Chronicle 687

56 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Football By Jonathan Hooper, Head of Football This was a landmark year for the Football Club, with the introduction of two-term football for the Senior Boys’ 1st XI, who kicked things off in September. The opening months provided opportunities for friendly fixtures and the English & Independent Schools FA Cup. The team developed quickly and gained valuable experience against new opponents, quickly learning and embedding the club playing style. This was not the only football taking place in the Autumn Term, with the Senior Boys’ and Girls’ teams training every Wednesday, the Shells on Tuesdays and a new Fourth Form pre-season allowing the players to begin learning the core principles ahead of their competitive term.

Henry Myers

Spring Boys’ Football Once January came around it was all systems go, with a busy schedule for all 14 boys’ teams. The continued growth of the Football Club has brought new challenges but also new opportunities and additional block fixtures have been added with Cheltenham, Pangbourne and Berkhamsted giving a good range of challenge for each of the teams. There were some excellent moments in the senior end of the Club. The 1st XI played some of the best football in recent years and stayed competitive in every game with season highlights being wins against Radley and Wellington. Other positives included the introduction of Shell Nifemi Akinpelu who made appearances for the

1st XI, scoring on his debut and showing he will be a key player for the Club over the coming years. The 2nd XI had an excellent season and became league champions for the second time in three years, a positive indication of the quality at the top end. The team showed resilience and togetherness throughout the season, with a great spirit and ability to adapt to different personnel whilst remaining true to their style. The boys’ House football competition was a highly anticipated event, with Kendall looking to retain the double they secured in 2024. This year, with a brilliant and competitive showcase, it was Field House that managed the junior and senior double with great finals against Cooper Lodge and Tilly’s respectively.