The football season may be over, but one story has slipped though the net. A team of under 15’s comprising of Sheffield Schools Westfield, Bradfield, Chaucer, Newlands, Handsworth Grange, Waltheof and Newfield School are to be praised and congratulated for winning “The Yorkshire Plate” in a thrilling 1 – 0 finale at an equidistant York football ground against their old rivals Middlesborough. The top performing Sheffield boys football club were proudly sponsored by Shopping Centre and Retail Outlet, Crystal Peaks and aided by high quality training including strategy and tactics by Manager Kevan Wildes, Progress and Intervention Coordinator, from Newfield School’s Physical Education Department.

The battle for the North of England’s ‘Yorkshire Plate’ commenced in October ’06 in which 5 knockout matches were played by each of the top two teams in the two leagues in the English Schools Northern League (ESNL).  The ‘ESNL’ is made up of all the major towns and cities in our area such as Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, and Wakefield and as far a field as Newcastle, Manchester, Redditch, Durham and Sunderland. That meant the challenge was no mean feat, in the semi finals a nail biting local derby ensued with Sheffield Schools Under 15’s beating Leeds Schools Under 15’s 2-1! 

“The boys all come from different schools and play competitively for different clubs on Sunday but always put any rivalry aside when they play for Sheffield Under 15’s to create a real winning team spirit.” Explained Kev.  “I feel like I’ve done more miles that Judith Chalmers this season – but what a pay off. The whole squad has been outstanding throughout last and this year. Special thanks must go to our top goal scorers over the season; Aaron Moxon and Adam Duckinfield and to my older brother Steve Wildes for all his help and support – I don’t think I could have done it without him.  I’m so proud of everyone including our reserves ’cos they’ve taken the knocks and been so loyal to the whole team.” He added, “My side have been the only genuine and I do mean genuine representatives from a schools side that hasn’t got any players playing for major sporting academies. Our competitors have had trainee players from Manchester United, Nott’s Forest and Leeds United to name but a few, and to go against some of those skilled players and win makes ‘The Yorkshire Plate’ victory all the more pleasing and special.  The only chance now for the boys is to represent the county, to actually play for Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Schools who are holding trials imminently - so I wish them all the successful in the world when the new kick off begins.”

14th June 2007
Serial No. 51060 
for further information, please call:Darryl Dawson
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