Mr Sam Griffin – PE Teacher & Head of Football
The second half of the spring term marks our entry into the final stretch of the football season at the College. This period is traditionally the “business end” of our cup and league competitions, where the stakes are at their highest, all while we continue to compete in prestigious Saturday friendly fixtures against fellow independent schools. It has been an incredibly busy season so far, with a total of 135 football fixtures taking place across all age groups.
U12 Boys
The U12 squad faced a “must-win” scenario in their final league fixture against Chorlton High. The equation was simple: a victory would see them top the league and secure a place in the Quarter-Final knockout stages. After an even first half, the boys found themselves trailing 1-0 at the interval. However, the group demonstrated outstanding resilience and discipline in the second half. Battling for every ball, they managed to turn the game around to finish as 2-1 winners. Having successfully topped their league, they now look forward to their Quarter-Final tie next month. Additionally, they have secured a couple of excellent wins against Cheadle Hulme School B and Merchant Taylors’ in our Saturday friendly fixtures.
U13 Boys
Following the completion of their league campaign last half-term, this period has been slightly quieter in terms of competitive fixtures, the boys, however, have continued to consistently attend training sessions to further their development. They have maintained their momentum through Saturday friendly fixtures, recording several excellent results. Notable highlights include a hard-fought draw against Bolton School and a convincing, comfortable victory against Merchant Taylors’ School.
U14 Boys
The U14s have had a busy schedule this month. They concluded their Manchester League campaign with a series of strong performances, including a dominant win over The East Manchester Academy. Their final game was a highly anticipated rematch against Didsbury High, the side that had knocked them out of the cup convincingly earlier this season. In a match played in fantastic spirits, the boys showed great motivation to avenge their previous defeat. After a thrilling, end-to-end encounter, St Bede’s emerged as 4-3 winners. This result ensured they finished their League 1 campaign unbeaten, securing a very impressive second-place finish overall, missing out on the title by a point.
U15 Boys
The U15 squad has faced an extraordinary run of fixtures, competing in two national cup competitions.
ISFA National Semi-Final:
The team travelled to London to face Highgate School. On a surface made difficult by poor pitch conditions, the boys worked tirelessly and were the better side for large periods of the game. Unfortunately, they came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form. Despite waves of pressure and some excellent chances, the ball would not go in the net and the boys ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat.
ESFA National Semi-Final:
Motivated to bounce back from their ISFA disappointment, the team travelled to Ludlow Town FC with a spot in the ESFA National Final, hosted at Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium on the line.
We started brightly, controlling the opening 20 minutes before a lapse in possession allowed Ludlow’s centre-forward to slot home for 1-0. Just before the break, Matthew struck a speculative effort from 25 yards that sailed over the keeper to level the scores at 1-1 going into halftime
The second half was a physical, “scrappy” affair, with neither team taking total control. Enzo looked to have won it with a stunning free-kick into the top corner, and for the next 15 minutes, we were in control, although we couldn’t quite put the game to bed. A late set-piece allowed Ludlow to flick a header home, sending the game into extra time at 2-2.
In the first period of extra time, Caidan produced a moment of individual brilliance, driving from the halfway line to rifle a 20-yard shot into the top corner, sparking scenes of jubilation. The final minutes of the 2nd half of extra time were pure chaos. Ludlow hit the inside of the post, with half their team already celebrating what they thought was a goal, before a goal line scramble resulted in a penalty for the hosts. With the final on the line, the Ludlow player stepped up and fired the ball over the crossbar.
The final whistle triggered scenes of pandemonium as the U15s secured their place in the ESFA National Final. This is an incredible achievement for an outstanding group of players who have worked incredibly hard, not just this season, but over a number of years to reach this stage.
U14 Girls
Following an excellent 3-2 win last half-term over Withington, the U14 girls looked forward to their Manchester Cup Semi-Final tie against St Paul’s. The first half was an even match, although we struggled to test their keeper, St Paul’s scored just before the break to take a 1-0 lead. The girls started the second half excellently, demonstrating outstanding teamwork and a work rate that saw them take a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, in the later stages, we struggled to cope with sustained pressure and St Paul’s scored a quick flurry of goals to secure the win. Reaching the semi-finals of the Manchester Cup is a great achievement in itself, especially as all but two players in the squad are U13.
