LSFA Report 2015-16
A copy of this report can be downloaded as a word document;
LSFA REPORT 2015-16
The Report of the Lancashire Schools’ Football Association 2015-2016
Presented by Mike Timberlake, Secretary, Lancashire Schools’ F.A. at the Annual General Meeting, Monday 6 June 2016, President’s Suite, Lancashire Football Association.
Lancashire Schools’ F.A. Council Meetings:
During Season 2015-2016, the LSFA Council met on three occasions at the Lancashire Football Association, The County Ground, Leyland as follows:
Mon. 14.09.15. (8 present)
Mon. 09.11.15. (6 present)
Mon. 16.05.16. (6 present)
Attendance at meetings was as follows:
LSFA Officers:
Chairman, Paul Bradley: 1
Vice-Chairman, Andy Clitheroe: 1
Secretary / Competition Secretary, Mike Timberlake: 3
Treasurer, Andy Buckingham: 2
Senior Advisor, Mike Duffy: 2
Child Welfare Officer, Neil Yates: 0
District Council Members:
Blackburn and Darwen, Andy Buckingham: 2
Blackpool, Ben Lavelle: 0
Burnley, Stuart Booth: 1
Chorley, Neil Black: 2
Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, Andy Kelly: 0
Lancaster and Morecambe, Dave McFall: 0
Pendle, Mike Timberlake: 3
Preston, Paul Whelan: 1
Rossendale, Roger Haythornthwaite: 0
South Ribble, Andy Clitheroe: 1
West Lancashire, Nick Ford: 0
Co-opted Members of the Council:
Roy Blacktop: 3 Senior Council Member, Consultant: Under 18 Boys
Joel Callister: 1 Lancashire Football Association
Stewart Clitheroe: 0 Consultant: Under 18 Boys
Keira Davis: 0 Team Manager, Under 16 Girls
Andrew Mercer: 0 SGO Representative, Primary Schools
Alastair Mollon: 0 Assistant Team Manager, Under 18 Boys
Mike Nadal: 3 Team Manager, Under 16 and Under 14 Girls / LFA
Peter Seed: 0 Chairman, Girls’ Football
Mike Whitworth: 0 Team Manager, Under 14 Girls
The LSFA Council was represented at the following meetings during the season:
ESFA AGM, Newton Abbot Racecourse, 27 June 2015: Mike Timberlake
NCSFA AGM, Huddersfield, 8 June 2015: Mike Timberlake
The County Competitions: number of entries.
Primary Schools League 8 associations
Luther Mercer Primary Cup 8 associations
ESFA District Qualifier 8 associations
ESFA Primary Schools’ Qualifier 12 schools
Wrennall Cup (Under 14 district teams) 4 associations
Lancashire Cup (Under 15 district teams) 5 associations
Under 12 County Cup 55 schools
Under 13 County Cup 52 schools
Under 14 County Cup 48 schools
Under 15 Boys’ County Cup 52 schools
Under 16 Boys’ County Cup 52 schools
Under 19 Boys’ County Cup for Schools 21 teams
Under 12 Girls’ County Cup 30 schools
Under 14 Girls’ County Cup 29 schools
Under 16 Girls’ County Cup 20 schools
LSFA County Cups Roll of Honour 2015-2016
Under 12 Girls’ 5-a-side Indoor Competition held at the Blackburn Soccerdome
Friday 29 January 2016. Official: Norman Edmondson
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Haslingden High School
Under 12 Girls’ Open Cup (7 a side) held at St.Bede’s High School, Blackburn
Friday 11 March 2016. Officials: Kamran Jaffa (St.Bede’s), Greg Edeme (St.Bede’s)
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Ormskirk School
Under 14s Girls’ Open Cup held at Darwen Football Club
Wednesday 04 May 2016. Officials: Daniel Sanderson, Sohail Asghar, Lewis Partington
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: St.Wilfrid’s High School, Blackburn
Under 16s Girls’ Open Cup held at Darwen Football Club.
