On Thursday 9 November two U13 girls’ football teams set off to represent BGS in the EFL U13 Girls Cup. This is a national competition in which teams have to battle through three successive tournaments if they are to be one of the last two teams standing and contest the final at Wembley in April.
The first stage of the six-a-side competition is a local tournament organised by EFL clubs, in our case Bristol Rovers. Arriving at the Gloucester FA headquarters, along with eighteen other teams representing Bristol schools, our teams faced nine games each to decide which of the ten teams in each of the two groups would make it through to the final. Our ‘B’ team performed brilliantly against some tough opposition, including several notable victories and a well-contested defeat against their eventual group winners. The ‘A’s, who were drawn in the other league, worked brilliantly as a team under the leadership of captain Livvy (Year 8), shutting out the opposition to win seven and draw two of their nine group games, all without conceding a single goal. This form saw them finish as group winners and secure a place in the final against a very strong Yate Academy, who had also reached the final without conceding a goal in their group.
The final was a tense affair but some more resolute defending and a wonderful late goal by Hannah (Year 8), which almost broke the net, saw BGS U13As win 1-0 and lift the trophy. They will now go on to represent Bristol Rovers in the Area Finals, meaning they are one of the last 72 teams standing out of a competition which started with thousands!
All fourteen BGS girls did absolutely brilliantly and were a credit to the school with their attitude and ability throughout an exciting but tiring day. It is hard to single out individuals, but well done to Year 8’s Mithusa, who was player of the day for the ‘B’s, and in the ‘A’s to Livvy for scoring nine goals, to Zoe (Year 7) for not letting a shot past her all day, to sisters Serafina (Year 8), Anya and Isla (both Year 7), who were all energiser bunnies in every game, to Year 7’s Liv for her brilliant defending and to Hannah for her great attacking and key goals.
We look forward to the Area Finals!
Mr Hambly & Mr Jones