Some of our talented girl football players recently competed in a regional competition to earn the chance to represent Newcastle United at the national Premier League Schools tournament. The tournament this year is to be held at the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City.
The team consisted of Year 8 pupils; Shelly Brogden, Jessica McVay, Orla McCallion and Georgia Keethlo, who all played at last year’s competition held at Anfield, were joined by Year 7 pupils; Mia Wallace, Lucy McIntosh, Holly Chatterton and Beth Waterston in the team for this regional tournament.
The girls progressed through the group stages undefeated and faced a local derby in the semi-final against Marden High School. The game was a tight affair and ended 0-0 so had to be decided by a penalty knockout. Lucy McIntosh and Jessica McVay scored both their penalties for John Spence and Orla McCallion made a fantastic save to leave it to Shelly Brogden to score her penalty and send the girls through to the final. Shelly obliged with a thunderbolt of a penalty high into the top corner.
The win meant that the girls were to face Whickham School in the regional final held at Newcastle United’s training ground 3 weeks later in a game that would send one team through to the prestigious tournament to represent Newcastle United.
The final was a very close game with both teams missing chances and Orla McCallion shining in the John Spence goal. Lucy McIntosh and Jessica McVay both had chances to score but unfortunately failed in their attempts. So once again the game was to be decided by a penalty shootout. Beth Waterston and Jessica McVay both scored their penalties, however it was left to Orla McCallion to make an excellent save and Shelly Brogden to take the deciding final penalty. Shelly was very nervous but slotted her penalty into the bottom
corner to send the girls through to the national finals.
This will be the second consecutive year John Spence have represented Newcastle United at the Premier League Schools tournament and the girls have achieved so much to get the opportunity to compete on another Premier League football pitch at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.