Stellar season for school sides

FOOTBALL:

AS the schools’ football season nears its end, local sides can hold their heads up high.

Two schools in particular flew the flag for Oldham in the English Schools’ Football Association

knock-out competitions this season, with Failsworth Sports College and North Chadderton High School proving that they can hold their own.

Failsworth Year Sevens progressed to the last 16 of the ESFA Danone Nations Schools’ Cup before narrowly going down 2-1 to Thomas Telford School.

North Chadderton also fared well in the same age group and competition, reaching the last 64 before losing 3-1 to Edmund Arrowsmith High School (Wigan).

North Chadderton Year 11s went out at the same stage in the ESFA Under-16s Schools’ Cup after a 6-0 loss to St Bede’s RC High School.

Failsworth Year Nines also suffered the curse of round five when they endured a 5-3 defeat against St. Cuthbert’s High School (Rochdale) in the ESFA Under-14s Premier League Schools’ Cup.

Failsworth Year Eights went one better when they reached the last 32 of the ESFA Under-13 Schools’ Cup before an agonising 5-4 defeat against Sacred Heart Catholic College (Sefton).