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Fullbrook's U16 Girls Football Team: A Journey of Dedication and Triumph!
24th May 2024
Earlier this month, the U16 girls football team from Fullbrook Secondary School achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the England Schools Football Association (ESFA) Girls U16 Arnold Clark Schools’ Cup finals. This accomplishment highlights their perseverance, skill, and unwavering dedication over the past four years of being a team.
The team experienced playing at Stoke City’s Bet 365 Stadium in the final against St Bede’s RC School & Byron College, East Durham, emphasising their huge achievement. The game started well for them, scoring at 9 minutes, however the opposition equalised just before half time. The second half saw St Bede’s scoring early on, and as a response, Fullbrook U16 girls played with passion and determination, almost equalising several times from opportunities of a free kick, corner and open play. It was an exciting and tense game which went into 4 minutes of stoppage time. They unfortunately lost 2-1 to St Bede’s, but it was a very close and hard-fought match.
The team, which has largely remained unchanged since its inception have shown immense resilience and determination. Last year, as Year 9 and 10 students, they made it to the quarter-finals, setting the stage for this year's incredible run to the finals, despite many injuries suffered by key players.
Training once a week for an hour, within the whole-school football club, the team’s commitment is evident. Fullbrook's training sessions welcome all students, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. For the team members to play at such an impressive standard, all except one, who is an international dancer, play for clubs outside of school, showcasing their passion for the sport. The team regularly competes against other schools in the district, maintaining their competitive edge.
Surrey is renowned for having a strong participation and following in girls' football, and Fullbrook Secondary School has seen great success in the district championships over the past five years. The team boasts several standout players, including one member who plays for the Chelsea Academy, Amelia Fahey. Captain Ellie Freullet, who has led the team since Year 7, has shown great characteristics of leadership and dedication which has propelled the team to success.
Sport is an important part of Fullbrook School, which offers a wide array of after-school sports clubs, and as well as football, there is a particular strength in athletics and cross country. Many after-school clubs are offered including netball, rugby, tennis and dance. The school’s sixth-form centre, Fullbrook 6 is part of the Cricket Scholar Programme. Being part of this programme enables them to offer students the opportunity to complete their sixth-form academic studies alongside access to high-quality cricket coaching, and strength and condition training. In addition, it offers access to the Surrey Cricket employability workshops.
Mrs C Smith, the Head of PE and Creative Arts Faculty and the girls' U16 football team coach, has been pivotal in their journey. Despite being on maternity leave, she has coached at every match throughout the competition, starting when her baby Otto was just two weeks old. Her dedication and passion for the sport have inspired the team to reach new heights.
Jack Mayhew, CEO of Learning Partners Academy Trust, to which Fullbrook belongs, praised the team, stating, "They are a very talented and dedicated team who have worked together and supported each other to arrive at such a great accomplishment. We are so proud of their amazing achievement, a direct result of their hard work."
Mrs C Smith reflected on the team's journey, saying, "Despite narrowly missing out on lifting the trophy, our Fullbrook girls can be exceptionally proud of what they have achieved. Being the second-best team in the entire country is truly sensational. This is the greatest sporting achievement Fullbrook has ever had, and their success will be talked about for years to come."
Mr R Smith, Head of Year 11 at Fullbrook, who drove the team minibus and is also husband to the team’s coach said “I count myself as very fortunate to be involved with this team, both through Mrs Smith and as the Head of Year 11 for some of them! The final stages of the National Cup will stay with me for many years to come; the journey up to Stoke, the evening before and the day itself. All of it was a brilliant experience and I hope the girls feel as proud of their achievements as we are as a school"
The Fullbrook community rallied together to support the team ensuring that the whole experience will remain in the hearts, minds, and memories of all involved. Colleagues organised transportation, drove minibuses, and offered unwavering support from the sidelines, some following every single game.
