Girls school football team from Peterlee crowned National Cup champions at the home of Stoke City

An under 16 girls football team from Peterlee is celebrating national success after being crowned the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) National Cup champions.

The girls from St. Bede’s Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College beat Fullbrook school from Woking 2-1, to bring the cup back to the North East.

The game was played at the Bet365 Stadium, the home of Championship club Stoke City FC, and the closely fought contest was “befitting of such a magnificent venue”.

Having fallen behind in the 10th minute the St Bede’s girls rallied, and goals from Teigan Wilson and Ellen Atkinson either side of half time wrapped up the victory.

At the other end of the pitch the St Bede’s defence and goalkeeper put their bodies on the line to stop Fullbrook equalising late in the game.

After the final whistle, St Bede’s captain Eva Mysleyko said: “Just look at the scenes, look at the celebrations. We’ve all worked so hard for this, and the girls have all been amazing.”

The team won eight games on the way to the final, scoring 36 goals whilst conceding just seven.

Team Manager Michael Eggleston said, “This is the culmination of five years of hard work for the girls. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, but from day one I knew this was a special group and their dedication has brought them the ultimate reward in schools’ football.

“The buzz around the school has been incredible since the game, it’s given everyone a huge boost. Hopefully this can inspire other pupils to go out and achieve their goals, no matter what they may be.”

Midfielder Daisy Clarke was named ‘Player of the Match’ after a “superb display in the middle of the park”.

The full squad of cup winners was Eve Antliff, Ellen Marie Atkinson, Olivia Barkess, Sami Boardman, Victoria Chester, Daisy May Clarke, Neve Clark, Elise Embleton, Amy Howarth, Eva Mysleyko, Molly Smart, Lucy Sproat, Eve Webster and Teigan Wilson.

The school is part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.