Falkland Primary School girls celebrate national ESFA cup run

Falkland Primary School’s Year 5/6 girls’ football team has achieved a phenomenal milestone.

They finished 4th in the country at the English Schools’ Football Association National Finals, held at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium on Friday 16th May.

This elite tournament began with over 17,894 schools entering from across England.

Falkland’s path to the finals was nothing short of extraordinary, from winning local and county tournaments to being crowned South West Regional Champions, the team battled their way through increasingly competitive rounds to secure a coveted place among the top eight schools in the nation.

On the national stage, the finalists were split into two groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the semi-finals.

Falkland started strong, securing a convincing 4-1 win in their opening match.

A narrow loss followed, but the team showed resilience and grit to grind out a crucial draw, earning their place in the semi-finals—an exceptional feat, placing them in the top four schools in England.

In the semi-finals, Falkland faced the eventual champions and, despite a valiant effort, were edged out in a narrow defeat.

The team finished in 4th place nationally, a remarkable outcome that reflects their skill, determination, and teamwork.

“It felt like we were playing in the World Cup!” said the captain Maisie (11).

“Walking out onto the pitch with the announcer calling our names was the best feeling ever.”

“I’m so proud of us,” added Seren (11).

“Some of us had never played football before year 5 and now we’ve played at a national final in a real stadium!”

The team is a mix of Newbury District players, a Southampton Academy player, and several girls who only discovered their passion for football this year.

The entire school came together to support the girls, as classrooms paused lessons to watch the live ESFA TV broadcast on YouTube.

During lunchtime, a big screen was set up in the hall so children could cheer on their teammates.

“This team represents everything Falkland stands for—resilience, teamwork, and ambition,” said Headteacher Mrs Kavash Bamfield.

“What they’ve achieved is truly inspiring.”

Their coach, Jake Haynes, who has worked with many of the girls since Year 2, was equally moved:

“It’s hard to put into words just how proud I am,” he said.

“To see this team grow into such strong, confident players has been a privilege.

“They’ve not only achieved something incredible on the pitch but have inspired so many others around them.”