Players from Surbiton High School and Trinity School will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to take to the hallowed Wembley Stadium turf next month, when they compete in the Utilita Girls Cup Final.
Surbiton High School, representing AFC Wimbledon, secured their place in the final after winning the southern regional finals in an u13s six-a-side tournament at Swindon Town’s Foundation Park, with teams for Bristol City, Norwich City and Watford also competing.
Meanwhile, Trinity School, representing Carlisle United, progressed after victory in the northern regional finals at Accrington Stanley’s Stanley Sports Hub, with teams for Hartlepool United, Hull City and Tranmere Rovers also involved.
In partnership with the EFL, the Utilita Girls Cup is a national tournament which sees some 6,000 girls playing at local and then regional stages. Schools compete to represent their EFL side on the national stadium’s pristine pitch in front of thousands of fans ahead of the Papa Johns Final on Sunday 2nd April.
Inspiring children to be active, healthy and develop a strong sense of teamwork, the Utilita Girls Cup celebrates the beautiful game at the heart of communities around the country. The boys’ competition the Utilita Kids Cup runs alongside the girls’. Over 12,500 children compete for their chance to play at Wembley Stadium, falling on the same weekend of the EFL Play-Offs in May.
Nicole Jones, AFC Wimbledon Foundation’s Female Football Development Officer said: “Well done to all the girls, they all played super well and should be proud of themselves! They’re all very excited and can’t wait for the experience of playing at Wembley Stadium.”
Emily Miller, U13s Team Coach and PE Teacher at Trinity School said of the accomplishment: “It is an amazing opportunity for the girls, and they all thoroughly deserve the chance to play in the Utilita Girls Cup Grand Final at Wembley. They have displayed a fantastic team ethic in every game – they always work hard and remain positive and encouraging of each other.”
To find out more about the Utilita Girls Cup, and how your school could play its part next year go here.