U16 RAF Boys’ Cup: Rock Ferry 4-5 Torquay Boys

Friday 02 May 2008By ESFA Office

Last Updated:
10/02/2021 10:49:03

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.

Torquay Boys Grammar celebrate lifting U16 RAF Cup

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.

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