Wizard from Oz helps soccer kids on winning run
FOOTBALLERS from Whitworth Community High School are in the Lancashire final for 5-a-side after winning every game.
The five players and two substitutes from Year 7, played four matches at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School against students from different Rossendale high schools.
At BRGS they won every match, and in the final game, William Lloyd scored the winning penalty.
Captained by Harrison Wright, the team has only been playing together since October and trains at school once a week.
But many of the youngsters also play for other teams in their own time.
William, 11, has been playing the sport since he was four.
His family moved to Australia when he was five and the initially played first for a local club and then at age nine earned a place at an Australian Academy.
He said: “We came back to the UK in August and I now play for Whitworth Valley and Sacred Heart in Rochdale.
“I am hoping to trial for the Burnley Academy.
“We came back to the UK for family reasons.
“In Australia we had a swimming pool, a large garden, sunny weather, great beaches, good friends and we did a lot of camping.
“I don’t miss it; I prefer it over here.
“I feel like people here are friendlier, they are better to talk to and we have more family.”
Goalkeeper was Brooklyn Hernon, 11, has been playing for four years and was scouted by Liverpool and is now in the development squad.
Brooklyn lives and breathes football, playing every day apart from Sunday, when she relaxes by having a kick about with friends.
She said: “I was on four teams including Be Inspired a Manchester team and that brought me on, but I didn’t really have a goalkeeping coach so I am more or less selftaught.
“Everyone says I have no fear and I don’t worry about diving, it is about saving; some people call me an adrenalin junkie. I want to play for England.”
The team is waiting for a date for the Lancashire final, but it will be held at Soccerdome Blackburn.
Brooklyn said: “I have a gut feeling that as a team we will do well.
“Our coach Mr Cawley has said we can all have a Mcdonald’s if we win.
“I started off playing football with lads, and I would recommend any girl wanting to play football should start off playing with the boys as it builds your strength up.”
William, who plays centre midfielder or fullback, said the side’s strength was their support for each other. Even if the opposition scores against them, he said they use it as motivation to turn the game around.