Across November and December, Notts County Foundation proudly hosted the EFL Girls Under 13s Cup alongside the EFL Kids Cup, welcoming local schools from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to enjoy football and compete in competitive fixtures against their peers.
EFL Girls Under 13s Cup – November
A rainy November afternoon set the scene as Rushcliffe Spencer Academy played host to the EFL Girls Under 13s Cup. Despite the challenging conditions, the tournament delivered a fantastic showcase of talent, teamwork and determination.
The Schools which took part, Outwood Academy, Suthers School The Becket School, Toot Hill School, Nottingham Emmanuel School, Rushcliffe Spencer Academy
Following a hard-fought group stage:
- Group A was topped by The Becket School and Rushcliffe Spencer Year 7A, both finishing on 7 points.
- Group B saw Rushcliffe Spencer Year 8s finish top with 7 points, while Rushcliffe Spencer Year 7B secured second place with 3 points.
The semi-finals provided plenty of drama. The Becket School edged past Rushcliffe Spencer Year 7B in a closely contested match, while Rushcliffe Spencer Year 7A progressed after a tense penalty shoot-out victory against Rushcliffe Spencer Year 8s.
The final proved to be an exciting end-to-end encounter, finishing 0–0 at full time. Both The Becket School and Rushcliffe Spencer Academy came agonisingly close to scoring, striking the woodwork and crossbar during an action-packed match. Ultimately, the trophy was decided on penalties, where Rushcliffe Spencer Year 7s held their nerve to emerge as champions.
EFL Kids Cup – Under 11s- December
The University of Nottingham’s David Ross Sports Village played host to an exciting Under 11s EFL Kids Cup, welcoming eight primary schools from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to take part in a fantastic afternoon of football.
Schools taking part were:
- Dunkirk Primary School
- The Milford Academy
- Langar Church of England Primary School
- Southwark Primary School
- Lady Bay Primary School
- Beeston Rylands Primary School
- Greythorn Primary School
- Whitegate Primary and Nursery School
A wet and windy Thursday afternoon set the backdrop for a series of closely contested fixtures, with teams competing in a round-robin league format, each playing five matches. Despite the challenging weather, the tournament was filled with high-quality football, excellent sportsmanship and a strong competitive spirit, ensuring an enjoyable and memorable experience for all involved.
When not competing in their group fixtures, pupils also took part in a Premier League Primary Stars workshop, focusing on online safety, reinforcing the importance of learning and personal development alongside sport.
Following the group stages, the top four teams progressed to the semi-finals:
Lady Bay, Whitegate Primary and Nursery School, The Milford Academy, and Southwark Primary School.
The semi-finals delivered plenty of excitement. Lady Bay secured a thrilling 2–0 victory over Whitegate, while The Milford Academy advanced after a tense penalty shoot-out win against Southwark Primary School.
The final was a closely fought and dramatic contest, with Lady Bay Primary School once again demonstrating their quality to emerge victorious and claim the title for the second successive season.
All teams involved approached the day with a positive attitude and a clear love for the game, performing admirably despite the persistent rain. Langar C of E Primary School and Greythorn Primary School deserve special recognition for their outstanding sportsmanship, organising a well-mannered friendly match between the semi-final and final to provide additional entertainment for players and spectators alike.
The Fair Play Award was presented to Dunkirk Primary School, who displayed exceptional positivity throughout the tournament. Regardless of results, their players encouraged one another, celebrated every pass and tackle, supported teammates after conceding goals, and congratulated both teammates and opponents alike.
It was truly a fantastic afternoon of football.
Notts County Foundation would like to congratulate all teams who took part across our tournaments and extend a special congratulations to Rushcliffe Spencer Academy Year 7s and Lady Bay Primary School, who will go on to represent Notts County in the New Year
