Stanley finish final level on PlayStation
FOR a third successive year, Southport’s Stanley High School have raised a prestigious national football cup aloft.
In the final of the U13 ESFA PlayStation Schools’ Cup for B teams played at the Madejski Stadium, they beat Hurtsmere School from London 3-1.
Two goals from Marco Pinto Ventura and another from Joel Scholes settled the matter in favour of a side that included many players from last season’s U12 ESFA triumph.
Also back in 2014 the school captured a U15 PlayStation trophy.
The team’s route to glory included a host of impressive wins over some of the most famous names in schools’ football.
It began with three emphatic home victories over St Mary’s Catholic College, from Wallasey (5-1), Liverpool’s Cardinal Heenan Catholic Sports College (3-1) and West Hill School from Stalybridge (5-1).
In round four, a 2-1 away victory against St Francis Xavier’s College, also from Liverpool, set up a quarter-final on home turf against the mighty Thomas Telford School from Shropshire.
Stanley won that last-eight clash by a narrow 1-0 margin after extra-time.
The semi-final at Audenshaw School in Manchester also went to extra-time, with Stanley scoring in the last 20 seconds to record a nail-biting 3-2 victory.
The Madejski final was streamed live to students in the school sports hall, with commentary from former Liverpool and England centre-back John Scales.
The watching pupils saw the man-ofthe-match accolade go to Fred Thorpe and the squad also received a new kit from the sponsors.
PE teacher and team coach, James Walsh, commented: “Winning this trophy and effectively defending a title they won last year is a terrific achievement.
“It speaks volumes about the ability and attitude of these talented players who never cease to surpass our expectations. I’d like to thank all the parents who travelled to Reading to watch the final and also our staff and students for their continued support. They all witnessed a fantastic display of skill and sportsmanship.”
Stanley High headteacher, Ed Fitzpatrick, added: “The whole school is justifi- ably proud of the determination and grit the players showed throughout this competition. I’d also like to offer my personal thanks to Mr Walsh for his unstinting belief in the team all season.”