It has been an historic year for football at Bradfield as the 1stXI secured a first ever Hudl League and Boodles ISFA Cup double while a number of teams across the age groups enjoying extended runs in Cup competitions. Among them were the U16As who reached the last four of the English Schools Football Association Cup, something they have never before achieved. The semi-final was their only defeat during a long 17 game season which saw them win 15 times and advancing through seven rounds of the English Schools premiere Cup competition. Alongside those two standout teams, the U14Bs, U15As and U15 girls all reached the latter stages of their respective National Cup competitions.
The 1stXI were in imperious form all year, putting in a number of excellent team performances on their way to a first Hudl Independent School League title and a second Boodles ISFA Cup crown, reaching a level of football that has rarely been seen in schools’ football. The season began with the team conquering a tricky group in the ESFA Super League competition; the highlight being a thumping 7-0 victory over Hartpury. The Hudl ISL sees nine of the country’s top footballing schools compete against each other and Bradfield’s impressive run of seven wins and one defeat was enough to secure the title for the first time in the school’s history. A superb final day of the season saw six of the teams travel to Reading FC for a triple header and Bradfield secured the win they needed, defeating third-placed Royal Russell 5-0 to top the league.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE; COMBINING ACADEMIC STUDIES WITH FOOTBALL, THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT I HAVE MADE AND LEARNING HOW WE DEVELOP ON THE FOOTBALL PITCH AS WELL AS OFF IT.
Zach (D)
The Senior boys continued that form into their ISFA Cup campaign which saw them concede just twice, with resounding victories over Berkhamsted (6-1), Chigwell (3-0), Alleyn’s (4-1) and Hampton (4-0) seeing them claim a place in the final for the first time since winning the Cup in 2018.
The final saw Bradfield come up against Lancashire based Rossall School who had entered the competition in the preliminary rounds. It was they who started the game on the front foot, pressing effectively in midfield and working a couple of early attempts on goal. However, the game turned on Bradfield’s first real attack in the seventh minute. A ball forward from centre back and Captain Harry (C) was only cleared as far as Tom (G) in midfield. He surged forward and quickly played Dylan (D) in behind the defence on the left wing and his low cross was finished by clinical striker Callum (H) to give Bradfield the early lead.
The boys in blue dominated the remainder of the half, doing everything but score a crucial second. Tom (H) had a penalty shout turned away by the referee, Tom (G) hit the bar with a stopping header and central midfielder Josh (E) rose to meet a corner only to see his downwards header bounce the wrong side of the post.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR TIME HERE. WHAT I AM LEARNING NOW WILL SHAPE WHO I AM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
Harry (C)
They picked up the second half where they left the first with Bradfield’s defence of George (G), Zach (D), Harry and Jacob (G) continuing to stifle Rossall attacks while goalkeeper Sam (D) was on hand to smother a couple of through balls and save the occasional shot from range. Fifteen minutes into the second half and Bradfield had a chance to score their crucial second goal when the lively Dylan was brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Callum who picked his spot and drilled the ball into the corner on the keeper’s right to double Bradfield’s lead. Ten minutes later he secured his hat-trick again from the spot as Tom was tripped as he prepared to shoot for goal.
As the game entered its final stages the imperious midfielder Archie (D) was substituted and his replacement Ike (G) was on hand to poke home a fourth after the ball pinballed around the box following a mazey run and shot from Dylan. The win secured Bradfield’s second Boodles ISFA Cup trophy, winning on their past two appearances in the final having lost their first three.
Our 2ndXI, 3rdXI, U14As and 1stXI girls competed valiantly in their individual Cup competitions also before falling short in what were competitive, enjoyable experiences for all. The school has also seen a record number of pupils make it through to the ISFA national team squads across age groups. A superb season indeed.
