Playground 2 Podium 2012 - John Spence Community High School

Page 14 John Spence
TEAM OF THE
YEAR
This year John Spence have been fortunate
enough to have an extremely able, skilful and
committed group of Year 7 boys who have
gelled together to make a formidable football
team. It all started back in July of 2011 when a
number of boys began training together whilst
they were in Year 6. Soon, once they had
entered Year 7, the boys began to show their
abilities both in lunchtimes and after school
practices.
Once a squad had been put together, it was time to start the search for silverware, with four trophies up for grabs
within their first season. The league started off first, with some impressive and dominating displays against local
middle schools and our close rivals Norham and Marden. Many players showed their capabilities of playing in
different roles as well as being sensible, allowing other players to show their talent as well. This was turning into a
friendly squad with very little going wrong and a squad of players who could work hard for each other in order to get
the best possible results. Players came and went, but a hardcore fifteen remained a key focus of the team’s future.
Early December brought the first round of the ESFA National 5 a Side finals, a local affair against other North
Tyneside Schools. The lads were awesome and went through the whole tournament unbeaten, beating Marden 6-2
in the final! After this event, we had to go back to school to play St Thomas More in a regular league fixture. It was a
cold, dark December night on the Astro, and one we needed to forget in a hurry, losing 5-2 in a very lacklustre and
tiring display.
The Christmas break came and went and more league and cup games passed us by, winning handsomely on most
occasions. The Northumberland round of the ESFA 5 a Side were played early January, again local at North Shields
but included teams from the whole of Northumberland. This time we drew a game, but held our nerve within the
knock out stages to again win the competition.
The league had come to an end by this stage and we had won our side of the group outright, with only one defeat
from all seven games. We could now be focussed on the North Tyneside Cup and the County Cup. We breezed
easily through early rounds in both competitions and then had the semi finals to play, one against Marden in the
Tyneside Cup and St Thomas More in the County Cup.
Before we had chance to play these games though, the Northern Round of the ESFA 5 a sides needed to be played,
again at our home ground of DW Stadium, North Shields. After a few nervous touches, the lads settled fast and with
the expectations high, they did not fail. The boys annihilated all teams from Manchester, Cumbria and even Sheffield,
winning the round robin style completion in fine form and advancing through to the National Finals, something no
John Spence Team had ever done before!
With two semi finals ahead in major competitions, the boys had the chance to perform on the National stage, down at
Pride Park Derby. Here they came up against schools from all over England and even though the standard did not
really differ from local rounds, the journey, excitement and occasion seemed to affect the lads. A draw in our first
game against a tough Bradford school seemed a loss after
conceding late on. Our next opponents had just been beaten
heavily and with a victory here, it would cement our place in the
next round, but after having 15+ shots to their 2, it was their 2 that
took the game from us! Anything short of a miracle was needed in
the third game and we had to put 3 against the opposition as well
as relying on other results. A task too much and with a very attack
minded formation, we just could not put the ball into the net and
ended our hunt for National glory in disappointing fashion! A
fabulous day out and an experience the lads will not forget.
Back home we geared ourselves up for the North Tyneside semi
final against Marden, a team we had previously beaten 7-1 at the
start of the season. This was to be a different story, a semi final
story, and a game that tested us all the way. We looked shabby in
defence, and not very clinical in attack, both contributing to poor
passages of play.