The North Somerset Regional Talent Centre took two of their squads to the Junior Premier League National finals this weekend and the U12s came back as National Champions.
North Somerset RTC travelled to the University of Warwick campus with their U12s and U14s to compete against the very best football teams in England, and the U12s went unbeaten across all five of their group games before winning the National Championship final 4-0.
In order to qualify for the Champions Trophy teams had to win their regional Junior Premier League competition, meaning the two groups of six teams involved in the competition really could lay claim to being the best in the country.
Across the five group games North Somerset’s U12s played they won four and drew one, scoring 11 goals whilst only conceding three, including a 3-0 win over Luca FC from Tunbridge Wells, a 3-1 win over NYSA FC from Yorkshire, and 2-0 win over Metrogas from Kent.
They then went on to beat BRS Coaching Academy from Ringwood 4-0 in the final to lift the £1,000 replica Premier League trophy and can now call themselves the best U12 team in the country.
The U14s didn’t fair quite so well, they only recorded one draw in the group stage but were up against some big semi-pro academies and had a number of key players injured for the tournament.
Despite the result the squad will take a lot of beneficial experience from the weekend and should be proud of their achievements this season having won the South West Regional title and making it into the top 12 teams in the country.
Both teams were represented by players from across the county, with pupils of Backwell School, Nailsea School, and Gordano School all being involved.
The winning U12 squad will now be given a guard of honour by over 80 fellow youth team players at North Somerset RTC’s next training session, where they will also be able to show off their new national trophy.
North Somerset Regional Talent Centre offers an alternative route to traditional academies for aspiring young footballers to break through into the professional game.
They have youth teams aged from five to 16 years that compete in the Junior Premier League against other talent centres from around the country, as well as pro and semi-pro academies.
For more information on North Somerset RTC visit their website here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here