A new junior football team are making waves in their first season together.
Long Sutton Athletic u13s are sitting proud at the top of Division Six of the Peterborough & District Junior Alliance in their debut season.
They won their first seven games, scoring 37 goals and conceding just 11 before going down for the first time 5-3 at Boston Blacks. They also beat Park Farm Pumas 8-1 in the Hereward Cup.
The team was started by friends Stacey Mills and Anya Goy to support their sons Ryan and Connor, who were both passionate about football.
Stacey said: “They were in a team but did not enjoy it there. So myself and Anya applied for an FA grant to encourage women into coaching football. We took the plunge and five weeks of training led to us becoming qualified FA coaches.
“We advertised the team and were overwhelmed with the response from children and parents. We started as a team in June this year. We are the managers, with the players coached by our husbands Gavin and Craig, who have done a fantastic job training the children.”
The squad now consists of 18 players and Stacey said: “I want to say a massive well done to every single one of them. They train rain, shine, day and night.
“That dedication and hard work led to us being undefeated for so long.
“From when we started this time last year with two boys, who just wanted to get outside and play football, to having 18 children doing so well as a team is an unbelievable feeling. I am so proud of them. Without these guys the dream would never have become a reality.”
She also thanked fellow parents for their support as well as sponsors Emerald Homes, Chews Pawfection and HPS Builders.
