BRISTOL Free School’s Under 14 Girls Football Team are through to the final eight teams in the English Schools FA National Cup.
The team won the Bristol Schools competition and were crowned overall County Champions at the end of the last academic year. This year, they have taken on a bigger challenge by entering the National Cup. They started the knockout campaign in style, beating Five Acres School in Gloucester 17-0! The team continued their run with the following results 7-1, 12-0, 4-2, 4-1 and in the most recent round of 16 against Kings of Wessex Academy, they won 12-1.
Bristol Free School are the last remaining school in the Southwest, scoring a total 56 goals in six games and only conceding five goals in the entire competition, A special mention to Emily G who has scored an incredible 22 goals.
Laura Ballard, head of PE at Bristol Free School, said: “I am so proud of the squad and what they have achieved. Not only have their conducted themselves with a great skill level throughout the competition but the team cohesion and respect for opponents and officials has been admirable and I hope we can go all the way.”
Susan King, headteacher of Bristol Free School, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the success of our U14 girls football team. When the England women’s team won the European Cup last summer there was so much discussion about the impact this would have on girls football. BFS girls were already leading the way in this regard with their amazing team spirit, skill and determination. We are all so proud of them and their great winning spirit. The BFS community will be cheering them every step of the way. A big thank you to St Monica’s who have kindly sponsored the new football kit. Credit and thanks must also go to Mrs Ballard who has been their coach since Y7 and is one of their greatest fans.”
Bristol Free School face Dame Alice Owen School from Watford in the quarter final stage of the cup on Wednesday March 1.