ESFA Internationals, The World of Schools' Football

Throwback Thursday – 2016’s International Success

With the 2019 England squads’ international journeys cut short and ahead of the 20/21 squad selections, we’re going on our travels with ESFA photographer, Garry Griffiths (353 Photography), to recount some of the International action he managed to capture back in 2016


Today’s “˜Throwback Thursday’ sees us jump into the time machine and back to 2016 when we tasted international success with both the Girls U15 and Boys U18 squads etching their name on silverware.

England U15 Girls 1 – 0 ROI U15 Girls
Bob Docherty Cup Final 2016

The Bob Docherty Cup was held in South Wales and England’s girls went into the final game against the Republic of Ireland having claimed their place in the title decider with 2-0 wins over Wales, with goals from Katie Robinson and Sophie Quirk, and then Scotland as Ellie Hack and Jodie Hutton hit the target.

In a close and tense final there would be just one goal that settled it and that came from Holly Manders in the second half as the England girls held on to lift the trophy in front of a large travelling army of England supporters – even a torrential downpour seconds after the presentation could not dampen the spirits after a tough 3 days of competition in Newport.

England U18 Boys 2 – 2 Republic of Ireland
Centenary Shield Final 2016

Just 3 days earlier, at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium, the Under 18 Boys had put themselves in pole position for the Centenary Shield title with their third win of the competition, a 2-1 win over Scotland thanks to a brace from Aaron Smith.

The late winner at Fleetwood ensured the lads went into the final game with the Republic of Ireland on the back of three successive 2-1 wins having beaten Northern Ireland (scorers Joe Thomas and Zak Lilley) and Wales (scorers George Lamb and Aaron Smith) before the win over the Auld Enemy.

It proved not to be the latest goal of the international season though, the following week saw the Republic take a 2-0 lead before Smith was again on target to halve the deficit before substitute Sam Grouse bundled home a dramatic equaliser in injury time to break Irish hearts and hand England the shield.

Two dramatic and successful campaigns that will live in the memory for a long time to come!

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