U11s ESFA National Finals – Liverpool Academy
York and district under 11 schoolboy footballers gave a good account of themselves against the 7 best 9 a side teams in the Country in the 8 team Premier League sponsored Schoolboy competition held at Liverpool FC academy.
First up for York in their group were Telford, despite the long journey over York dominated the game but could not force a goal against an outstanding Telford keeper to leave an opening 0-0 result.
In their second fixture York felt the strength and quality of the competition going down 3-0 to eventual finalists Newham. York went down early in this game and individual errors were punished clinically. The nature of this defeat seemed to affect the boy’s confidence and York now needed to beat a strong Plymouth team to qualify for the top four play-off.
This game was the one that York let slip despite having the majority of possession and chances again York suffered at the hands of an opposition who with limited opportunities still managed to find the back of the York net twice in deadly fashion.
York now went into the playoffs for the Plate trophy for teams 5-8. After a break in proceedings York bounced back to win their semi-final playoff game against Bexley after drawing the game 2-2 York kept their cool to win the penalty shootout. Such was the strength of the competition York now found themselves in the playoff final against pre-tournament favourites Liverpool and despite holding a strong Liverpool outfit to a 1-1 draw in normal time this time it was York’s turn to lose out on a penalty shootout leaving the proud York boys runners up in the plate Trophy.
The eventual winners were Wokingham who beat Newham also on penalties in the Final to lift the Trophy.
York went home after representing their District with great credit and bring to an end a very successful season from which now 4 of the squad have been signed up by Leeds United, Middlesbrough and two boys at Doncaster.
