A girls’ football team have become one of the most successful in the history of the school after reaching the fourth round of a national cup competition.
Year 7 and 8 pupils from Swinton Academy, in Rotherham, beat Shirebrook Academy 2-0 to progress in the English Schools’ Football Association Under-12 girls’ cup.
The girls – Lucy Hurst, Teegan Latham, Kate Cooper, Lilannah Young, Nola Jakuc, Emily Mappin, Leona Adamson, Rosie James, Jess Griffiths, Grace Newsam, Scarlett Busby and Maddison Brookes-Haywood – have previously beaten South Axholme Academy 10-0 and Sheffield High School for Girls, 4-0.
The competition, sponsored by Playstation for the 2018-19 season, is one of the world’s largest football competitions.
Over 2,000 secondary school and college football teams will take part this season, with the competition set to give over 200,000 schoolchildren a chance to compete in high-profile national tournaments. Previous winners of the ESFA Cup include Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Dele Alli; two of the stars of England’s World Cup campaign in Russia last year.
Swinton Academy’s next game is against either Wickersley School & Sports College or Longcroft School & VI Form College. The final of the competition will be played at St George’s Park, Staffordshire – the home of the England national team – in June.
Rosie Aspinall, who coaches the girls, said: “We can’t wait for our next game. The girls have been a credit to Swinton Academy and are reaping the rewards of their commitment, hard work and have no shortage of skill!
“I hope that their success in this competition encourages other Swinton Academy students to try a sport and join a team.
“There are lots of clubs here every evening and our talented sports students are really putting the school on the map locally.”
ENDS
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