Whitworth High footballers in last 16 of national competition

Whitworth High Year 7 football team

Footballers from Whitworth Community High School have won a place in the final 16 of the national ESFA Boys Under 12 PlayStation nine-a-side Small Schools’ Cup.

Having got a ‘bye’ in the first round they notched up three convincing wins against opposition from Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

Now the team is looking forward to the fifth-round match, scheduled for 31 January,  away  against AKS Lytham.

Ryan Lowe, Daniel Kershaw and Ben Lord all play for Whitworth Valley Football Team as well as their school team.

They had a two-hour trek for their fourth-round opponents St Francis Xavier School, from Richmond.

Right winger Daniel, 12, said: “It was quite a long journey and when we arrived we got straight into a 20-30 minute warm up and then the match started.”

Striker Ben, 11, said: “At the start we got an early lead when Sam Wellington scored, and it was still 1-0 at half-time.

“We were told to try and push forward and make more shots on goal; one of their team played for Middlesbrough and was very good.”

In the second half, Jake Brearley score twice for Whitworth and Sam got a second goal.

Ben, who previously played for Rochdale for two years, got a late goal to make the final score 5-0.

In the third round the Whitworth team played away against Moorland School in Clitheroe and won 4-0.

The first match was at home against Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn, which they won 6-2.

Ryan and Ben have been playing for Whitworth Valley FC since they were five and Daniel joined at seven.

Left back Ryan, 11, said: “I enjoy football because you can play with your mates and it is a fun way to do exercise.”

Daniel said: “Football keeps you active and it is more fun playing competitive matches, playing in the league and for cups.”