game!

"When you coach a team of young people and give up a lot of your time to run their team it means so much when they achieve a big goal.

“To see what it meant to them winning that game made me so so so happy.

"I won’t forget that day any time soon. No matter where I end up coaching, that day will be one of the highlights in my career as a coach.

At times this season confidence had been low for the Reds but for the last few weeks of the season there was a change in the atmosphere.

Stone reveals a change he made may have influenced the positive results, he said: "I think as a young coach, you have to always have an open mind.

"You should always take on board constructive criticism as well as always try to find new ways to engage with your players.

"One night I was sitting reading an article on the FA boot room it was about how you approach a matchday for youth players.

"I recognised that a lot of the stuff we were doing (in warm-ups etc) was very lethargic and slow. My team talks were too long and I realised we didn’t have that team feeling.

"I stayed up late that night creating a new matchday structure and thinking about what I can do to create a better environment for my players.

"On the day of the St Francis match, I made sure everything was snappier and more positive. Everything we did, we did it 10 times better.

"On that day, leaders started to emerge from my side. The girls started to speak louder, run harder and get more stuck into their tackles.

"By the end of the game, I was beyond baffled at what they had become. They were a completely different team in so many ways. I was so proud of them."

From the win at St Francis is took them a couple of weeks later into the final game against Petersfield Town were the Reds won 4-1.

Stone said: " I was extremely happy. They played as a team and created so many excellent chances as well as scoring some top draw goals.

"They played some very smart football and that comes down to their effort in training.

"As it was the last game of the season I played the girls in some of their stronger positions.

"I think our whole professional matchday thing got them buzzing as well.

"When you get the professional treatment it gives you so much confidence. I wish we could do it every game!"

Football is always full of twists and turns which has been no different for the under-12 Reds and Stone was able to sum up the season.

He said: "Not even a whole book of words could describe this season but to be brief I would say, incredible.

"I am so proud of all my players and I am so grateful for all the time, effort and energy from myself, John, Wai, Rob and the parents.

"I don’t think I can wait a whole summer to do it again."