Pembrokeshire County Schools FA has just finished a very successful season culminating with the Under 11’s side becoming joint Welsh Champions with Cardiff and Vale Schools after playing some terrific football throughout the season.
 
This year the County Schools have run teams from under 8 to under 13’s plus an under 15’s side, which means over 150 Pembrokeshire boys and girls have represented their county.
 

Younger players do really well . . . and just champion under 11s!

 
The under 8’s, under 9’s and under 10’s played in festivals organised by the Welsh Schools FA,  playing against other county schools sides from Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen and  Bridgend – and the players competed well against these larger counties to show the strength and depth of talent in Pembrokeshire
 
The under 11’s Tom Yeoman’s side had a fantastic season. This very talented group of players deserved their place in the finals after some excellent displays of football against Afan Nedd, Swansea, Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. In the finals they beat very strong Flint and RCT squads to meet Bangor in the semi-finals. This was a one-sided affair leading to Pembs getting to the finals for the second year running. The final was a close-run game with Pembs having chances to win, but Cardiff defended well. A draw was a fair result with both sides declared joint Welsh Champions.

 


Great experiences for older players in a terrific learning curve

 
 
The under 12’s, under 13’s and under 15’s played in their respective league age groups in the Welsh Schools Inter-Association  Cup Competition. These matches involved playing against some very strong sides, some consisting of Swansea City, Cardiff City and Bristol Rovers Academy players, who are released by their professional clubs for schools matches. 
 
The commitment by the Pembrokeshire County Schools’ players and parents to travel to places like Newport and Cardiff for midweek matches was commendable and these teams had the opportunities to play on some of the best pitches in Wales.
 
These games were a learning curve for the Pembs players and with Premier League Scouts watching all matches anyone who has aspirations to be professional players had the opportunity to showcase their skills. 
 

Thank you coaches . . .

 
The expansion of the Pembrokeshire Schools’ programme meant  an increased number  of volunteer coaches  who gave up their time to run the sides.
These were:
Under 8’s Jo Craig and Sam Hilling
Under 9’s Matt Holman
Under 10’s Angie Nicholls and Vince Malone
Under 11’s Angie Nicholls and Vince Malone
Under 12’s Jonny Sutton, Adrian Blundell and Darren James
Under 13’s Vince Malone
Under 15’s  Gareth Noot
Goalkeeper coach Bernard Steer
 

. . . Plus clubs and sponsors!

 
Pembrokeshire County Schools would like to thank all the Pembrokeshire League Clubs who loaned their grounds for County Schools matches over the season:
Tenby AFC   for allowing the Tom Yeoman home matches on their pitches.
Kilgetty AFC, Merlin’s Bridge, Pennar AFC, Manorbier AFC, Neyland AFC, Carew AFC, Milford United AFC
 
The Pembs Schools FA would also like to thank all their generous sponsors:
Milford Haven Port Authority
Dragon LNG
Plumb Centre , Tenby,
The Rising Sun, Pelcomb Cross
Hyundai Motors
Kit Supplies Business Partners:  3Q Sports
 
Special presentation evenings . . . and more to come!
 
The under 11’s recently held their Presentation Night at Heatherton, thanks to the generosity of Charles Davies.  Awards and certificates were presented by former schools’ player Frazer Finlay, who gained an under 19’ Welsh Colleges Cap with Pembrokeshire College.
 
The under 8’s, 9’s and 10’s also had a Presentation Night at Heatherton and all players were presented with a Pembrokeshire County Schools bag. Thanks to Martin Evans (Swansea City AFC and Welsh Schools FA vice chairman) for supplying a signed Swansea ball for the raffle.
 
Arrangements are in hand for the Under 12’s 13’s and 15’s Presentation Evening
 

Thanks to referees and local press

 
Thanks also go to the Pembrokeshire referees for officiating at the home matches and Pembrokeshire Sport.co.uk, Western Telegraph and Tenby Observer for supporting schools football over the season.
 
Trials have already been held for next season’s squads with some friendly matches already being played. Thanks to West Dragons AFC for providing a pitch for the Under 10’s side.
 
Anyone interested in getting involved with schools football or sponsoring the sides please get in touch with secretary Angie Nicholls using the contact form on our website:
www.pembrokeshiresfa.co.uk

Our photos show the younger players, the under 11s and under 12s