Final Showdown
Eleven young boys from the Billingham Forum Soccer School caused their manager Andy Tomlinson a headache when they entered an Under 8, 5-a-side tournament organised by Middlesbrough Football Club staged at their development centre at Eston.
The boys were divided into two teams and played in different leagues in the round robin tournament. After a playing against teams such as Teesside Athletic, Billingham Rangers, Leven, Bedale and TIBS, both teams won their respective leagues and met in the final.
The boys, Liam Travers, Ben Tomlinson, James Burdon, Alex Brown, Michael Andrews, James Cartwright, Harry Savage, George Bailey, Jack Maddren, Nathan Tonks, and Tom Copeland played under the banner of the FA Charter Standard Development Club Billingham Town FC, who have forged a strong link with the Forum Soccer School who run 4 classes per week.
In a tense and exciting final, the ‘B’ team took a well-deserved lead from a great strike from George Bailey but in the dying minutes, the ‘A’ team managed to score 2 late goals.
Manager Andy Tomlinson said, “The lads put me in an awkward but nice position to be in, and the main problem was who to support or advise. To be honest it is a bit of a cliché but no team deserved to lose.”
FA Licensed Coach Allan McDermott who coaches the Tees Active Forum Soccer said, “The boys have been really successful and it is great to see all of them developing. They play the game the right way and they have become an extremely strong squad.”
For further information on football coaching courses at Billingham Forum telephone (01642) 551381, Thornaby Pavilion (01642) 760971 or Stockton Sports Centre (01642) 52 8282.
Photograph:
Top row L-R James Cartwright, George Bailey, James Burdon, Ben Tomlinson,Michael Andrews Tom Copeland
Bottom Row L-R Nathan Tonks, Harry Savage, Jack Maddren, Liam Travers, Max Thompson, Jacob Gately