English Schools' Football Association

The first day of the PlayStation® Schools’ Cup Festival was played out in glorious sunshine at the Madejski Stadium as five schools got their hands on the coveted trophies.

In a day that included a guest appearance from Sunderland survival hero Connor Wickham, the crowds that poured through the turnstiles all day were treated to a feast of football throughout.

It was Stanley High School (Southport) and Ibstock Place School (Richmond) that got proceedings underway this morning with the English Schools’ FA (ESFA) PlayStation Under 15 Small Schools’ Cup at 9:30am. In already warm conditions, Stanley School ran out 3-0 winners in a game which included a 30-yard wonder strike from Lewis Harwood.

There was drama-a-plenty in the second game of the day as Ravens Wood School (Bromley) clinched the ESFA PlayStation U13 Boys’ Cup in an epic 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Cardinal Heenan Sports College (Liverpool). It all looked plain sailing for the Bromley outfit as they raced into a 3-1 lead deep into the second half. However Cardinal Heenan, the former school of England captain Steven Gerrard, pegged it back to 3-3 before suffering penalty heartache.

While that contest was closely fought, the next saw a masterclass from Thomas Telford School (Telford) in the ESFA PlayStation Under 12 Boys’ Cup. The Midlands school were rampant as they clinched the trophy in style with an 8-0 win over St John the Baptist School (Woking).

 

The next trophy to be decided was the ESFA PlayStation Under 13 Small Schools’ Cup between Downend School (Bristol) and Caistor Grammar School (Lincolnshire). It was Downend who would get their hands on the trophy thanks to a goal in each half; however it was Caistor goalkeeper Joseph Laverick that took all the plaudits as he pulled off a number of miraculous saves to give his side a fighting chance. Joseph was deservedly awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ award and a brand new PlayStation®4 console for his efforts, the prize given to each player who was selected by ESFA representatives throughout the day.

In the final game of the evening with the sun still shining down, Lancashire FA Girls Under 14s clinched the ESFA PlayStation Under 14 Girls’ Inter County Trophy final with a 4-2 victory over Kent FA Girls to round off a fantastic day of action.

U15 Small Schools’ Cup

Ibstock Place (Richmond) 0-3 Stanley (Sefton)

U13 Boys’ Cup

Cardinal Heenan (Liverpool) 3-3 (6-7 on pens) Ravens Wood (Bromley)

U12 Boys’ Cup

Thomas Telford (Telford) 8-0 St John the Baptist (Woking)

U13 Small Schools’ Cup

Caistor Grammar (Lincs) 0-2 Downend (Bristol)

U14 Girls’ Inter County Trophy Final

Kent 2-4 Lancashire

Additional photos can be found at: www.rwt-photography.co.uk