Rotherham United

Local school team set their sights on Wembley

Thorpe Hesley Primary took a step closer to realising one of their dreams by winning the Rotherham round of the Football League Kids Cup.

The competition which was organised by Rotherham United Community Sports Trust was held at the newly developed Thomas Rotherham College on Tuesday 1st December, the competition was open to 6 a-side teams made up of boys and girls U’11 from schools in the Rotherham borough.

In total 14 teams attended on the day from 12 of our local schools, this meant we were able to operate the tournament on a two mini league basis. There was some very hard fought games as all the teams had a good level of ability and at the conclusion of all the league games we were left with 4 teams who just managed to finish in the top 2 positions in their respective leagues and progress to the semi final stage.

Group 1 saw Thornhill Primary and Blackburn Primary finish in the top 2 positions having only been separated by one point, group 2 saw Thorpe Hesley and Kilnhurst Primary proceed to the second round with only goals scored ensuring Thorpe Hesley went through as group winners after both teams finished level on points and goal difference.

After some hard fought semi-finals the finalists were decided as Thorpe Hesley proved too strong for Blackburn and Kilnhurst brushed Thornhill aside. This led to a clash of the top teams from group 2 who couldn’t be separated when they met in the group stages earlier that day.

Once again the teams proved evenly matched and the final ended 0-0 but unlike the group stages we needed an outright winner so the game went into penalties but even 5 penalties each couldn’t separate these 2 fantastic teams and with the score 5-5, the shoot-out moved into sudden death and it was here that Thorpe Hesley managed to hold their nerve a little better and win the game.

Thorpe Hesley will now go on to represent Rotherham United in the Championship North Finals which are to be held around March 2016. It is here that they will play against the teams who won local competitions at the other clubs in the north of the Championship. The team who triumphs at this event will go on to the grand final which is held at Wembley stadium prior to the Championship play off final in May.

 

Staff from Rotherham United CST will be accompanying the school and hoping that Thorpe Hesley can become the first school ever to take Rotherham United to Wembley in this competition.