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Under 16 Boys Win The League!
Staffs U16 Boys 3 Derbyshire U16 Boys 1
The Under 16 Boys brought the curtain down on the County season with a title clinching win against a tough Derbyshire side at Eccleshall FC on Monday 29th April. To think that the team lost their first Midland Counties game 6-1 to West Midlands, this was some effort to come back with 4 wins and a draw from their next 5 games to pip West Midlands and Derbyshire to the title. This however has been the culmination of a 3 year journey, one with many low points from when they began their County journey at Under 14’s. With a few changes of players over the 3 years and by gradually getting the Boys to believe in themselves, plus finding a formation that suited the team, they started to turn the corner and what a way for them to finish! Both Staffs and Derbyshire went into the final two games against each other knowing that 4 points for either side would be enough to overtake West Midlands. After the incredible late drama of the first game away at Eastwood FC which ended in a 3-3 draw, both teams knew that it was a must win game.
The first half was pretty even with both teams searching for that all important opening goal and Staffs found just about the perfect time to get it, just a minute before the break. Tyler Draper racing onto a great through ball to smash a stunning 25 yard strike in off the underside of the bar. Half Time 1-0. Everyone knew that the next goal was going to be crucial and that’s what all the talk was about in the dressing room at Half Time, with the Staffs Management team stressing how important the early stages of the second period were going to be. It would have been easy to have sat back and tried to hold onto the one goal advantage but that’s not the way that this team plays. With Kevin Acheampong and Liam O’Brien seeming to cover every blade of grass in midfield and Alfie Hancock leading the line superbly, the Staffs boys deservedly got the vital second goal, with talisman Stan Straw scoring from close range following a great corner by another man of the match contender Harry Caton. The lads were now playing with confidence and the third goal soon followed as Staffs broke and the ever dangerous Siraaj Ahmed sprinted clear of the Derbyshire defence to finish. Little did we know that poor Siraaj had cracked a rib earlier in the game and subsequently was at A&E until 4.30am! That mentality and will to win summed up the whole team and squad performance on the night and whilst Derbyshire did pull a consolation goal back in truth there was only ever going to be one winner.
The post match celebrations and trophy presentation were as you can imagine emotional as it brought to an end one hell of a journey for this group of players and coaches. I’m sure the night, along with their County journey will live long in the memory of the whole squad.
Credit to Derbyshire who played well and were gallant and gracious losers, this was however Staffordshire’s night! The whole squad, including the Boys not involved on the night deserve enormous credit for never giving up, listening to their coaches and giving 100% when it mattered. We wish them all every success and look forward to hearing more of their individual football stories. Quite a few will be eligible to continue playing County football for the Under 18’s where they get the opportunity to enjoy a further 2 years representing Staffordshire.
Many thanks to all of the Parents, Families and Friends who attended the game and gave the team their backing. Through thick and thin they have been wonderfully supportive, which makes coaches Neil Davies and Liam Davies' job so much easier.