St Thomas More High School

Year 11 Football Cup Winners 2017

Year 11 South East Essex Cup Final – STM v Westcliff- Match Won 3-2- CHAMPIONS!!

The year 11 Football Team… where do I start?….well, in the 13 years of managing school football teams I have never managed a team that have worked harder for each other and once again this cup final was no different!  Although this was their 4th game in the space of 7 days everyone battled so hard, fighting for every ball whilst producing some moments of magic whish sliced Westcliff’s defence apart. A lovely piece of skill down the wing followed by a tidy finish by Joe V saw us go up 1-0. A second quickly followed after a clinical finish from Jack Macal- 2-0. However, the matches in quick succession had taken its toll and with 8 injuries to the squad of 15 (many playing through the pain!) we switched off and let Westcliff back in- 2-1.

 

We of course fought back and Harrison Phillips (last year’s triple winning captain) showed a moment of acrobatics that the circus would have been proud of to finish another well worked goal. 3-1. Half time- after sticking ourselves back together for the last half & with our last team talk done (ears no doubt still ringing) we conceded an unlucky goal from what liked a nasty defection. 3-2. With the wind against them the sun in Owen Wells eyes and a lot of tired bodies out there I was worried…..but I shouldn’t have been. The team fought on as they have done for the past 5 years with all they had leaving everything on the pitch and to be fair should have added another 3 goals if it hadn’t been for some great goalkeeping &the wood work. Final whistle-3-2. Fantastic. The right result and exactly what the team deserved- not only for their efforts on that day but for the 5 years of loyal service to STM. I would like to thank Mr Reza for his support this year and not least the parents who have been there week in week out, all over the country and in all weathers, without you none of this would be possible. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the boys, not only this year but to all the year 11’s who have been involved over their 5 years (last count 40 students have represented STM and this team). They have been very successful but more importantly they have always represented themselves with honesty and integrity- they should be very proud for what they have achieved together as a team. A true credit to themselves, the school and not least their families. Thank you for an amazing 5 years- Mr Hardiman