A fantastic 130 pupils took part in the GDST Southern Region U12 Football and U11 Netball Festival hosted at our newly refurbished sports grounds in Lower Sydenham.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity for girls to develop their skills, build confidence, and enjoy participating in a variety of competitive matches.

Throughout the day, pupils demonstrated excellent teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship as they challenged themselves against players from other GDST schools. The festival allowed participants to put their training into practice while gaining valuable match experience in a supportive and encouraging environment.

A particular highlight was the football festival, where the girls had the opportunity to mix with pupils from other schools and compete in a series of exciting matches. It was inspiring to see players forming new friendships, embracing challenges, and representing the school with enthusiasm and pride.

Well, done to all the pupils who took part and contributed to such a successful and enjoyable day of sport. We look forward to seeing their continued progress throughout the year.

On Wednesday afternoon, our U11 A and B teams kicked off the football season at home in an exciting set of fixtures against JAGS. The afternoon served as crucial preparation for this Saturday’s IAPS Regional Tournament, with several girls stepping up to play across both teams to maximise match practice ahead of the weekend.

The U11 A team earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a physical, high-quality match. The girls set a bright early tempo when Zara made a brilliant drive down the right wing and struck the post, allowing Amabel to smartly slot home the rebound. Although JAGS managed to equalise with an unstoppable strike into the top corner, our team showed fantastic resilience by responding instantly. Amabel scored her second from close range, and the team defended brilliantly through the final minutes to secure the win. The opposition’s vote of Player of the Match went to Amabel for her sharp finishing, whilst Mr Rowlands named Zara his Player of the Match for brilliantly taking tactical feedback on board and applying it directly to her play.

The U11 B team enjoyed a much more comfortable afternoon, delivering a dominant performance to win 4-0. It was a complete team effort, highlighted by goals from Cece, Zara, Sadie, and debutant Thea. Sadie was chosen as Opposition Player of the Match for her high-energy hustling and well-taken goal. Meanwhile, Mr Matthews awarded his Player of the Match to Thea for her impressive technical display and debut goal.

A huge well done to all the girls involved for an outstanding start to the season. It provides fantastic momentum to build on as our representative squad heads into Saturday’s regional tournament, good luck to everyone taking part!