A report from the Middlesex FA on their recent Capital Girls’ League Cup day, which attracted 56 teams to their central venue in Barnet.
The Capital Girls’ League is a joint venture between the Middlesex and London FAs and acts as the County Girls’ League for both Middlesex and London. The League operates divisions at age groups from U9-U16 teams. For season 2013-14, the League has expanded and now has 68 teams participating in a weekly fixture programme.
On Saturday 9th November, there was a break in the league programme for the launch of the Capital Girls’ League Cup, which for this season was operated under a new format and sponsored by County Football Association the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA). In line with the Youth Football Review, each age group was set up in such a way as to ensure the most appropriate format of the game was being played.
A total of 56 teams signed up to take part in the cup competition which was organised so that all fixtures took place at our North London Central Venue, Chase Lodge Playing Fields, Barnet, NW7 2ED.
Even with the heavy rain throughout the week (and on the day!), the competition went ahead and all games were played in a great spirit by all teams.
The U-9 teams, Denham United, Islington Borough, Alexandra Park & Kinja played 4v4 in group stages with the top two teams progressing to the final. Denham and Kinja made it to through where some fantastic skills and teamwork resulted in a win for the Wildcats who were presented with their medals and the League Cup by England and Chelsea Star Claire Rafferty. All of the players who took part in the event received a signed certificate of attendance and had the opportunity to get photos with Claire Rafferty and Barnet WSL players Andrea Georgiou, Aoife Hurley and Laura Miller.
The U-10 competition involved 5v5 fixtures with clubs divided into two groups from which the top two teams in proceeded to the semi-finals. The teams participating included Islington Borough, Enfield Town, Ruislip Rangers, Hearts Of Teddlothian, Kinja, Camden Town, Charlton Atheltic, QPR, TFA Totteridge & Hampstead. Following the group stages it was Ruislip Rangers, Kinja, TFA Totteridge and QPR who made it through to the semis and Totteridge, who only formed their team in September, went on to win the final.
The U-12, U-14 and U-16 competitions were run in a different format with group qualifying stages on November 9th from which the top 4 teams qualified for the semis which will take place later in the season.
There were 16 teams competing in the U-12s across 4 groups with representation from Tottenham Hotspur who fielded two sides, Islington Borough, Hearts of Teddlothian, who also fielded two teams, Ashford Town (Middlesex), St Joseph’s, QPR, Camden Youth, Old Actonians, Enfield Town, Alexandra Park, Ruislip Rangers, Kinja & Charlton Athletic. The groups were very closely matched but the top team from each group who now progress to the semi finals were QPR, Tottenham Hotspur B, Enfield Town and Ruislip Rangers.
The U-14 competition offered teams the choice of 9v9 or 11v11 programmes in the same way the League programme does. Within the 9v9 competitions, both groups were very competitive with Enfield Town, Ruislip Rangers, Islington Borough, Old Actonians and Tottenham in one group from which Enfield qualified winning all of their games, closely followed by Ruislip. In Group 2, Whetstone Wanderers, Camden Youth, Hampstead, Brentford & Kinja competed; Brentford and Hampstead finished in the qualifying positions. In the 11v11 competitions, six teams competed for the four qualifying places. Hampstead won the group with LOASS, Tottenham, and Charlton Athletic progressing at the expense of Reading and QPR.
The day was a fantastic success and we would like to congratulate and thank all of the participating teams including their coaches, players and parents who braved the conditions of the day to be there. A huge thank you also goes to The FA WSL players, supporting staff members, referees and volunteers who were invaluable to the day, and finally to our Capital Girls’ League Cup sponsor, the Amateur Football Alliance.
The Capital Girls League is now ready to accept teams for Phase 2 of the 2013-14 season, for more information please contact Ciara Allan on ciara.allan@middlesexfa.com.
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