COPLESTON Sports College Girls Football Club have collected their first piece of silverware in the club's four-year history thanks to penalty shoot-out victory.

By STUART WATSON

stuart.watson@archant.co.uk

COPLESTON Sports College Girls Football Club have collected their first piece of silverware in the club's four-year history thanks to penalty shoot-out victory.

Although the various teams at the club struggled when it was first formed, this season has capped a rapid period of improvement across the age groups.

The under-11s are only playing their second season together in the Suffolk Girls and Womens' Football League but have completed a league and cup double.

Having dropped just five points on their way to the league title, Paul Cantin's side also secured the league cup courtesy of a penalty shoot-out win over Waveney Girls A.

Paul Ryan, who helps assist Cantin alongside Mandy Southgate, said: “Throughout the season, in both competitions, the girls played 16 games, won 12, drew three and lost only one, with 53 goals scored and only nine conceded. It has been a great effort from the girls who are so dedicated.”

Elsewhere, four of the club's other sides - the U10s, U11s, U12s and U15s - were all runners-up in their respective league cup finals, while the U13 side made the semi-final stage of their campaign.

Club chairman Matthew Steward said: “It has been a fantastic year for the club. We have won small tournaments before but this is our first major trophy.

“Next year we will be adding an under-16 team and will have the full range of age groups represented for the first time ever. Things are certainly heading in the right direction.”

And the club had further reason to celebrate recently when it was announced that the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity, will be providing them with a brand new female range of football kits

The new Nike kit, worth £400, was awarded to the club as part of the Foundation's Junior Kit Scheme. This provides new strips and equipment to teams across the country and is fronted by Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott.

Steward said: “The kit budget is very tight and without the help of the Football Foundation we would not have been able to get the girls all this brilliant new equipment.

“We would like to thank Helen Bass at the Suffolk FA and the Football Foundation for this excellent grant and brilliant scheme.”