Hat-trick of triumphs for Stratford School's footballers

STRATFORD School is celebrating after enjoying a hat-trick of triumphs on the football field.

Last Wednesday, the school’s under-16 boys’ football team played in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup final against Cardinal Wiseman School at the Ricoh Arena. Stratford secured cup glory with a 5-1 success thanks to strikes from Benjamin Couki, Kai Ferguson (2), Sam Jalowiecki and an own goal.

The Stratford team featured Nathan Taylor, Joseph Barnish, Harry Carter, Isaac Herring, Daniel Boyd, Josh Moss, Benjamin Couki, Dylan Parker, Kai Ferguson, Jordan Allen, James Dyson, Luke Gladwell, Harry Spencer, Tom Bromley and Sam Jalowiecki.

There was also glory for Stratford School's under-16 girls' team, who won the County Cup final for the fourth time on the bounce with victory over Ashlawn School at Leamington.

The Stratford team featured Wiktoria Rutkowska, Lucy Williams, Shannon O’Donnell, Evie Barons, Ellen Bladon-Williams, Charlotte Leedham, Hana Adler, Anya Hermolle, Lauren Jones, Andrada Georgescu, Chloe Kennard, Hollie Bunn, Naomi Morgan and Megan Hadley and on the scoresheet were Leedham, Jones, Bladon-Williams and Hermolle.

The girls’ team have had considerable success during their time at the school, having reached the English Schools’ Football Association finals twice — winning once — as well as winning the Stratford District Sports Awards junior team prize on three occasions.

Meanwhile, one of the school’s younger teams has also enjoyed success in the Under 14 Futsal finals held in Birmingham, where they finished second against a strong contingent of regional schools.

The team of Fran Birbeck-Sanders, Olivia Bailey, Naomi Morgan, Kiera Kennedy, Charlie O'Sullivan and Ella French showed they will be ones to watch in the coming years.

Sam Calcott, Stratford School’s PE curriculum leader, said: “It has been a wonderful time for our teams, they have worked so hard and are so deserving of the success.

“It was particularly gratifying for the two under-16 teams as this is their final year of school football so to have won in such a commanding style will be a memory they can keep forever.

“We have got a lot of students with potential in the younger years ready to follow in their footsteps so there is a lot to look forward to.”