Sunderland Schoolboys triumphant on the Wirral
Sunderland Primary Schoolboys enjoyed a superb second half to the season with a penalty shootout success in a tournament held by the Wirral Association.
In this, the second part looking back at the Sunderland Primary Schoolboys’ season, the Boys went from strength to strength, beginning at the prestigious Dan one Durham County Schools FA 7- aside tournament which took part at the Academy of Light.
The Boys began at a great pace in their first game and went 2-0 up against Washingtoncourtesy of goals from Daniel Cassap and Jay Snowball.
Washington pulled a goal back, but couldn't find an equaliser which gave the squad the best possible start.
In their second games against Durham City, a fine finish from Saul Judson secured a 1-0 win. The third game was to prove a lot harder and Chester le-Street raced into a 2-0 lead, with Snowballed ge ing the Boys back into the game.
However, the Boys were unable to find an equaliser and suffered a first defeat of the tournament.
Consecutive 0-0 draws against D arlington and Bishop Auckland saw the Boys disappointingly finish in third place behind Chester-le-Street and eventual winners Darlington.
The squad warmed up for the Association' s annual trip to Merseyside with a 3-2 friendly win at home to East Northumberland B side, thanks to goals from Harley Bewick, Judson and Cassap.
The squad then travelled to Merseyside and, after touring An field–the home of Liverpool – played a friendly against The Wirral Under-11 district side, but were outgunned and outfought in defeat, with Charlie Whitfield scoring a consolation goal for the Boys.
The following day saw the Boys compete in a tournament organised by the Wirral Association.
The Boys started the opening game against Morecambe in impressive fashion and put the opposition under immense pressure from the first whistle without converting any of the chances created.
This came back to haunt the team when Morecambe scored with their first attack and then added a second near the end of the game to hand the Sunderland boys an opening 0-2 defeat.
Consecutive 0-0 draws against St Helens and Wirral Under-10s saw the squad finish third in the group to enter the Wirral Plate competition.
The semi-final of this competition against Crewe and Chester was settled by a first Sunderland Boys goal for Harrison Price, whose goal secured a final spot and a return game against St Helens.
The final was a tense affair and the game finished goal less, going on to a penalty shootout.
The Boys held their nerve to claim the victory with a combination of Snowball, Whitfield, Judson and Bewick goals, but also goalkeeping heroics from Finn Robertson, who then stepped forward to accept the trophy on behalf of his team mates.
*Next season (2020-21), the Sunderland Primary Schools Football Association will celebrate its 50 th anniversary after it broke away from the Secondary Association to become an independent Association.
The Association are looking at publishing a book celebrating the 50 years, and they are hoping if anyone can share any old photographs of any Sunderland Boys teams spanning the last 50 years. If anyone can help with any old photos or articles, please contact Chris Lindstedt, Chairman of the SPSFA, on 07875361023 or email: chris1967@btinternet.com.