When Glentoran’s under-8s team beat Maiden City on Friday to secure the Foyle Cup it was like they’d won the Premiership, one proud mum has said.
Under manager Ryan Young and coach Andrew Williamson the young footballers were competing in the cup – the biggest football competition in Northern Ireland for their age group – for the first time.
In the nine matches the east Belfast side played, they won every single one, scoring 58 goals and only conceding five.
The club said in a statement: “The coaching staff, club and parents are filled with pride and delighted with the team’s dedication, determination and combination of talent, skill, resilience and unity which led the team to victory.
“The conduct displayed by the players on and off the pitch showed professionalism above their age.”
Jamie Young, mum of central midfielder Charlie Young, said: “They got the cup and a proper medal and honestly you would have thought we’d just given them a million pounds, it was lovely!”
Read more
The Foyle Cup hosts tournaments for a range of ages, from under 8s to under 19s, competing over a week in Londonderry.
Monday to Wednesday was the group stages, then successful teams progressed to the knockout stage before the semi-finals and final on Friday.
Since launching in 1992, the tournament has expanded to include clubs from England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Coming top of their group, Glentoran faced their first real challenge in the quarter-final.
Jamie said: “It was a tough one – they drew two all and had to go through the dreaded penalties…”
But they won both the shootout and their next game 2-0 to earn a place in the final against Maiden City, on the Derry side’s home turf.
Jamie Young with her son Charlie Young, centre midfielder for Glentoran U8s
Jamie said: “It was quite nerve-racking. I think they had the biggest support that we’d seen in the tournament.
“There were a lot of people there and there was a lot of pressure on the boys.
“Our supporters weren’t as vast as the Maiden City but they made as big a noise.”
An early goal put Glentoran one up, with Xandar Williamson scoring in the fourth minute.
Despite a good effort from their opponents they managed to prevent an equaliser – not least thanks to keeper Kayson Miller, who made some fantastic saves to secure the team a clean sheet.
The boys were thrilled to the Foyle Cup back home to Belfast.
Jamie said: “You would have thought they’d won the Premiership!”
Charlie Young
The club said: “Everyone involved in this achievement is still buzzing and excited to see what else this team can achieve in the future.
“Having a competition for players of this age group is excellent. The players learnt so much about what it takes to succeed in football.
“The team developed as they progressed through the group stages and beyond.
“It was a joy to watch the players work hard for each other, they showed great mental strength to achieve victory, it was truly phenomenal to watch.”