College defend their title

ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College’s Girls Academy have successfully defended their Regional Championship title for the third year running.

Held at the Manchester FA, the competition was hosted by AoC Sport,s the lead organisation for sport and physical activity in colleges.

The seven aside football team dominated the tournament and have qualified for the National Championship in April 2019 at Nottingham University. It will be the third year that the Accrington and Rossendale Colleges football academy has represented the North West at football. The tournament will be held over the duration of the weekend - three days in total.

Michael Worthington, Lecturer in Sport at Accrington and Rossendale College, said:

“It’s an amazing achievement and we are really looking forward to the Nationals next year.! The football played has been fantastic - they all wanted to win, coming into the competition as the current National Champions - and they did themselves proud. Fingers crossed for the forthcoming competition, I’m sure the girls will shine but we are happy with their efforts regardless.”

The boys team lost in the final this year but enjoyed Regional Championship status in 2016 and 2017. Over the last three years between the two teams they have made six finals, winning five of them.

Head of Girls football, Gemma Donnelly, also shared her thoughts on the weekend. She said: “There was always going to be pressure on the girls coming into the competition as the current National Champions. “They all wanted to win the competition, but we took each game as it came and put together a fantastic run. Becoming Regional Champions for the third year a row is an incredible achievement.”