English Schools' Football Association

The second day of the PlayStation® Schools’ Cup provided another feast of schools’ football, with goals galore and two professional footballer appearances contributing to an incredible day at the Madejski Stadium.

Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez and Bobby Zamora, who took time out ahead of QPR’s Championship play-off final against Derby County on Saturday, came along to support the event and enjoy the five games on show.

With another 9:30am start, the crowd who had made it in early had just a three minute wait to see the first goal of the day as Didcot Girls’ School (Oxfordshire) took the lead against Kibworth High School (South Leicestershire) in the English Schools’ FA (ESFA) PlayStation Under 14 Schools’ Cup for Girls final. Didcot extended their lead to 3-0 but their work wasn’t done as Kibworth threatened to pull off a miraculous comeback as they reduced the deficit to 3-2. However Didcot scored two late second half goals to clinch the trophy with a 5-2 scoreline.

It was the turn of the Under 13 Schools’ Cup for Girls next as Thomas Telford School (Telford) and Thomas Estley Community College (South Leicestershire) took to the field. This was once again a high scoring affair as Thomas Estley ran out 4-1 winners.

The entertainment didn’t stop there as Coombe Boys’ School (Richmond) and Christleton High School contested a match which ESFA chief executive John Read described as the best standard of Under 14 football he had ever seen. The prize at stake was the ESFA PlayStation Under 14 Schools’ Cup for Boys, which was eventually won 4-1 by Coombe Boys’ School. Both sides showed incredible dedication and skill throughout which greatly impressed the crowds and the watching Zamora who presented the team with the trophy.

The ESFA PlayStation Under 14 Schools’ Cup for Boys was the penultimate trophy to be contested and went all the way to penalties after Honley High School (Huddersfield) showed great character to come from behind twice to draw level with Northampton School for Boys. Honley then showed nerves of steel in the shootout to clinch a 3-2 win on spot kicks.

For the first time across the two days the rain began to fall but it didn’t dampen the quality of the final game of the day – the ESFA PlayStation Under 13 Cup for B Teams. Wright Robinson College (Manchester), who earlier received a good luck tweet from Manchester United winger Ashley Young, were in inspired form as a hat trick from Daniel Goddard helped them to a 3-0 win over Glyn School (Surrey).

U14 Girls’ Cup

Kibworth (South Leicestershire) 2-5 Didcot (Oxon)

U13 Girls’ Cup

Thomas Telford (Telford) 1-3 Thomas Estley (South Leics)

U14 Open Schools’ Cup

Coombe (Kingston) 4-1 Christleton (Chester)

U14 Boys’ Cup

Honley (Huddersfield) 2-2 (3-2 on pens) Northampton SFB

U13 B Team Cup

Wright Robinson (Manchester) 3-0 Glyn (Central Surrey)

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