Competition News
U16 RAF Boys’ Cup: Rock Ferry 4-5 Torquay Boys
In football, every so often, you get great games… sometimes you get classics… and then there are games like this – a one off, a complete freak. A cup final that you could only believe if you were there to witness in person. A story unfolded that even the ‘Roy of the Rovers’ writers would have found difficult to imagine.
The setting was the City of Manchester Stadium, home to Manchester City and venue to this season’s UEFA Cup Final. The date was Monday 28 April 2008. The teams were Rock Ferry High School (Merseyside) and Torquay Boys Grammar School (Devon). The competition was the U16 Royal Air Force Cup for boys. What ensued was astonishing.
Rock Ferry started like a whirlwind as Torquay Boys struggled to settle. The Merseysiders were two goals up within four minutes thanks to Luke Baugh and Billy Foster. Rock Ferry looked powerful and determined to win this fixture as Torquay tried in vain to contain their opponents and stay in the tie. Worse was to follow for the south coast school as Rock Ferry extended their lead to 3-0 on 14 minutes following a strike from Ryan Youds. The Torquay’s defence was looking increasingly fragile and their dreams of lifting the cup were quickly slipping away from them.
On 24 minutes, Rock Ferry number nine Ross Parry, netted the fourth and everyone thought that was it – game over! Everyone apart from Torquay Boys’ Grammar School that is!
On 27 minutes, Romley Preston-Ellis pulled one back for Torquay to make it 4-1. A goal that offered the slimmest of hopes going into the break.
U16 RAF Boys Champions : Torquay BGS
Torquay started the second half well, showing that they had no intention of letting Rock Ferry walk away with the Cup easily. On 46 minutes, Daniel Keating raised hopes further by scoring to reduce the deficit to 4-2. Confidence began to flow through the Torquay Boys and apprehension through the Rock Ferry team. Both sides knew at that point the next goal would be crucial in determining whether the Cup would stay north or travel south this season.
Torquay, with their tales up, were biting into every tackle and looking dangerous with every attack, while Rock Ferry continued to offer a threat at the other end. Sam Tanner’s strike for Torquay on 54 minutes pulled everyone to the edge of their seats. This was it; the game was well and truly alive again. The supporters grew more vocal, the atmosphere was electric.
Four minutes later, Torquay were level thanks to Zach Norton-Cox. Their support were euphoric, Rock Ferry were shell-shocked. With twenty minutes remaining everything was still to play for. Torquay had the wind in their sails, but Rock Ferry were determined not to give up. Chances went begging at both ends before Rock Ferry had a terrific chance to steal the lead again, only to see their goal bound effort amazingly deflected wide for a corner by the Torquay keeper, Matt Thompson.
With one minute of normal time remaining, Torquay snatched the lead and broke the hearts of Rock Ferry after captain Sean Adderley smashed home the winner. Rock Ferry tried to respond but time was not on their side
The final was a great advert for schools’ football. Both sets of players were a credit to themselves and their schools. Although defeat must have been difficult to take for the Rock Ferry boys, you could see that they were heroes to the hundreds of spectators that made the trip to Manchester to support them.
RAF Careers
U16 RAF Boys Cup Results
May 2008 News
30th :: John Hampden Grammar represent England
John Hampden Grammar School (High Wycombe) will represent England at the SAFIB Under 14 “Battle of Britain” Tounament in Glasgow this weekend.
21st :: U13 Minute Maid Boys Final: Trinty 3-1 Poole
Report by John Williamson Trinity School from Nottingham, kicked off the ESFA Minute Maid U13 Schools’ Cup Final for boys at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena against Poole Grammar School from Dorset looking to become the second Nottinghamshire
21st :: U13 Minute Maid Cup Girls Final: Friary 3-2 Frances Bardsley
Friary School from Lichfield, Staffordshire, were crowned champions of the U13 Minute Maid Schools’ Cup for girls after beating Frances Bardsley School (Romford, Essex) 3-2 in the final held at Coventry City FC on Friday 23 May.
19th :: Devon win U16 Inter County Final on penalties
Devon County Schools’ FA won the ESFA U16 Inter County Trophy (sponsored by the Premier League) after beating Leicestershire 5-4 on penalties at Birmingham City Football Club last Tuesday, after the score finished 2-2 at full-time.
15th :: U18 Inter County Final: Staffordshire 0-3 Sussex
Sussex Schoolboys tasted glory at Birmingham City on Tuesday afternoon when they lifted the ESFA Under 18 Inter County Trophy (sponsored by the Premier League) for the second successive year.
14th :: U12 Boys’ Cup Final: Thomas Telford 2-3 Shenfield
Shenfield High School (Brentwood) won a closely contested final against Thomas Telford School (Telford) at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on Monday afternoon.
14th :: U15 Girls’ Cup Final: Thomas Telford 4-5 Cardinal Newman
Cardinal Newman School (Luton) lifted the U15 Schools’ Cup for Girls after beating Thomas Telford School (Telford) at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on Monday 12 May.
14th :: U16 Girls Inter County Final: Leicestershire 0-1 Hampshire
Hampshire won the U16 Inter County Trophy for Girls for a fourth consecutive season after beating Leicestershire in the final at Swindon Town Football Club on Friday 9 May 2008.
08th :: U15 Trophy Semi-Final: Jersey 2-3 Brighton & Hove
Brighton, Hove & District SFA made it through to the final of this season’s ESFA Under 15 Inter Association Trophy after beating Jersey 3-2 at the Springfield Stadium, St Helier, Jersey last night.
06th :: U18 Schools’ Trophy Final: Maghull 0-8 Millfield
A rampant Millfield School (Somerset) lifted the U18 Schools’ Trophy after beating Maghull High School (Merseyside) 8-0 at Doncaster Rovers Football Club this afternoon.
06th :: U13 Minute Maid Cup: Fallibroome 1-2 Friary
Friary Arts & Sports College from Lichfield, Staffordshire, have made it through to the Final of this season’s U13 Minute Maid Schools’ Cup for Girls after beating Fallibroome High School (Cheshire) 2-1 this afternoon at Scunthorpe United
06th :: U13 Minute Maid Cup: North Final
St Thomas More (North Shields) 0 Trinity (Nottingham) 3
Trinity School added to their collection of Minute Maid Cups with their third of the season to follow the Nottinghamshire and Midland trophies as they reached next week’s national final
05th :: U13 Minute Maid Cup: Trinity 4-1 Sandwell
Trinity School’s Under 13 side continued their magnificent run in the English Schools’ FA Minute Maid Cup with a 4-1 victory over Sandwell Academy from Walsall at Meadow Lane on Tuesday 29 April.
02nd :: U13 Minute Maid Cup: North Finals
Boys’ Final
St Thomas More School (Northumberland) beat Cardinal Heenan School (Merseyside) 3-1 on Monday 28 April at Tranmere Rovers FC to lift the North Regional Cup.
02nd :: U16 RAF Girls' Cup Final: Kirkley 3-2 Bridgnorth
Kirkley High School (Suffolk) lifted the U16 Royal Air Force Girls’ Cup on Monday afternoon after overcoming Bridgnorth Endowed School (Shropshire) 3-2 at Manchester City Football Club.
