Marlborough Youth Football Club – Under 13 and Under 15 Girls teams – A season to remember

Three teams: two League Title wins and one runner-up; two Cup wins and one semi-finalist

U13 Rebels Black secure Wiltshire Girls League Championship

What a season for the MYFC Girls U13 Marlborough Rebels squad…! With 30 players MYFC decided to split the squad into two equally balanced teams: Black and Orange. Little did they know just how well balanced the teams would be. And also, just how good the teams would be.  They respectively finished as winners and runner-up in the Wiltshire League, which included teams from numerous regions up to, and including, Bath and Bristol.  Team Black just pipped Orange to the title by barely two points, and both teams amazingly only lost one league game all season.  More than this, Team Black knocked out Orange in the FA Cup Semi-Final on penalties, a dramatic and tense match, before going on to lift the trophy beating Derry Hill in the final 5-0…

Including Team Orange’s victory over Bath City 5-2 in the League Cup final (see below), the Rebels—teams Black and Orange combined—have completed a fantastic treble. Team Orange Manager, Austin Lillywhite stated after the match, “Many of the girls have been playing together for the last 4 seasons, but we have some in their first season whose development has been incredible, as they strove to catch up with their peers. It has been an amazing season to win the treble and I just want to thank the girls, their parents and the other coaches, particularly Adam O’Keefe the Manager of Team Black for their outstanding support and commitment throughout the season”.

U13 Rebels Orange secure Wiltshire Girls League Cup

So, to Team Orange and their victorious League Cup Final. The big day was 22^nd May, on a hot day in Calne, against a strong Bath City.  Having beaten them twice in the league, Orange were quietly confident but still of course apprehensive… Taking an early lead through top scorer Izumi Kirwan, they were quickly pegged back by Bath, but the girls adapted well, consolidating, composing, and gradually taking control. A determined performance saw a 3-1 lead into half time before Bath scored again from another corner. Once more, the girls stood tall and finished the game off with two further goals, including a scorcher from Annie Fry towards the end of the match to put the contest to bed. Job done….

U15 Foxes secure Wiltshire Girls League Championship

Huge congratulations also to MYFC U15 Foxes by completing the double, winning both the League AND the County Cup! This achievement is fully deserved and has been a long time coming. Last season the girls narrowly missed out on the County Cup in a nail-biting match, and also lost out on the League Title through deciding penalties after finishing joint at the top. This year the whole squad knew they had the ability, and also the extra impetus; therefore, worked hard as individuals and worked even harder as a team right from the start. Foxes Manager, Becky Knox, highlights that “The County Cup win was an amazing achievement and a game the girls are unlikely to forget, but the ability to play so consistently throughout the season is the highlight. Every player in every position played their part and all the coaches and parents are rightfully so proud of what they have achieved. It has been a development journey over the years and exactly what they all worked hard for. Well done, Foxes!”

MYFC Chairman Stu Slater sums up the achievement overall: “This just goes to show what MYFC aims to achieve and is capable of: a community club, which endorses hard work, team spirit, the desire to improve, develop and help each other progress. Thank you to our Angels U13 and U15 coaches, players and parents alike—it is impossible not to share these achievements, and also the wider outcomes: quality grassroots coaching and ethos, football played in the correct spirit, the rewards of endeavour, and the confidence and identity this brings. Many congratulations indeed!”