Invincible Hopwood Hall celebrate title with 16th consecutive win

Back row L-R: Rob Johnson, Dominic Bevan, Kieran Glynn, Oumar Camara, Danny Cryer, Ben Matthews, Kyle Robinson, Jacob Frost, Reece Axon, Grant Dixon – Goal Keeper Front L-R: James Symonds, Owen Shaughnessy, Kieren May, Joe Richards, Kabewend Katembe, James Gregory, Saul Withers

Hopwood Hall College’s first team recorded a 16th straight win at Salford City College to cap off a superb title winning campaign.

Having already claimed the Men's Category 2A Premier League for a second consecutive season in their previous game, the Middleton team accepted their trophy in style after beating Salford City College 6-1.

With Hopwood looking to maintain their 100% record, the game began in an appropriately tight manner. It took 20 minutes before one of Hopwood’s players of the season, Oumar Camara, broke the deadlock with a superb solo effort; striking hard and low into the bottom corner.

Before half time, Alireza Farhadi and Mikolaj Pluskota added to the score line and subsequently settled the Hopwood nerves.

Even so, it was Salford who started the second half brighter, firing in a superb free kick from 30 yards out to give them hope of a comeback.

Hope which just two minutes later was ended by a Farhadi second for Hopwood Hall, soon followed by teammate Camara adding another to his tally for the day too.

Then, just five minutes from time, Jack Purcell sealed a 6-1 win ending the first team’s season as undefeated champions.

That goal made it 117 league goals this season for Hopwood Hall, a demonstration of the talent the local Rochdale, Oldham and Bury areas continue to produce.

Rob Johnson, Hopwood Hall Football Academy Manager, described his pride in yet another successful season for his academy, he said: “Obviously we’re all really pleased with the fantastic season and the back to back titles we have achieved from that. Winning 16 games in a row is something the boys should be extremely proud of.

“I've been lucky to work with a terrific bunch of lads who intelligently bought into the idea of ‘keep the ball when we have it, win it back quickly when we don't’. Winning is great, but winning playing attractive football is even better.

”A lot of the team will finish their education with the college now and I truly wish them all the best with their futures, every single player in this team has been instrumental in taking this title.”