Football in Opole

Longfield Academy have just returned from their own version of the European Championships in Poland. They were there as Darlington's representatives in a tournament organised by our cousin twin town of Opole to celebrate their nation holding the major European Championships.

 

There was strong competition from various countries including Hungary,Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Czech Republic and Ukraine.

 

Longfield started with a 3-1 win over one of the German teams followed by a 5-1 win v the Czechs. however the heat got to them by the third game  and they lost 2-3 to Russia. This meant they had  to start day 2 with a win against the strong home Polish team. They duly obliged beating them 3-0 to top the group and reach the semi-finals.

 

In the afternoon of day 2 they played their semi-final against Germany but despite being level with 6 minutes to go, lost 2-0. They there fore had to play Lithuania in the 3rd place playoff on day 3.

Despite the fact Lithuania had won the other group, Longfield easily beat them to finish 3rd. this was a remarkable achievement taking into account Longfield were a school team whilst the others were representative teams drawn from lots of schools and clubs.

 

The sqaud all born after 1997 included Connor Pearce, Ellis Rochester, Callum Bates, Alex Nelson, Alex Grocott, Andrew McNab, Scott Pattinson, Nathan Stephenson, David Parker, Caleb Paduraria, Lewis Rees, Craig Edwards, Lewis Macdonald Jonny Lazenby, and Bradley Middleton.

 

Report by Keith Gilbertson