Despite a brilliant performance in the North's Regional Final this week, the U13 girls squad from Wilmslow High School were denied a dream trip to Wembley by a last minute goal.
Wilmslow High School had won the right to represent Stockport County FC in the npower Football League U13 Girls Cup and progressed through to the Regional Final after beating rival schools in the local area during the knock out stages of the competition.
They were one of the last eight teams vying for a place in the Grand Final, due to be played at Wembley Stadium in April, but unfortunately, despite a great performance, they were unlucky not to win Wednesday's North Regional Final.
The U13 Girls competed against the three other regional winners at Huddersfield Town FC where each team played each other twice. The girls from Wilmslow High won four and drew two of their initial matches to proceed to the semi-final where they beat Middlesborough 3-1.
Having come so close to playing at Wembley the girls were hugely disappointed to lose to Sheffield United 3-4 in the final with the winning goal scored in the final minute of the game.
Coach Simon Mawer said "They were a pleasure to be with and represented the School and Stockport County in the usual exemplary way, at the end they were devastated and still accepted the outcome most graciously. I was very proud of them."
The team members thoroughly enjoyed a surprise coaching session from England Captain Faye White who visited the school last week providing a motivational boost.
The Arsenal and England ladies football captain visited the U13 girls squad on Friday, 4th February, to share her experienced words of wisdom ahead of this week's North Regional Final.
White began her Arsenal career at the age of 18 and made her England début against Scotland in 1997. Since then the central defender has won 22 major trophies and achieved 57 caps for her country.
Faye commented: "It's great to be supporting grassroots football and an absolute privilege to be working alongside these extremely talented young girls. The npower Football League U13 Girls Cup really champions the future of women's football and the opportunity to play in front of a huge crowd at Wembley Stadium is an absolute dream for any footballer."
Congratulations to team members Iona Darroch, Ava Johnston, Kirsty Roberts, Chloe Hay, Lauren White, Saskia Swatland, Summar Lacey and Lauren Hoodless on their achievement.
