St Winefride’s girls making their mark

The talented youngsters have battled their way through to the final of a county competition in their very first season and will play at Greenhous Meadow on Saturday against St John The Baptist.

The team was launched for the first time at the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

The competition is called the U11 Girls Small Schools Trophy, which is run by the Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association.

Team coach Richard Goody, who is a sports co-ordinator at the Shrewsbury-based school, said the school were ‘over the moon’ at reaching the final.

“It is fantastic we have reached the final,” said Goody. “We are absolutely over the moon, as you can imagine.

“The girls have been absolutely fantastic throughout the season and they deserve it. They worked really hard to get here and they are so excited about playing in the final.

“It is the first time ever in the school’s history that we have ran a girl’s football team.”

The squad is made up of 10 players who play seven-a-side football – which is the standard format for all Shropshire primary schools.

They reached the final after beating Longden in the semi-final. The game proved a closely-fought contest and it needed a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

St Winefride’s had to make it out of their group stage to reach the finals.

The final will kick-off at 11am at Shrewsbury Town FC’s home ground.

A host of primary schools in Shropshire will be playing at the stadium on the day, as part of the different competitions run by the Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association.

There will also be John Hatfield Village Schools competition, Under-11 Boys Small Schools Shield, Under-10 Girls County Shield, Under-10 Boys County Shield, Under-9 Boys County Cup, Under-11 Girls County Plate and Under-11 Boys County Plate.

Entry to the ground costs £3 for adults and £2 for children.

Parents, staff and families will be going along to cheer on St Winefride’s on the day.

Goody, who took up his post at the school 15 months ago, said football was among the sports he wanted to develop at the school for pupils.

“In particular we wanted to raise the profile of girl’s football,” he said.

He also thanked their new sponsor which has helped to provide the funding so the school could by a new kit for the girls’ under-11s team.

“We are extremely grateful for our sponsor Primesave Properties, run by Keri Negron-Jennings, who have sponsored us. Roger Preece, at Sportsjam, has also been brilliant in supporting us to get the kit.

“This is a very exciting time for girls football at the school. It is the first time the school have entered a girls team into the SSCFA and the girls have qualified for the county final.”

The squad consists of Georgina Galliers, Erin O’Byrne, Chloe Savage, Grace Evans, Ava Mangham, Jemima Logan, Abi Mangham, Bethan Macdonald, Olivia Houlston, Izzy Negron-Jennings and Jasmin McKenna.