Thursday 19 May 2016. Officials: Sohail Asghar, Connor Newton, Lewis Partington
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: St.Bede’s High School, Blackburn
Under 12 Boys’ 5-a-side Indoor Competition held at the Blackburn Soccerdome
Thursday 28 January 2016. Officials: Jasper Esigenti, Thavid Tsimboykas, Alex Flannagan-Gill
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Broughton High School, Preston
Under 12 County Cup (7 a side) held at St Bede’s High School, Blackburn
Friday 18 March 2016: Officials: Kamran Jaffa (St.Bede’s), Greg Edeme (St.Bede’s)
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall
Under 13 County Cup (The Kay Cup) held at Squires Gate Football Club
Friday 06 May 2016.. Officials: Mike Rigby, Phil Rigby, Dave Shaw
Presentation: Neil Black (Under 14 County Team Manager)
Winners: Blessed Trinity R.C. High School, Burnley
Under 14 County Cup (The Jim Tolson Cup) held at ChorleyFootball Club
Tuesday 03 May 2016. Officials: Zak Marshall, Josh Westwood, Tom Burrow
Presentation: Roy Blacktop (Senior Council Member)
Winners: Broughton High School, Preston
Under 15 County Cup (The Jim Hayhurst Shield) held at Squires Gate Football Club
Friday 06 May 2016. Officials: Phil Rigby, Norman Edmondson, Dave Hesketh
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Ormskirk School
Under 16 Boys’ County Cup (The Daily Dispatch Shield) held at Darwen Football Club
Friday 27 May 2016. Officials: Phil Rigby, Norman Edmondson, John Wright
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe
Under 19 Boys’ County Cup (LSFA Shield) held at Chorley Football Club
Tuesday 03 May 2016. Officials: Dave Hesketh, Mike Rigby, Phil Rigby
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Lancaster Royal Grammar School
LSFA District Competitions Roll of Honour 2014-2015:
Under 15 Boys’ Lancashire League Winners (The Timberlake Trophy):
Winners: West Lancashire SFA
Under 14 Boys’ Wrennall Cup League Winners (The Dick Clegg Shield):
Winners: Chorley SFA
Under 15 Boys’ Lancashire Cup held at the County Ground, Leyland
Monday 09 May 2016. Officials: Dave Hesketh, Courtney Hughes, Courtney Hughes, Phil Rigby
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Burnley SFA
Under 14 Boys’ Wrennall Cup held at the County Ground, Leyland
Monday 09 May 2016. Officials: Daniel Sanderson, Mike Rigby, Norman Edmondson
Presentation: Roy Blacktop (Senior Council Member)
Winners: Chorley SFA
LSFA Primary School Competitions:
Under 11s Primary Inter-District League Champions: Preston SFA
Under 11s Primary Inter-District Cup (The Luther Mercer Shield) held at
Saturday 11 June 2016, Brinscall Village JFC
Officials:Phil Rigby, Mike Rigby, Paul Rishton
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: Preston SFA
The Under 11s Inter District 7-a-side Competition & ESFA Qualifier
Winners: Preston S.F.A.
Under 11s Primary Schools 7-a-side IDI Trophy & ESFA Qualifier held at the JMO Sports Park, Skelmersdale.
