Whitworth High footballers net a treble

High school footballers from Whitworth are celebrating after their teams scored a treble.

Both boys’ teams from years seven and eight at Whitworth Community High won their respective Rossendale Cup finals – coincidentally against teams from The Valley Leadership Academy.

They now go forward to the English School’s Cup next year.

The year eights also won the Rossendale Championship League with a resounding 8-3 win over All Saints so next year they play in the Premiership against larger Rossendale high schools.

In the year seven final, Whitworth captain Mason Hayhurst scored early in the first half, and, although goalkeeper Xander Taylor had to make a save, the scoreline was 1-0 at half-time.

After a half-time team talk, Harvey Brierley made the scoreline 2-0 to Whitworth in the first minute of the second half.

Abdurrahman Malik, 12, said: “The whole team then pulled back and defended, and it worked.”

When the whistle blew, after the one-hour 10-minute match, the year 7s were hugging each other.

In year eight the team scored a double – they won the Rossendale Cup with a 5-1 scoreline and then won the Championship League.

In the cup final, Whitworth were 3-0 up at half-time, then The Valley scored a goal.

Adam Jones, 13, then scored five minutes before the end of the match. Jaden Okoye, 12, said: “In the last minute of the match, I scored from a header; it was the best action of the game.”

A few days later, the same side won the league with the resounding 8-3 scoreline.

Adam also plays with Norden team Pennine Juniors under 13s Black who won the Lancashire Cup and are currently top of the North Bury Junior Football League Premiership, hoping to complete a treble.

The Rossendale Cup final matches were played at Whitworth Valley and the other winners were: year nine Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, year 10 Haslingden High School and year 11 Haslingden High School.