They’re just Pitch perfect
STAKEFORD’S LADS CLINCH ACE SUCCESS IN NATIONALS
NOT content with a local trophy treble, Stakeford Under-12s are now celebrating being the very best of British.
The Northumberland youngsters – as reported in Grassroots Sport last month – enjoyed triple league and cup success in 2016-17.
Rob Eastway’s squad clinched the Pinpoint Recruitment Under-12 League Cup, the North East Youth Development League Cup and the Pin Point Under-12 League Division One title.
That success led to Stakeford being invited to compete in the prestigious FA-organised Pitchero Aces Nationals Tournament in Nottingham.
Despite being up against some of the best title-winning junior teams in the country, Stakeford triumphed in the Midlands to round off their memorable campaign in style.
Forty teams invited from all across Britain took part in the tournament.
Stakeford were in the under-13 competition and won three of their four group games 4-0, 4-1, 2-0 and drew the other 1-1.
They prevailed 4-1 in their last-16 match before defeating Birmingham 2-1 in semi-finals.
In the decider Stakeford, representing Northumberland, met Derby.
Neither side could find the back of the net which meant the match would be decided by a penalty shootout – which Stakeford eventually won 6-5.
Eastway said: “I have never cried in my life but I did after this victory.
“I thought we could maybe grab a couple of wins but to actually go and win the tournament was just unbelievable.
“I am just totally overwhelmed by what the lads have done.
“It was a brilliant performance, especially when you consider we had to play 160 minutes in temperatures of more than 30 degrees.
“We played eight games and they were all 11-a-side – the lads had never played 11-a-side before.
“Yet they overcame all that to win. Their attitude was tremendous.”
In the season just finished Stakeford claimed the Pinpoint Recruitment Under-12 League Cup, defeating Cramlington 3-1 at Newcastle United’s training academy.
They then had to play Cramlington Juniors in their final game of the league season at home, defeating them again.
Four days later it was the same opposition again in the North East Youth Development League Cup at Cramlington’s home ground, Stakeford coming back from 3-1 down to triumph 4-3 after extra time.
In the last league game of the season, Stakeford needed Cramlington Juniors Reds to beat Heaton Hawks to secure them the Pin Point Under12 League Division One title.
Cramlington duly obliged to give Stakeford their fantastic trophy treble.
The triumphant squad consisted of Jamie Cottrell, Sean Ellis, Alex Halliday, Lewis Martin, Andrew Janaway, Euan McLaren, Ciaran Thompson, Ollie Dixon, Eddie Handyside, Rio Eastway, Dan Dixon, Harrison Borley, Harvey Walsh, Noah Millington and Koen Ross.