Saturday 16 January 2016. Officials: Peter Ingham, Mike Rigby, Dave Shaw
Presentation: Mike Timberlake (Secretary)
Winners: St.Mary’s School, Lango
Results of the Lancashire Schools’ Football Association Finals:
Under 14 Girls’ County Cup Final:
St.Wilfrid’s High School 4 Darwen Vale High School 2
Under 16 Girls’ County Cup Final:
St.Bede’s High School 3 St.Wilfrid’s High School 2
Under 13 County Cup Final:
Blessed Trinity R.C. College 2 Lytham St.Annes Technology College 1
Under 14 County Cup Final:
Broughton High School 3 Darwen Aldridge Academy 1
Under 15 County Cup Final:
St.Bede’s High School (Blackburn) 0 Ormskirk School 0 (After extra time)
Ormskirk School won 5-4 on penalties
Under 16 Boys’ County Cup Final:
Ribblesdale High School 2 St.Augustine’s High School 1
Under 19 Boys’ County Cup Final:
Lancaster Royal Grammar School 6 Darwen Aldridge Academy 0
Lancashire Cup Final:
Burnley 1 Rossendale 0
Wrennall Cup Final:
Chorley 4 Rossendale 1
Luther Mercer Cup Final:
Preston 3-2 West Lancashire
The County Representative Teams:
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 14 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2015-2016:
- Matthew Brewer Blackpool
- Harry Brown Preston
- Noel Byrne Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Liam Clegg Preston
- Jordan Gregory Blackpool
- Jonathon Healey South Ribble
- Michael Jeory Preston
- Ben Larnach Burnley
- Joe Nolan Chorley
- Kasper Poltorak Preston
- Jack Prince Blackburn with Darwen
- Kai Shorrock Chorley
- Jack Simm Pendle
- Mitchell Sutton Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Luke Taylor Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Sam Twist Chorley
- Ethan Walker Preston
- Ellis Wallbank Preston
Under 14 Boys’ Competition Results:
P W D L F A
2 1 0 1 7 8
Friendly Matches:
v Fleetwood Town F.C. at Fuse Football lost 2-3
v West Midlands at Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. lost 1-4
c Carrollwood School, USA at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 4-2
ESFA National Trophy:
R2 v Staffordshire at Wren Rovers F.C. won 6-1
QFv Merseyside at the JMO, Skelmersdale lost 1-7
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 15 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2015-2016:
- Sam Barnes Blackburn with Darwen
- Jack Baxter South Ribble
- Max Broughton Rossendale
- James Cottam Preston
- Louis James Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Olivier Jumeau Lancaster and Morecambe
- Kit Lloyd Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Daniel Moss Blackpool
- Precieux Ngongo Blackburn with Darwen
- Hafizul Rahman Blackburn with Darwen
- Nathan Shaw Blackburn with Darwen
- Kieron Whittaker Pendle
- Ben Winterbottom South Ribble
- Harrison Yeoman Burnley
Under 15 Boys’ Competition Results:
P W D L F A
7 5 1 1 23 2
Friendly Match:
v Carrollwood School, USA at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 9-0
Blackpool Cup:
Group Matches:
v Mill United(Scotland) won 6-0
v Hellemmes (France) won 10-0
v Arklow Town (Eire) won 2-0
v South Belfast YFL (Northern Ireland) won 2-0
v Rangers SABC (Scotland) drew 1-1
v Dungannon United (Northern Ireland) lost 0-1
Cup Final:
v South Belfast YFL (Northern Ireland) won 2-0
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 16 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2015-2016:
- Adam Bolton Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Jack Burgess Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Billy Crellin Blackpool
- Callum Dickinson Blackpool
- Lewis Fensome Preston
- Ben Fletcher Preston
- Alwynn Flynn Blackpool
- Harry Garstang Preston
- Daniel Gray South Ribble
- Joel Mills South Ribble
- Liam Murray West Lancashire
- Jack Newton Blackpool
- Jack Randell South Ribble
- Kian Smart South Ribble
- Serhat Tasdemir Blackburn with Darwen
- Rowan Roache Blackpool
- Jay Uppal-Singh West Lancashire
- Bradley Wade Chorley
- Aiden Whitehead Blackpool
- Alex Wood Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
Under 16 Boys’ Competition Results
P W D L F A
8 5 1 2 21 6
Friendly Matches:
v Blackpool F.C. at Squires Gate F.C. drew 1-1
v Bamber Bridge F.C. at Preston’s College won 3-1
v Blackburn Rovers F.C. at Brockhall won 2-0
v Preston North End F.C. at Preston Sports’ Arena lost 1-3
v Bury F.C. at Our Lady’s H.S. drew 3-3
v Bamber Bridge F.C. at Wren Rovers won 3-2
Northern Counties’ Championship:
v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre drew 1-1
v Cheshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 3-0
v Greater Manchester at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 1-0
SF v Northumberland at the JMO, Skelmersdale lost 0-2
ESFA National Trophy:
R2 v Derbyshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 10-0
