Our Lady of the Assumption win the Under 11 Premier League Primary Stars girls’ tournament!

On Monday 20th January Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT) held our annual Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS) Under 11’s Girls Tournament at Stanley Park.

The tournament, part of our PLPS provision that supports P.E. in primary schools across Blackpool, is a key event to help us support and engage football for girls across the town. It is designed to create a positive approach to increase female participation and enjoyment of football in a skilled and competitive environment.

The event held by Blackpool FC Community Trust, was played out by 14 teams from 13 schools across the Fylde coast, competing in 33 small-sided games across the morning. There were some brilliant individual and team performances on the day, and the final was closely contested by pupils from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School (OLA) and St John Vianney RC Primary School (SJV). The final was an epic encounter with OLA going 2-0 up only for SJV to pull it back level and take the lead with an amazing hat-trick from Nevaeh Palmer. Darcy Bennet then equalised with a thunderbolt into the top corner to make it 3-3 in the dying minutes and take it to penalties. After a tense shootout, OLA held their nerve to win and go through to represent themselves, and Blackpool FC in the regional finals in Blackburn in February. Well done to both teams for contributing to a brilliant final and advertisement for local girls’ football, and to OLA for winning the competition.

The Under 11’s National Girls Football Tournament is one of the competition elements of the PLPS programme. Launched in 2017 and available to every primary school in England and Wales, Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of football to help children to be active and develop essential life skills.

Ten regional events will be staged at community facilities across the country, with hundreds of young people representing Premier League, English Football League and National League clubs hoping to win the opportunity to play at Elland Road, home of Leeds United FC, in the playing kit of their respective professional football club.

 

Primary PE Manager Simon Smith from BFCCT said,

“We weren’t blessed with good weather today, and to see the girls and their teams compete, work hard, and enjoy the morning was a testament to themselves. It was arguably the best final we have held with great counters, goals, with some really high levels of technical ability on show. Well done to Our Lady, I wish them all the best at the regional final, they have a great chance of success!”

Jamie Nay, a teacher from Westcliffe Primary School said,

“This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for girls who don’t usually play football to play as part of a team, represent their school and show great resilience.”

Hear what some pupils from Layton Primary School and Saint John Vianney said about the tournament,

“It’s enjoyable because we get to play lots of games against different teams and it’s competitive.”

“The tournament gives us a chance to play the sport we love and encourages more girls to play.”