On Saturday 22nd March, we had the pleasure of taking our Y7 football team to compete in our first cup final in 29 years! The boys were upbeat yet nervous prior to kick off, but their rendition of Eye Of The Tiger through the speakers on the way to the match boosted morale.
Before the boys went out to warm up, they entered the changing rooms where they received their match day program, and got to see their names in all its glory. Inside the program was the official RSFA Cup Records, this dates back to 1979. The boys were able to see that they were the second team in Clifton Community School’s history to debut in this event. The penny dropped when the boys knew they’d be in the history books forever!
The game started, and it was end to end football with both teams trying to break the deadlock, and after 10 minutes we did, with A Woods surging up the pitch carrying the ball from his own half and slotting the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 to Clifton! As the half time whistle approached, a mistake in the Clifton defense gave Brinsworth an equaliser.
The second half got underway and within minutes a Brinsworth counter attack found their attacker free at the back post to give them the lead for the first time in the game. Clifton pushed on to find a second goal to even out the scoresheet, this was done by F Lawal, who powered home a header from the corner which was crossed in by P Operacz. With two minutes left on the clock, heartbreak struck for Clifton, who conceded a late freekick which was converted brilliantly by the Brinsworth player. Moments later, the final whistle blew, Brinsworth 3-2 Clifton.
It was an interesting drive home to say the least, as we were pulling out of the car park the speaker came back on, and another rendition from the Y7 Clifton boys choir was Adele ‘Someone Like You’, this was then followed by Journey ‘Don’t Stop Believin’. The boys left upbeat and made a pact amongst themselves that this time next year, they will be returning with the trophy.
The team has been amazing all year, and it has been a pleasure to manage all season, they should be proud that they have made history! If you see any of the following students this week, please congratulate them: T Rybinski, P Operacz, F Lawal, M Zafar, A Ali, A Woods, A Ibrahim, E Adebimpe , I Dennison, R Aras, O Wharmsby, and D Abdul.
#WeBelieveInOurselves
