Don’t you just love our beautiful game! Having had success last weekend with our u11 Team Storm Girls, this time it was the turn of our u11 Bullets – as they went over to the Horwich St Mary’s Summer Football Tournament and only brought another piece of silverware back to The County Ground!

This is always a very competitive competition with eight well-matched teams all vying to be the winners and when we saw the groups, we knew we were going to have to be at our very best if we wanted to progress. Turton FC, Prestwich Marauders and Culcheth were to be our opponents and if we could get through that, then we would have a really good chance of going all the way. Well guess what? We did…

Two solid victories over firstly Turton and then Prestwich – both won by a single goal – saw us go into the last game against Culcheth knowing that we’d made the semi-final however despite another sterling performance from the lads, the opposition managed to come out on top – again by the single goal. This had been a really tight group and credit to each and every player out there – and their supporters – because although the temperature was hitting the 80’s, everybody there was giving it their all. So into the last four we went – brimming with confidence and with smiles aplenty…

We were taking on a strong Horwich side for our place in the Final and as the lads got themselves ready, they knew the importance of this one. A win and we were in with a shout for the trophy. But we were up against the hosts and with a vocal support, this was going to be difficult. But believe us when we say that the County faithful were also in full voice and a great display of attacking, defending and passing the ball well saw us victorious! The Bullets were in the Final and it was great! We just had to overcome the only team that had beaten us today now and that Cup was coming home with us…

We knew what Culcheth would bring so the coaches prepped them well. Keep working hard. Make the ball do the running in this heat – so pass it well and make sure you gave your team-mate an option when he had it at his feet. And above all us – enjoy it! We had done so well today that we had to finish it in style surely. Well we did – and when that final whistle went, it was Bolton County Bullets that had to get our name engraved on that trophy! Each to a lad, they had left out there and had shown that when they are prepared to work hard, good things come. So as we picked up the silverware in front of a jubilant County bank of fans, it was job done and we were going home as the winners! What a feeling…

As expected, Daniel had a smile that was beaming from ear to ear and when County TV managed to catch up with him, he was full of pride: ‘From the first whistle going in that opening group game until the very last kick of the Final, all of our players put in a displays of quick attacking football that backed up by a super-solid defence, made it extremely difficult for anybody to get the better of us’ he said. ‘To go through the whole tournament only conceding two goals shows that the attitude was spot-on and all of them should be really proud of the way they represented our famous badge today. A massive thanks to Dean for helping out and for those County fans that made themselves heard every time we went out there. A good day at the office if you ask me’ Now those there are the words of one proud coach…

And as the dust started to settle on Scholes Bank, the last words must be for all of the players, clubs and supporters that had made it such a great day and we’re sure some people are going home slightly darker-tanned than when they first arrived. What a glorious day eh? And massive respect to Horwich St Marys for being such hospitable hosts once again and we cannot wait to come back next season to try and defend our title.

How good does that sound?

#UpTheCounty!