After an incredible journey through the Premier League Primary Stars competition, the girls’ football team from Greythorn Primary School in West Bridgford earned the opportunity of a lifetime – representing Notts County at the National Finals at Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Our journey began when we won the Notts County tournament, which meant we would represent the club at the regional finals in Chesterfield. The team performed brilliantly throughout the regional competition, winning every match and conceding just one goal.
Our success secured a place at the National Finals in May, where the best primary school teams from across the country would compete.
Arriving at Molineux was an unforgettable experience. We were immediately greeted by the Wolves’ Mascots- Wolfie and Wendy- and got to have our photo taken with them. Teams had travelled from all over England, from Carlisle in the north to Plymouth in the south, making it a truly national event.
Walking into a Premier League stadium was surreal due to its vast size. Captained by Georgia, wearing her armband with pride, the team walked out onto the pitch, from the tunnel; this was an indescribable feeling.
Another highlight of the day was having our photograph taken alongside the famous Premier League trophy.
The tournament featured 20 teams split into four groups, meaning every match would be competitive. Our opening game was against Brentford. They were a strong side from the first whistle and showed why they would eventually become tournament champions.
Despite our best efforts, we lost 3-0. It was a tough start, but we remained determined to bounce back.
Our second match was against Scunthorpe. The game could easily have gone our way, as we created several chances and were unlucky to see a number of shots strike the crossbar. Unfortunately, we were unable to find the net and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat.
After two difficult results, Mr Marks made a tactical change by moving our goalkeeper into an outfield attacking role, while other players took turns in goal- the team had a fresh spark, after this change. This then led to us to playing some of our best football of the tournament.
The change paid off immediately, as we defeated Oxford United 2-1 in an exciting match. Confidence was growing, and we followed that performance with a fantastic 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Goals from Francesca, Anjola and Georgia helped secure our wins, while the whole team- Hanna, Imaan, Gemma, Lacey and Yoyo- worked tirelessly and supported one another throughout the day.
Although we did not progress further in the competition, the experience was far bigger than the results. Playing at a Premier League stadium, competing against regional champions from across the country and representing both Greythorn Primary School and Notts County was a huge achievement.
We learned so much, made unforgettable memories- that we will cherish forever- and showed great teamwork, determination and resilience throughout the tournament.
The Premier League Primary Stars Finals at Molineux was a rollercoaster of a journey. To progress this far in a tournament, makes history in Greythorn Primary School.
We would like to thank Notts County, our parents, teachers and incredible coach -Mr Marks- for supporting us, cheering us on and always believing in us. We are all so grateful that we had this fantastic opportunity, and it is an experience that none of us will ever forget.