R3 v Worcestershire at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 4-0
QF v Northumberland at Walker Activity Dome, Newcastle won 2-1
SF v North Yorkshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale lost 0-2
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 18 Boys’ Representative Squad:
The following boys represented the county during season 2015-2016:
- Ben Anderson Kirkham Grammar School
- Daniel Brady Ormskirk School Sixth Form College
- Chris Clinch Myerscough College
- James Corbutt Cardinal Newman College
- Callum Darcy Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
- Josh Emmott Alder Grange Sixth Form College
- Will Fraser-Gray Lancaster Royal Grammar School
- Zack Hargreaves Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
- Kai Leyland Blackpool Sixth Form College
10. Ian Moss Preston’s College
11. Callum Preece Blackpool Sixth Form College
12. Kyle Preece Blackpool Sixth Form College
13. Adam Scott-Rattray Blackpool Sixth Form College
14. Craig Richardson Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
15. Tom Southern Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
16. Joe Stanley Ormskirk School Sixth Form College
Under 18 Boys’ Competition Results
P W D L F A
8 3 3 2 20 16
Friendly Match:
v Bolton Wanderers F.C. at Wren Rovers F.C. won 6-2
Northern Counties Championship:
v Cheshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale drew 2-2
v Greater Manchester at the JMO, Skelmersdale drew 4-4
v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre lost 0-3
(Merseyside fielded an ineligible player)
SF v Durham at Chester le Street lost 2-4
ESFA National Trophy:
R1 v West Midlands at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 2-1
R2 v Cumbria at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 7-0
QF v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre won 2-1
SF v Northumberland at Walker Activity Dome, Newcastle drew 1-1
(Northumberland won 4-1 on penalties)
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 16 Girls’ Representative Squad:
The following girls represented the county during season 2015-2016:
- Eve Clarkson Blackburn with Darwen
- Justine Elliott Chorley
- Niamh MacGabhann West Lancashire
- Annabel Mayson Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Brenna McPartlan Blackburn with Darwen
- Sadie Mitchell Pendle
- Kaya-Lilly Pottinger Blackburn with Darwen
- Olivia Powell West Lancashire
- Jessica Rawstron Pendle
- Amelia Size West Lancashire
- Hannah Speake Blackpool
- Ellie Spooner Blackpool
- Ebony Stinson Blackburn with Darwen
- Kimberley Sykes Burnley
- Maisy Sumner Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Georgia Walmsley Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Hannah Walsh South Ribble
- Olivia Wilkes South Ribble
Under 16 Girls’ Competition Results:
P W D L F A
5 4 0 1 16 8
Northern Counties Championship:
v Cheshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 4-1
v Merseyside at Liverpool Soccer Centre won 6-0
SF v Northumberland at the JMO, Skelmersdale won 2-1
Final v South Yorkshire at Padiham F.C. won 3-0
ESFA National Trophy:
Quarter-Final v Nottinghamshire at the JMO, Skelmersdale lost 1-6
Lancashire County Schools’ Football Association Under 14 Girls’ Representative Squad:
The following girls represented the county during season 2015-2016
- Isobel Atkinson South Ribble
- Chloe Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Emma Bradley Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Chloe Broughton Rossendale
- Annabel Colin Lancaster and Morecambe
- Amy Edmondson Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Abigail Fenton Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Emma Fulton Chorley
- Jessica Greenwood Rossendale
- Aimee Hodgson Lancaster and Morecambe
- Sheneil Lymer Blackpool
- Cara Milne-Redhead Hyndburn and Ribble Valley
- Kadie Morrison Blackpool
- Milly Robertson South Ribble
- Millie Schofield Burnley
- Sophie Slater Blackpool
- Eve Sutcliffe South Ribble
- Lauren Tunstall Preston
- KaitlinWoodhead Chorley
Under 14 Girls’ Competition Results:
P W D L F A
9 9 0 0 24 3
Friendly Matches:
v Staffordshire at Stafford Town F.C. won 2-1
v Cleveland at Cleveland drew 1-1
Northern Counties’ F.A. Festival :
v South Yorkshire won 1-0
v Durham won 1-0
v Merseyside won 1-0
v Cheshire won 1-0
v Cumbria won 3-1
SFA National Trophy:
R2 v Shropshire at the JMO Skelmersdale won 3-2
QF v Durham at Longfield Academy won 1-0
SF v Hertfordshire at Ashlyn School won 5-0
Final v Essex at Birmingham City F.C. won 3-2 (AET)
Report on Season 2015-2016
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association continues to be one of the most successful counties for schools’ football in England.
