Surrey footballers are national champions

Footballers from Glyn School in Epsom are celebrating after winning the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) U16B National Cup Tournament.

Glyn triumphed 2-0 over Thomas Telford School on Thursday (May 4) at the BET365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent thanks to goals from Rahul Mungur and Connor Stevens.

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​Glyn’s Head of Football, James Long, pointed to Rahul's first goal as being a particular highlight along with a battling defensive display. Connor Stevens won Man of the Match.

 "It was a fantastic team performance from all players, but Rahul and Connor were brilliant and both deserved to be nominated for Man of the Match," Mr Long said.

"The team were delighted and after the full time whistle, they went straight to their friends and family in the crowd who had travelled four hours to come and watch them. It was an amazing showing of dedication and support."

All players received a winners' medal and the school was awarded a trophy to take back to school.

Mr Long added: "The online stream was watched by hundreds of staff and students back at home in Surrey and the team will be presented the trophy again in a school assembly so that the school can show their support."

It was the second season this team had reached the final. Their route this season saw Glyn, part of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust, beat Coombe Boys’ School, Hampton School, Bede’s School, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, and Richard Hale School before seeing off Glenmoor and Winton in the semi final.

“Having spent five years with this team growing from Year 7 up to now, I cannot think of a better way to finish our journey," added Mr Long, who took over as manager of the U16B team from Nathan Miller, who led the same team to last year's final.

"The boys have been a pleasure to coach from day one at Year 7 trials until the final whistle in the National Cup Final. They have grown into young men that are proud, loyal and committed to Glyn School football and I wish them all the very best with whatever they choose to do next year."