The past two months have been exceptionally busy and hugely successful for our college football teams. With over 40 fixtures completed across boys’ and girls’ squads, an international tour to Portugal, and a national tournament at St George’s Park, it has been a period full of progress and memorable experiences.

Across all year groups from U12 to U18, pupils have consistently demonstrated commitment, resilience and teamwork. Their dedication has been central to the continued growth and success of our football programme. Throughout October and November, our teams competed in local leagues, regional and national cup competitions, as well as tournaments, gaining invaluable experiences along the way.

Our boys’ teams have enjoyed a particularly strong cup run, with both the U13 and U15 squads progressing to Round 3 of the ESFA competition. The U15 team have also reached the quarter-final of the ISFA National Trophy after a series of impressive performances.

The U13 girls have matched this success by securing a place in Round 3 of the ESFA as well. They were unfortunate to exit the ISFA competition in a narrow and well-fought match against Repton School, but the team demonstrated excellent determination and teamwork throughout the fixture.

One of the major highlights of the term was the U13–U15 football tour to Lisbon, Portugal, where pupils had the opportunity to train at the world-renowned Benfica Academy and play against Portuguese opposition. More recently, our U13 boys enjoyed an unforgettable two-day tournament at St George’s Park, representing the College extremely well.

Portugal Football Tour

During October half-term, 39 U13–U15 pupils travelled to Lisbon for a four-day football tour packed with learning, competition, and team bonding. The players took part in four high-intensity training sessions at Benfica’s world-class training campus, an elite environment known for producing top European talent.

These sessions exposed the boys to new coaching methods and tactical approaches, broadening their understanding of the game and challenging them physically and mentally.
The tour also featured six competitive fixtures against a variety of local Portuguese teams. Each match provided a different challenge, testing the boys’ resilience and teamwork. Their performances were excellent throughout, resulting in four wins and two draws across the age groups.

Off the pitch, pupils enjoyed time relaxing in the hotel pool, visiting the nearby beaches, and exploring Lisbon’s shopping centre. These moments of downtime helped strengthen friendships and create memorable experiences that extended far beyond football.

Overall, the tour proved extremely beneficial for both footballing and personal development. Pupils returned with greater confidence and stronger team spirit.

St George’s Park Tournament

On the weekend of 22nd–23rd November, our U13 boys team visited St George’s Park, the home of England’s national teams, for a two-day tournament that they will remember for years to come.

The team began strongly on Saturday, winning all four of their group-stage matches through a combination of disciplined defending, creative attacking play and excellent teamwork. In addition to their on-pitch success, the boys were able to enjoy some of the outstanding facilities on offer at the venue, including the hydrotherapy pool, futsal arena and games room.

Sunday’s knockout stages brought even tougher competition, but the boys rose to the challenge superbly. A commanding 4–0 quarter-final win was followed by a determined 3–1 victory in the semi-final. Carrying their momentum into the final, the team delivered another impressive performance, securing the title with a comprehensive 4–0 win.

The weekend was a fantastic experience from start to finish, one that not only showcased the talent and teamwork within the group but also provided memories and friendships that won’t be forgotten.