Once again, the facts speak for themselves:
Under 14 Girls: ESFA National Champions (for the FOURTH successive year) and ‘winners’ of the NCSFA Under 14 Festival of Football.
Under 16 Girls: ESFA Quarter-Finalists and NCSFA Champions (for the FIFTH successive year).
Under 14 Boys: ESFA Quarter-Finalists.
Under 15 Boys: Blackpool Cup Winners
Under 16 Boys: ESFA Semi-Finalists and NCSFA Semi-Finalists.
Under 18 Boys: ESFA Semi-Finalists and NCSFA Semi-Finalists
The combined results in competitive matches of our six county teams reveal the following statistics:
Played: 39
Won: 27
Drawn: 5
Lost: 7
Goals For: 111
Goals Against: 43
Congratulations to all the County Players who represented Lancashire Schools’ Football Association during the season and congratulations also to the members of all our Management Teams without whom the above results would not be possible. We continue to be fortunate to have Management Teams of the highest calibre in Lancashire and the success of county football is due to the expertise, knowledge and guidance of the Management Teams combined with the ability of the players selected.
The members of our Management Teams are as follows:
Under 14 Boys: Neil Black, Andy Buckingham, Andy Kelly
Under 15 Boys: Neil Black, Andy Buckingham, Andy Kelly
Under 16 Boys: Andy Clitheroe, Stuart Booth, Roger Haythornthwaite
Under 18 Boys: Paul Bradley, Andy Buckingham, Alistair Mollon
Under 14 Girls: Mike Nadal, Mike Whitworth, Ellie Hilton, Sam Yates
Under 16 Girls: Mike Nadal, Keira Davis, Sam Yates
Lancashire Schools’ F.A. County Team: a few interesting facts!
- 1. Lancashire Under 14 Girls won the English Schools’ Football Association Inter-County Trophy for the fourth successive year having reached the final during the past five years.
- 2. Lancashire Under 14 Girls have defeated Kent (twice) and Essex (twice) in the past four ESFA Finals having lost their first final to Essex.
- 3. Lancashire Under 14 Girls remained unbeaten for the second successive year at the Northern Counties’ Inter-County Festival organised by South Yorkshire SFA with victories over South Yorkshire, Durham, Merseyside, Cumbria and Cheshire.
- 4. Lancashire Under 14 Girls won all their games during season 2015-2016.
- 5. Lancashire Under 14 Girls conceded only three goals in nine games during season 2015-2016.
- 6. Lancashire Under 16 Girls won the Northern Counties’ Inter-County Championship for the fifth successive year, having reached the final during the past six years and losing their first final to Durham.
- 7. Lancashire Under 16 Girls have now defeated five different counties in the past four Northern Counties’ Finals: Durham, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and South Yorkshire.
- 8. Since Mike Nadal and his management teams started the Lancashire Girls’ Teams five years ago, they have competed in 14 finals and have won 10 trophies!
- 9. Lancashire Under 16 Boys went out of the ESFA Trophy at the semi-final stage having only conceded three goals after being eliminated at the quarter-final stage last year without conceding a goal during normal playing time.
10. Lancashire Under 18 Boys went out of the ESFA Trophy at the semi-final stage having only conceded three goals during normal playing time.
11. Lancashire Under 15 Boys won the Blackpool Cup for the first time.
12. All five Lancashire County Teams reached at least the ESFA Quarter-Finals.
13. Three Lancashire County Teams reached at least ESFA Semi-Finals.
14. All three Lancashire County Teams reached at least the NCSFA Semi-Finals.
15. Until the last week-end in February, which proved to be a disastrous week-end for our teams, all the Lancashire County Teams were going strong in every competition.
Lancashire Under 14 Schoolgirls.
Lancashire Under 14 Girls won the English Schools’ Football Association Inter-County Trophy for the FOURTH successive year having reached the final for the FIFTH successive year – a remarkable achievement!
Following thorough selection trials, training and a tough friendly match away to Staffordshire, which Lancashire managed to win 2-1, the Management Team of Mike Nadal and Mike Whitworth were able to select the squad of girls destined to become the best squad in the country.
