Schools Football Cup Final

So the day had come, Pyrland School’s first ever involvement in a National Schools Semi Final. Our opponent was Shenfield School from Essex, who had travelled down to the west country the night before. The day started much the same as the previous 27 days – wet ! Mike Boyd, the school’s groundsman, had done a wonderful job the previous week in preparing a great surface for such a prestigious occasion, what was out of all our control though was the rain!

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Mr Saddington had arrived early to prepare the facilities for spectators and make sure the home team had a supportive and organised changing room waiting for them. It continued raining! Mr Mason went to the sand pit and gathered sand to try and sponge the goal mouths and penalty spots. But still it rained. Kick off was 10.30am and the officials arrived at 9.30am in the rain for the pitch inspection. Thankfully after all Mr Boyd’s and Mr Saddington’s hard work, the referee was happy to play and “The Farm”, our home ground was ready for battle.

Shenfield arrived and both teams warmed up effectively but it was clear there were nerves floating around in both camps. Both teams returned to the changing rooms as the crowd built on the side lines and the atmosphere started to build. Tactics were not the order of the day in the team talk, it was focused on controlling emotions, directing passion to positive gains and sticking to what had got us to the semi – hard work, our style and togetherness.

We left the changing rooms and the game was on. Both teams started frantically and with enthusiasm but as a result the quality wasn’t initially there and the first 15 minutes were scrappy. The call came from the academy dugout to settle, relax and stick to what we do. This galvanised the team and we started to see more skill on the ball and better decision making. Kamil was at the attacking engine room pulling the strings and setting up the play, whilst Matt and Amel bit into tackles and disrupted any rhythm Shenfield were trying to gather.

When the opposition did get past our defensive midfielders they were met with an impassable wall that is Carson, Leyland and Emmy at the heart of the academy defence. Max in the academy goal was a spectator for much of this half but what he did was impressive and very effective. As the time passed our wingbacks Cody and the endlessly motivated Dec started to attack more than defend and we started to create chances. Ben was holding up the ball well and was working closely with Sam to launch attack after attack. We were getting closer and closer with Cody grazing the crossbar with a 30 yard drive and the Shenfield goalkeeper making a couple of great saves to deny Kamil and Sam. We had to use the wind to our advantage and make a break through and cometh the hour cometh the man.

In the 28^th minute Sam Scott picked up the ball just past the half way line and drove at the Shenfield defence, the defenders didn’t have the pace to stay with him and he found a yard of space twenty yards out, he pulled the trigger, the crowd drew its breath and we all watched the ball nestle in the corner of the goal to give the Academy the lead, The crowd erupted and celebrated with the team. We were 1-0 up but knew the wind would be a factor so we had to push for more.

Wave upon wave of attacks followed and we were unlucky a number of times. We needed something special and Declan Berry produced just that, the ball broke to him in the 39^th minute just outside the area and he caught the ball cleanly to propel it to the top corner, what a goal and the academy were 2-0 up. Minutes later the referee blew for half time and it was Pyrland School 2 Shenfield 0. The team talk focused solely on sticking to who we were and how to defend against the new problem, the wind.

As the second half started it was clear that Shenfield were up for it and they threw everything at us. The boys defended to a man, throwing bodies, legs and feet in front of all the opposition could muster. Bodies were getting tired in the heavy conditions and our subs were crucial, Jack and Sam entered the fray and both did not disappoint and stepped into the shoes that the exhausted Ben and Cody had left. Time was ticking, nerves were starting to stretch, I had paced for probably 20,000 steps up and down the same patch of ground. Could we do it? Our attacks had become sparse counters and Max in goal was busy. He produced two saves that were out of this world and exceptionally brave.

Five minutes to go and Shenfield won a corner, the ball came across and in the melee the linesman spotted a handball and the referee awarded a penalty. Shenfield converted and then followed five minutes that felt like five hours but just as Sam was holding the ball up in the corner the referee blew the whistle and scenes of joy and excitement not seen at the academy followed. The whole school was delighted and Mrs Webber came onto the very muddy pitch to congratulate the boys.

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It was an incredible result achieved by an incredible group of young men. They have conducted themselves with pride, respect, resilience and are everything the academy should strive to produce in its young people. The final is now at the Hawthorns, which is a 27,000 seater stadium in West Bromwich on Tuesday 23^rd May and a 1.30 pm kick off. There will be coaches going from the academy to support the team and we all as a school community could not be prouder of them and what they have achieved.