Springfield footballers come close to pulling off a cupset

​​The England football team may still be in a state of disarray after an eventful summer but for the young footballers of Springfield Primary School in Sunbury, the outlook is decidedly more positive.

Having only played together for the first time this term, the team, under the guidance of PE teacher John Carlisle, took part in the Spelthorne Schools Football tournament – and came very close to winning it at the first time of asking.

“For a brand new team, it was a sensational effort,” said Mr Carlisle. “We got through our group stage with three wins out of three, and without conceding a goal, and then had a really tight semi-final against Town Farm School. That was the toughest game yet but we snatched a 1-0 win through a superb goal, putting us into the final against St Michael’s.

“They scored very early on – our first goal conceded in five games – but we managed to level things, and then right at the death, with extra time looming, St Michael’s got lucky when a scuffed clearance fell right at the feet of one of their players, who couldn’t miss from close range.”

It was another impressive sporting achievement for Springfield, a member of the Surrey-based GLF Schools multi-academy trust, which now runs more than a dozen schools across the south east of England. Last year the Springfield girls’ football team won the Spelthorne Girls Football League Cup for the second year running, and in the summer Springfield’s cricketers reached the final of the Surrey Kwik Cricket tournament.

“This was an amazing performance by the team,” said Mr Carlisle. “It’s the furthest a Springfield team has ever gone in the competition, and I was so proud of their perseverance and willingness to work for each other. After a start like this, I think we have plenty of reasons to feel good about the season to come.”