After a narrow and hard-fought victory against Shropshire on the 3G pitch at the JMO Sports’ Park in Skelmersdale, the Lancashire girls faced a tough-looking trip to Durham in the quarter-final
Thorough preparation for the ESFA Final included taking part in the second Northern Counties Schools’ Football Association’s Under 14 Girls’ Festival organised by South Yorkshire Schools’ F.A. The Lancashire Girls showed their quality and commitment at the festival by winning all their games against South Yorkshire, Durham, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria to win the festival.
In the English Schools’ F.A. Final at St.Andrews, the home of Birmingham City F.C., the Lancashire Girls became the National Champions by beating Essex 3-2 after extra time. Essex were in fact the last team to beat Lancashire in the 2012 National Final and having taken a 2-0 lead in the first half with two well-taken goals by Maddie Briggs, it looked as though they would repeat that feat. However, a Sophie Slater goal just before half-time gave Lancashire hope for the second half and a last minute penalty for Lancashire, coolly dispatched by Cara Milne-Redhead, took the game into extra time. With the Lancashire girls showing great determination not to relinquish the title they had held for the past three years, a great move down the left brought the winning goal from Aimee Hodgson just before the final whistle to send Lancashire in to dreamland.
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the girls for representing the county during the past season and we look forward to watching them display their skills either at Under 14 or Under 16 level next season.
Lancashire Under 16 Schoolgirls.
Lancashire Under 16 Girls also achieved great success this season by winning the Northern Counties Schools’ Trophy for the FIFTH successive year having been in the final for the last SIX years.
Following the trials, the Management Team of Mike Nadal and Keira Davis were able to select a strong squad of girls with some girls having played for the county during the previous season at either Under 16 or Under 14 level.
With Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire not having representative teams, Lancashire completed relatively easy victories over Cheshire and Merseyside to win the North-West Group and earn a home semi-final against Northumberland. The Northumberland girls provided with much greater opposition than Chehsire and Merseyside and the Lancashire girls had to battle hard to eventually reach the Northern Counties’ Final and the Quarter-Finals of the English Trophy.
Having qualified for the ESFA Trophy by beating Northumberland in the NCSFA semi-final, the Lancashire girls were rewarded with yet another quarter-final tie at home to Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately for Lancashire everything was against them on a horrendous night at the JMO Sports’ Park in Skelmersdale. Without several key players because of injury Lancashire had to play the game without any substitutes at all and then had to face terrible conditions of driving wind and rain which saw Nottinghamshire hold a comfortable lead at half-time when the conditions eased. Lancashire fought hard in the second half but were unable to claw back the advantage awarded to Nottinghamshire by the conditions in the first half and Nottinghamshire ran out easy winners.
With the squad just about back to full strength the following week, Lancashire easily beat South Yorkshire at Padiham F.C. to retain the Northern Counties’ Championship for the fifth successive year.
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the girls for entertaining us throughout the season with their superb footballing skills. We look forward to watching some of the girls play for Lancashire next season and wish the girls who are leaving school every success in their future lives and careers. We hope that they continue to play football at the highest possible level.
Lancashire Under 14 Schoolboys.
Lancashire Schools’ F.A. fielded an Under 14 Boys’ County Team for the second time. Following the coaching course the Management Team of Neil Black, Andy Buckingham and Andy Kelly were able to select a strong squad with plenty of promise for the forthcoming season although the squad probably lacked the quality of the previous season.
Having received a bye in the first round of the ESFA Trophy, the season for the Under 14 boys started quite late with unconvincing friendly results against the West Midlands and Fleetwood Town although there were some signs of optimism in both matches.
In their second round of the ESFA Lancashire were drawn at home to Shropshire and in one of the few county home games played on grass (at Wren Rovers F.C.) the boys turned in a magnificent performance to totally outplay their opponents and come away with a convincing win.
In round three Lancashire were drawn at home to a very strong Merseyside team which had demolished Cleveland 7-0 in the previous round in a game at Liverpool Soccer Centre watched by the Lancashire Management Team and Secretary. Merseyside were not keen on playing the game on a Saturday as their best boys would not be released by their clubs. Lancashire generously offered Merseyside a Friday night fixture and, with the Merseyside team at full strength, Merseyside ran out easy winners.