The head of school, Anna Wallis, attended the final and documented the day with photos and videos and took part in the teams’ celebrations. Ms Wallis said “Throughout the course of our visit to Stoke, I felt completely inspired by the hard work and determination of the girls, and their unwavering commitment to the match but also to each other.”
Mr and Mrs Smith’s baby, Otto, accompanied his parents to the matches from just two weeks old and had reached the grand old age of 11 weeks for the final which he slept through, allowing mum and dad to support the team!
The Fullbrook U16 girls football team’s journey to the national final included victories over:
- Round 1: 5-0 vs. Winston Churchill (Woking)
- Round 2: 5-2 vs. George Abbot (Guildford)
- Round 3: 4-2 vs. St Crispin's (East Berkshire)
- Round 4: 1-0 vs. Vyners School (Hillingdon)
- Round 5: 2-0 vs. Varndean School (Brighton)
- Round 6: 3-0 vs. Esher High (Esher)
- Quarter-Final: 4-0 vs. Herne Bay (Canterbury)
- Semi-Final: 4-1 vs. Redbourne Upper School (Bedford)
- Final: 1-2 vs. St Bede’s RC School & Byron College (East Durham)
Scoring 29 goals and conceding only 7, the team’s remarkable record includes five clean sheets. Key players Megan Higgins (10 goals) and Amelia Fahey (7 goals) led the team’s offensive efforts, supported by contributions from Ellie Freullet, Naomi Aherne, Eliza Andrews, Hope Palmer-Cowlard, Poppy Way, and Florence Milne.
This extraordinary team’s success is a testament to their hard work, talent, and the supportive community at Fullbrook Secondary School. Their journey, filled with challenges and triumphs, has created memories that will last a lifetime and set a new standard for sporting excellence at the school.
The team line up:
Caitlin Burnett
Charlotte Wass
Sophie Wass
Ava Mantell
Florence Milne
Amelia Fahey
Ellie Freullet
Hope Palmer-Cowlard
Poppy Way
Yassmin Kelly
Naomi Aherne
Megan Higgins
Eliza Andrews
Jessica Flindall
Earlier this month, the U16 girls football team from Fullbrook Secondary School achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the England Schools Football Association (ESFA) Girls U16 Arnold Clark Schools’ Cup finals. This accomplishment highlights their perseverance, skill, and unwavering dedication over the past four years of being a team.
The team experienced playing at Stoke City’s Bet 365 Stadium in the final against St Bede’s RC School & Byron College, East Durham, emphasising their huge achievement. The game started well for them, scoring at 9 minutes, however the opposition equalised just before half time. The second half saw St Bede’s scoring early on, and as a response, Fullbrook U16 girls played with passion and determination, almost equalising several times from opportunities of a free kick, corner and open play. It was an exciting and tense game which went into 4 minutes of stoppage time. They unfortunately lost 2-1 to St Bede’s, but it was a very close and hard-fought match.
The team, which has largely remained unchanged since its inception have shown immense resilience and determination. Last year, as Year 9 and 10 students, they made it to the quarter-finals, setting the stage for this year's incredible run to the finals, despite many injuries suffered by key players.
Training once a week for an hour, within the whole-school football club, the team’s commitment is evident. Fullbrook's training sessions welcome all students, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. For the team members to play at such an impressive standard, all except one, who is an international dancer, play for clubs outside of school, showcasing their passion for the sport. The team regularly competes against other schools in the district, maintaining their competitive edge.
Surrey is renowned for having a strong participation and following in girls' football, and Fullbrook Secondary School has seen great success in the district championships over the past five years. The team boasts several standout players, including one member who plays for the Chelsea Academy, Amelia Fahey. Captain Ellie Freullet, who has led the team since Year 7, has shown great characteristics of leadership and dedication which has propelled the team to success.
