Altrincham has reason to be proud after the community sports team made the final of the National Premier League Primary Stars tournament… 

The girls, who are all from Bowdon Church School, took part in the tournament which featured over 1000 teams, only narrowly being denied victory in the end at Watford’s Vicarage Road. 

The tournament has begun to grow rapidly in reputation for schools up and down the country since its inception by the Premier League in 2017. With every primary school in England and Wales eligible to take part in the development programme which has been a huge success in aiding children to be active, happy and learning. To the point where the tournament has been recognised by many as the best and most prestigious junior football tournament and the most well-recognised primary school tournament in the UK. 

Support was given throughout the event with senior manager Phil Parkinson voicing his support before the national finals began. “We wish you all the best luck in the world, keep representing and  try and bring that trophy home!” Parkinson already has knowledge of the passion young people can engage within sport, as he was a former youngster at Crewe Alexandra as well as a sports science lecturer before becoming Alty boss on a full-time basis last April…

Despite losing the first game of the finals 1-0 to QPR’s Under Eleven’s side. The girls went on to claim some brilliant results in their remaining group games to progress, with 1-0, 2-0 and 5-0 wins respectively putting the Bowden Church School girls through to the semi-finals, which would have been enough to make the whole Altrincham community proud, however, the girls went one better and won 1-0 to reach the final of a tournament which started with over 1000 teams from all around the country.

Although the final wasn’t meant to be for the young Robins representatives, in an eventual defeat to tournament winners Newport County Under Eleven’s, they have certainly done themselves proud as well as the surrounding community of Altrincham and Greater Manchester. With once again, the community spirit of Altrincham showing itself off to the rest of the country and beyond. Just a few weeks after the Alty for All and Her Game Too campaigns at the football club. These girls have shown themselves off as stars of the community and can go back to Bowden Church School with their heads held high…

The team put in some unbelievable performances throughout and kept going right to the end due to the unbelievable support they received from their parents , who had travelled down with the squad the day before.

The Girls with Teacher Lyndsey Cochrane, PE Teacher Steve Lewis & AFC Community Coach AJ.