A day out at Arsenal FC’s Academy facility in Walthamstow awaits eight schools across Essex in February, after they battled through their regional U-11s 7v7 Cup Qualifiers.
For Moulsham Junior, one of the Outer Essex qualifiers in the U-11s Seven-a-side Girls Cup, 2013/14 will be their third consecutive season at the county finals, and Manager Emma Ireland revealed that her team are already looking ahead to the event.
“The girls were ecstatic to find out they had qualified for the county finals, and even more excited when they found out where it would be held,” she remarked.
“They have all worked so hard – as I am sure every team has – and as a school it makes us very proud to witness their achievement,” she added. Moulsham will be looking to go one better than last year, when they missed out on qualification for the South-East England Regional Qualifiers following defeat to Bournes Green.
“We do feel very proud of our achievements, especially as the girls are feeling the added pressure of the teams having qualified before them,” Ireland said.
“We are very proud of all the children in our multiple sports teams and really enjoy being able to take them out of school to different events. The children are always so well behaved and supportive of one another.”
Moulsham, who will take their place at the Gunners’ Academy Dome alongside Heycroft Primary after they defeated Notley Green on penalties, enjoyed a 100% record at the event, and Ireland was full of praise for the way that the competition at Beacon Hill Rovers FC’s Wickham Bishops Sports Ground was organised.
“Our girls loved the event; they enjoyed playing multiple games and being refereed by such professional students,” she declared.
“The sports fields that we played on were perfect and allowed for everyone to be playing together, giving a real sense of community.”
“The event was really well organised, ensuring that the girls were playing little and often but could also watch and support their counterparts from other schools. The added pressure of playing the runners-up from the other group also made the event more of a challenge.”
Two weeks previously, Langtons Junior Academy and Sandringham Primary made it through from the London Borough finals, which took place at the London Marathon Playing Fields in Fairlop. Essex County Schools FA Chairman Mike Spinks was available at both events to hand out medals to the winning schools.
The quartet will be joined in Walthamstow by the four qualifiers in the Malcolm Moffatt Trophy, the U-11s 7v7 competition which has run in various guises since 1978. Now in its 36th season, Ardleigh Green Primary and Engayne Primary from the London Boroughs and St Michael’s Junior and Latton Green Primary, who secured their passage via the Outer Essex event at Shrub End in Colchester, will be competing for the silverware this term.
Essex County FA staff were assisted by referees Grace Gillard, Alexander Haynes, Chris McGovern, James Beal and Philip Molloy, plus Young Leaders from Redbridge College and Barking Abbey School, whilst Sheila Macauley was on-hand to provide sports therapy expertise when required. FA Tesco Skills Coaches Kevin Baker, Rob O’Brien and Charlotte O’Malley held skills sessions across the three events which, in total, saw 49 schools participate.
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
