College boys' football team win league title

The College’s boys’ first XI football team are celebrating an outstanding season after winning the league title.

The team also made the Wirral Cup Final at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park stadium where they narrowly missed out on making it a league and cup double for the year.

Goalkeeper Lewis Harrison was praised for being the team’s most consistent performer over the season, while Reiss Smith finished as top scorer for the College with 15 goals.

It was Alfie McNicholas who scored a dramatic late equaliser against the Jamie Carragher Academy to clinch the league title, while Connor Courtnell, who plays high level semi-professional football, powered in a header in the Wirral Cup Final.

Connor Courtnell scores from a corner at Prenton Park

First team coach and Sport & PE teacher, Adam Thomas, said: “We had some very talented individuals this year but, more importantly, a great team spirit that played a huge part in being successful.

“We really punched above our weight, beating teams that have the opportunity to train several times a week more than we do as we balance sport with academic studies. We also beat them playing some really exciting and attacking football.

“David McDermott captained the team with really strong leadership throughout the season, and he also won the Northern Counties title with Cheshire U18s.”

The first team squad await their cup final in the stands

Adam concluded: “I think the most pleasing aspect is the squad and being able to give 29 players the opportunity to play first team football this year, and over 60 students have played football for the boys’ and girls’ teams in total.”

First team captain, David McDermott, said: “It’s been a superb season and all the lads put in a real shift. I’m really proud of what we achieved as a unit. I think the highlight was beating our local rivals Wirral Met 7-2. That was a great result.

“Missing out in the cup final was disappointing but winning the league is a great achievement and something we can all be happy with.”

The boys’ second team were also runners up in their play-off final, with a large number of first years who will be hoping to force their way into the first team next year, including top scorer Adam Probbing, Joe Phelan and Jack Robinson who all made the Wirral Cup Final squad this year.

The girls' team

For more on studying Sport & PE at the College, click here