Hayesfield Girls’ School represented Bristol Rovers at the Utilita Girls Cup Area Final, beating Plymouth Argyle in the final of the event, meaning they are one step away from playing at Wembley Stadium
Hayesfield Girls’ School represented Bristol Rovers at the recent Utilita Girls Cup Area Final, defeating Plymouth Argyle, represented by Plymstock School, in the final on penalties.(Image: Cardiff City FC Community Foundation)
A girls’ school representing Bristol Rovers have won the Utilita Girls Cup Area Final – competing against the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, and Cardiff City. The victory means that they are now one step away from playing the Utilita Girls Cup final at Wembley Stadium in April.
Hayesfield Girls’ School represented Bristol Rovers at the recent Utilita Girls Cup Area Final, which took place at the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation on Friday, January 16. They defeated Plymouth Argyle, represented by Plymstock School, in the final on penalties.
The national competition, organised by the EFL, pairs Under-13 school teams with local EFL clubs.
The Area Finals at Cardiff was one of a number of events that took place across the country, with the winners from each entering Northern or Southern Regional Finals – the final step before the final at Wembley Stadium on April 12, which takes place before the Vertu Trophy final.
OPINION
Rovers and Plymouth overcame rival schools representing Bristol City, Cardiff City, Exeter City, Newport County, Southampton, and Swansea City to reach the final.
The Gas then held their nerve in a penalty shootout to be crowned the tournament champions, conceding just once throughout the competition.
Bristol Rovers overcame rival schools representing Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Cardiff City, Exeter City, Newport County, Southampton, and Swansea City to win the Area Final.(Image: Cardiff City FC Community Foundation)
Ross Branson, Secondary Education Coordinator at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, said: “The EFL Utilita Girls Cup is always a highlight in our calendar – it’s a chance for girls from our secondary school network to get out there, meet new people, and be part of something bigger than just football.
“We’re incredibly proud to host this year’s tournament and to provide a platform for girls who are passionate about the game to shine, giving them the unforgettable opportunity to play at Wembley.”
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Rovers now progress to the Regional Finals, which will take place in March, knowing that if they win that event, they’ll qualify for the final at Wembley in a few months.
To qualify for the Area Finals, Hayfield Girls’ School competed against seven other schools in their region and finished top, earning the right to represent Rovers.
What is the
The Utilita Kids & Girls Cup are two of the country’s biggest national football competitions for schools and children.
Both tournaments for junior footballers offers schoolchildren the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium, with the competition culminating in exciting finals at Wembley in front of thousands of people before major EFL finals, as schoolchildren live out their dream.
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The annual football competition sees more than 20,000 boys and girls each year take to the pitch to represent the 72 EFL Clubs across England and Wales, bolstering the existing ties between Clubs and their local communities.
The competition inspires children to be active, healthy, and develop a strong sense of teamwork, and helped discover stars such as Ellie Roebuck, Adam Wharton, Jamal Musiala, and Scott McTominay.
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