Sport is an important part of Fullbrook School, which offers a wide array of after-school sports clubs, and as well as football, there is a particular strength in athletics and cross country. Many after-school clubs are offered including netball, rugby, tennis and dance. The school’s sixth-form centre, Fullbrook 6 is part of the Cricket Scholar Programme. Being part of this programme enables them to offer students the opportunity to complete their sixth-form academic studies alongside access to high-quality cricket coaching, and strength and condition training. In addition, it offers access to the Surrey Cricket employability workshops.
Mrs C Smith, the Head of PE and Creative Arts Faculty and the girls' U16 football team coach, has been pivotal in their journey. Despite being on maternity leave, she has coached at every match throughout the competition, starting when her baby Otto was just two weeks old. Her dedication and passion for the sport have inspired the team to reach new heights.
Jack Mayhew, CEO of Learning Partners Academy Trust, to which Fullbrook belongs, praised the team, stating, "They are a very talented and dedicated team who have worked together and supported each other to arrive at such a great accomplishment. We are so proud of their amazing achievement, a direct result of their hard work."
Mrs C Smith reflected on the team's journey, saying, "Despite narrowly missing out on lifting the trophy, our Fullbrook girls can be exceptionally proud of what they have achieved. Being the second-best team in the entire country is truly sensational. This is the greatest sporting achievement Fullbrook has ever had, and their success will be talked about for years to come."
Mr R Smith, Head of Year 11 at Fullbrook, who drove the team minibus and is also husband to the team’s coach said “I count myself as very fortunate to be involved with this team, both through Mrs Smith and as the Head of Year 11 for some of them! The final stages of the National Cup will stay with me for many years to come; the journey up to Stoke, the evening before and the day itself. All of it was a brilliant experience and I hope the girls feel as proud of their achievements as we are as a school"
The Fullbrook community rallied together to support the team ensuring that the whole experience will remain in the hearts, minds, and memories of all involved. Colleagues organised transportation, drove minibuses, and offered unwavering support from the sidelines, some following every single game.
The head of school, Anna Wallis, attended the final and documented the day with photos and videos and took part in the teams’ celebrations. Ms Wallis said “Throughout the course of our visit to Stoke, I felt completely inspired by the hard work and determination of the girls, and their unwavering commitment to the match but also to each other.”
Mr and Mrs Smith’s baby, Otto, accompanied his parents to the matches from just two weeks old and had reached the grand old age of 11 weeks for the final which he slept through, allowing mum and dad to support the team!
The Fullbrook U16 girls football team’s journey to the national final included victories over:
- Round 1: 5-0 vs. Winston Churchill (Woking)
- Round 2: 5-2 vs. George Abbot (Guildford)
- Round 3: 4-2 vs. St Crispin's (East Berkshire)
- Round 4: 1-0 vs. Vyners School (Hillingdon)
- Round 5: 2-0 vs. Varndean School (Brighton)
- Round 6: 3-0 vs. Esher High (Esher)
- Quarter-Final: 4-0 vs. Herne Bay (Canterbury)
- Semi-Final: 4-1 vs. Redbourne Upper School (Bedford)
- Final: 1-2 vs. St Bede’s RC School & Byron College (East Durham)
Scoring 29 goals and conceding only 7, the team’s remarkable record includes five clean sheets. Key players Megan Higgins (10 goals) and Amelia Fahey (7 goals) led the team’s offensive efforts, supported by contributions from Ellie Freullet, Naomi Aherne, Eliza Andrews, Hope Palmer-Cowlard, Poppy Way, and Florence Milne.
This extraordinary team’s success is a testament to their hard work, talent, and the supportive community at Fullbrook Secondary School. Their journey, filled with challenges and triumphs, has created memories that will last a lifetime and set a new standard for sporting excellence at the school.
The team line up:
Caitlin Burnett
Charlotte Wass
Sophie Wass
Ava Mantell
Florence Milne
Amelia Fahey
Ellie Freullet
Hope Palmer-Cowlard
Poppy Way
Yassmin Kelly
Naomi Aherne
Megan Higgins
Eliza Andrews
Jessica Flindall
