Junior contest sees best ever turnout

By mbeardmore

WYRLEY Juniors held their 12th and probably most successful tournament yet with more than 170 teams, 1,700 players and 3,500 spectators attending at Gt Wyrley Performing Arts High School and Moat Hall Primary School.

Teams from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire took part alongside local sides at the day-long event.

They played in highly competitive tournaments for boys and girls from under-nines to under-16s.

A non-competitive festival for under-sevens and under-eights teams also took place during the festival of football.

Keith Hardy, chairman of the club, said: "The event takes months of planning and has total involvement of every one of the club's 36 teams to make it work efficiently.

"We have had many compliments from teams attending and we are already planning next year's event, which will take place on June 19-20, 2010."

Hosts Wyrley had winning teams in the boys' under-11s and under-15s and girls' under-13s and under-16s age groups, the latter for the fourth year on the trot.

The 'Blacks' team of Cath Davis, Amy Marshall, Saffron, Emily Quimby, Charlotte Pritchard, Nad Bunce and Laura Cumberlege went out in the semi-final after a 3-1 defeat to Heath Hayes.

But the Whites team of Nia Jay, Emily Downes, Lottie Howells, Jemma Clews, Rachel Hall, Hayley Turner, Jemma Clews, Beth Crook and Jess Brookes made the final after beating Port Vale Ladies.

The final against Hayes ended 0-0 after extra time, courtesy of a couple of fine saves from Jay, who also saved two penalties in the shoot-out to hand Wyrley the trophy.

The Whites also made the final of the Rubery Tournament on Sunday, beating the Blacks in the semi-final with an Emily Quimby penalty but then lost 1-0 to Solihull Borough after extra-time.

● Wyrley Girls are recruiting girls aged eight to 10 for three under-10s sides and one under-11s team for next season.

Any girls interested in taking part should call Keith on 07836 202764.