Dolphins prove to be invincible
FOUR MORE TROPHIES FOR THE POOL ROOM
THE Stratford Dolphins pool room is getting mighty crowded with silverware after the U18s finished a sensational season where they made soccer history to score four trophies and remain undefeated.
Coach John Thomas said the team rose up to play at another level and their hard work was rewarded with a robust 2-1 victory over MA Olympic to win the Crad Evans Shield.
“The U18s won the 2022 League Cup, the 2022 Premiership and the 2022 Grand Final and now they have the Crad Evans,” Thomas said.
“The whole club is so proud of them.”
Thomas said some of the players were part of the successful 2020 Stratford Colts team which also brought home the FNQ Football treble.
Thomas said the Stratford Dolphins U18s lived up to their unofficial motto of “a champion team not a team of champions.”
The sentiment was echoed by players who were revelling in their success at the club’s end of season presentation on Friday night.
Centreback Daniel Leibinger, 17, said he was stoked with their success.
“To win four trophies is an astonishing feeling,” he said.
“Will it ever be done again?”
Leibinger said he hoped to be back on the field in 2023.
“I have my senior year at school next year,” he said.
“But I would definitely love to play for Stratford again.”
Teammate Gareth Thomas, 16, agreed.
“It was pretty special, very good to get the wins,” the midfielder said.
Coach Thomas said the team, which comprised players aged between 15 and 18 with the majority around 16 years, had really punched above their weight.
“For the players and the club as whole, this U18s result is really important,” he said.
“The team is at an important stage, it’s the transition from junior to senior football and we encourage them to return to continue with senior football and dip their toes in how exciting this can be.”