As Saturday dawned, so did the realisation of what today was – and it was the Falcons’ first foray into tournament football. With Aaron away, it was down to Jenna to make sure these players gave their all and you know what? She did more than that…

We made our way over to the Manchester Communications Academy with the simple hope that the kids would enjoy their first experience of knock-out football and we came home having only GONE AND MADE IT TO THE FINAL! Honestly – we burst with pride as we type this – but this set of players who only got together in the summer played their socks off and not only did they make it out of the group stage but they made it all the way to the end. What an achievement eh?

Superbly organised and run throughout the day, the facilitators ensured that all of the teams got lots of football as like the Champions League, there were groups of four with the top two making the quarter-finals – and our heroes done so well! With Amelia and Connor both saving a brace of penalties, they more than played their part in getting us through to the latter stages – and their team-mates followed them with stunning displays every time they were called upon…

We faced the likes of Ramsbottom Rovers, Failsworth Wolves and Urmston Meadowside in group stages – along with Richmond Rovers (who we also played in the quarter-final) and JFC Phoenix Flames (our semi-final opponents) – and then it was Rochdalians Pumas in the Final! A massive shout-out to the players of all of the teams – and their supporters – because you all made it the fantastic day it was! Have a good season you lot…

Back to the actual football though and with each game, the Falcons just got better and better. Henry and both Noah H and Noah M scored some cracking goals and their calmness when slotting home their penalties belied their tender years. Let’s not forget the rock-solid defence either – as Toby, Remy and Miller stood strong all day and if a team did manage to get past them, they had to use all of their might to do so. Superb performances all across our back-line and the County fans were loving it…

And when that final whistle went to end the final game, we were not bringing the trophy home – but we were all winners! Each and every player that wore our shirt today did us proud and with Jenna beaming from ear to ear, she too more than proved her worth to our great Club. Our first-ever tournament – and we’d got to the Final!

So as the players were hugged and praised by their adorning fans, the feeling was one of ‘we want to do this again please!’ Jenna wanted to share her appreciation to the parents when County TV managed to catch up with her and she had this to say: “What a day that was! I could almost burst with the pride that I’ve got for these kids and each to a player, they did everything that I asked. None of us could ever of imagined us coming here and making it all the way to the Final and I think this is something that will last with me and plenty of others for a long, long time. I also wanted to thank the parents for their continued support throughout the day – and the season – and I really hope that you all went home happy’

Happy? We’re over the moon! Well done Falcons! Here’s to the next one now…

#UpTheCounty!