It is interesting to note that Merseyside lost to Bedfordshire in the next round when the game was played on a Saturday. It is perhaps time that Lancashire Schools’ F.A. begin to insist on dates of games
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the boys for representing the county during the past season and we look forward to meeting them again during the next two seasons.
Lancashire Under 15 Schoolboys.
The boys from the Under 14 Boys’ County Squad from 2014-2015 were invited to take part in the Blackpool Cup as Lancashire Under 15 Boys’ County Team. Although some boys were injured and others unavailable, the boys who took part in the tournament were excellent, often in poor conditions, and won the cup with several extremely creditable performances.
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the boys for representing the county in the Blackpool Cup and we look forward to seeing them again during season 2016-2017.
Lancashire Under 16 Schoolboys.
Following the early July coaching course and trial matches against Bamber Bridge F.C., Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackpool F.C., Bury F.C., and Preston North End F.C. the Management Team of Andy Clitheroe, Stuart Booth and Roger Haythornthwaite were able to select a strong squad for the coming season.
In the Northern Counties’ Competition, following a deserved draw away to a strong Merseyside team, the Lancashire boys beat both Cheshire and Greater Manchester at home without conceding a goal to top the league and face Northumberland at home in the semi-final. Despite being the better side on the day the Lancashire boys left their scoring boots at home and Northumberland ran out 2-0 winners to gain revenge for their earlier defeat by Lancashire in the quarter-final of the ESFA Trophy.
In the ESFA Trophy Lancashire successfully negotiated the early rounds with comfortable victories over Derbyshire and Worcestershire to set up a difficult quarter-final tie away to Northumberland. On a windy day in Newcastle the Lancashire boys, having fallen behind to an early Northumberland goal and having missed a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, then showed great character and determination to score two late goals and proceed to the semi-final of the competition. In the home semi-final to North Yorkshire, Lancashire were the better footballing side and were unlucky to lose the game in which Lancashire could have been awarded four penalties but had to bow to the superior judgement of the match official who decided that none of the incidents he observed were worthy of the award of a penalty to Lancashire. The Lancashire boys accepted defeat graciously despite knowing that an excellent chance of winning the competition had been snatched from their grasp.
In his first season as the Lancashire Under 16 Boys’ Team Manager, Andy Clitheroe saw his team reach the quarter-final of the ESFA Trophy, in the past season the boys reached the semi-final so it is hoped that the pattern continues and Lancashire reach the final in season 2016-2017.
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the boys for representing the county during the past season and wish them every success as they embark on the next stage of their careers.
Ben Lavelle:
The former Lancashire Schools’ Under 16 Boys’ Manager Ben Lavelle has just completed two years as the Assistant Manager of the England Schools’ Under 18 Boys’ Team. Ben now steps up to become the England Team Manager for the next two years.
Lancashire Schools’ F.A. would like to congratulate Ben on becoming the England Team Manager and wish him every success for the next two seasons.
Lancashire Under 18 Schoolboys.
Following the trial and a friendly match against Bolton Wanderers F.C. the Management Team of Paul Bradley, Andy Buckingham and Alastair Mollon were able to select a squad which looked stronger and more competitive than in previous years.
In the Northern Counties’ Competition Lancashire drew both games with Cheshire and Greater Manchester despite having good chances to win both games. In the final game of the group Merseyside fielded an ineligible player which helped them to beat Lancashire but Merseyside were then eliminated from the competition allowing Lancashire to go through to the semi-final where they a competitive game away to Durham, the eventual winners of the competition.
In the ESFA Trophy the Lancashire boys had excellent victories over West Midlands and Cumbria at home and Merseyside away despite Merseyside again fielding an over-aged player. Lancashire were then extremely unlucky to lose to Northumberland on penalties after drawing 1-1 after extra time and having the better of the game and chances overall.
Lancashire Schools’ Football Association would like to thank the boys who played for the team during the season. Some of the boys will be available to play again next season and we wish the boys who are leaving their school or college every success in their future lives and careers.
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