Football Champions

Our Under 11 squad are South Hampstead’s first winners of the Girls’ Day School Trust national football tournament.

Before the FIFA World Cup got underway, our own Junior School Team headed to Croydon to compete against 15 other GDST schools from across England.  Team mates, Amelia and Greta in Year 6, report back:

In the group stage, we were up against Northwood, Portsmouth and Blackheath. We had a great start, winning our first match 2 – 0, and went on to beat Portsmouth with an impressive 8 – 0 victory, and Blackheath 4 – 0. It was a fantastic feeling to go unbeaten in the group stage and not concede a single goal. This got us through to the quarter finals vs Bromley, where we won on penalties after an intense 0 – 0 game. The semi-final was a close match against Streatham & Clapham, with us coming out victorious 2 – 1. In the finals, we were up against Wimbledon. It was tough, but in the last minute, Noga scored a legendary goal to give us the win. The whole team stepped up and played really well, with every individual contributing. Special mentions go to Faye who was voted Players’ Player, Claudia who received Manager’s Player, and Sylvia for being the top goal scorer. 

Football is going from strength to strength at South Hampstead since being introduced as a key winter sport several years ago. Training starts early, with all Junior School pupils taught football during their PE lessons; football club runs for pupils from Year 3 and competitive fixtures are introduced during Year 4. In the Senior School, we now have three Football Scholars, including one who plays for Arsenal, and a further three Sports Scholars who play for the A teams in their respective year groups. Training is overseen by our Deputy Director of Sport, Miss Hayes, who used to play football for Queens Park Rangers in the women’s premier league, and supported by our PE staff and an external coach.