You may know about the Football League of Churches (Saturday morning football competition for children from 6 to 16, playing for churches in the Southend area) and then again you may not!
Anyway, we’ve just finished our third season and have had a presentation ceremony, with 2 of the Southend United Young Pros there. If you know Noel Thomas of Emmanuel church, and wondered what he got up to on Saturday mornings, here’s your chance!
(PICTURE) Franck Moussa and Charles Ademeno, with captains of three of the winning teams:
back row left to right – Franck Moussa and Charles Ademeno
front row – Matt Verrinder (16) St Michaels Cof E U16 team, Cameron McManus (8) Thundersley Congregational Church U-9, Daniel Tyrrell (12) Hawkwell Lions U-12
The Football League of Churches has completed its third season of competition. Twenty teams from ten different churches participated in Under-9, Under-12 and Under-16 5-a-side league competitions. This was an increase of three teams over the previous season and included players from two extra churches.
Several churches joined together to form teams which once again promoted unity within the area.
A new feature this season was the addition of two Cup competitions for the U12’s, to end the season split, so that the top 4 teams played for the Cup and the remaining 5 teams for the Plate.
The participating churches were
o Rochford Congregational Church
o St Michaels CofE Leigh & Rayleigh Baptist
o Thundersley Congregational Church
o Emmanuel (Hawkwell) CofE & Ashingdon Free Church
o Hawkwell Baptist
o Westcliff Baptist & Avenue Baptist
o Hullbridge
Overall 176 different players took part in 104 matches and 795 goals were scored. For the first time this season Hawkwell entered 2 ‘girls only’ teams – but they did draft in a boy, to keep goal for the Bobcats U12 team!
All of the matches were played on Saturday mornings, at Prince Avenue School, which again proved a popular venue and provided enough space to play three matches at the same time.
There were new winners in both the Under-16 and Under-12 leagues. St Michaels won the Under-16’s title, winning 11 of the 12 matches and drawing the 12th. Emmanuel, who were also unbeaten, won the Under-12’s title for the first time, with Darrell Coker scoring 44 goals. Thundersley Congregational Church retained the Under-9’s title again, winning every match they played. What a great set of achievements.
The top goalscorers in each league were
o Cameron McManus (TCC A U9) 25 goals
o Darrell Coker (Emmanuel U12) 44 goals
o Tom Fisk (TCC U16) 30 goals
Once again the players enjoyed the matches, and are looking forward to the end of season tournament, on 21st April and to next season.
If anyone would like to enter the tournament on 21st April, or play in the league next season, then please contact Richard Verrinder
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