It has been a pleasure being able to give the students an opportunity to represent the school at football this year. Druing this football season the engagement has been uplifting, and the competitive spirit shown throughout has been great to witness. After what can only be described as an underwhelming start to the year, with an 8-2 loss to Caedmon College, the squad really developed their cohesion and with more experience played like a real team.
This culminated in bouncing back from the defeat with a 6-2 win at Fulneck, a 6-0 defeat of Scarborough 6th Form 3rd team, and a 5-1 beating of the Ampleforth 2nd XI. The highlight of the regular season was the return fixture against Caedmon College, where the team demonstrated the magnitude of their turnaround with an 11 goal swing from the previous fixture, coming out 9-4 winners.
The season climax came at the Tranby 8s tournament, where the team were drawn in the lower pool. After seeing off Tranby B team 7-0 and Fulneck 3-1, the team battled to a 1-1 draw with Birkdale B in what could only be described as a scrappy affair. Regaining their composure the team went on to beat St Peter’s B 3-0, and Grammar School of Leeds B 4-1. These results earned them a place in the final against Grammar School of Leeds A team, who topped the A team league table. In an attritional final, a fine finish from Cian Dickinson followed by some stoic defending, led to a 1-0 victory for the team as skipper Hayden Williamson lifted the trophy aloft. A fitting end to a great football season.
A massive congratulations to all involved with the football programme from Mr Davies and Mr Fraser, and a polite reminder to ‘Up the Gulls’.
