It was a great weekend for Bradford City players, and an equally special one for five of the club’s under-15s.
The day before the Bradford defeated Northampton 3-0 in the npower League Two play-off final, Bantams age-group players Daniel Devine, Kesi Omolokum, Sumali Cissa, Reece Webb-Foster and Matthew Foulds were helping Bradford Boys win the English Schools’ Football Association Under-15 Trophy.
They defeated Brent Boys 3-0 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, with Webb-Foster bagging a hat-trick to become the first player to grab a treble in a national schools’ final at the stadium since Victor Moses scored all five for Whitgift School against Healing School from Grimsby.
“All the boys then went down to watch Bradford City at Wembley but our game was not a 3-0 game like City’s was,” said Bradford Boys manager Clive Truelove. “It was more like a 1-0 or a 2-0.
“We didn’t go down to watch Brent in their 2-1 semi-final win over Blackheath the previous weekend but we understood that they are a very strong side.
“They have a couple of lads attached to QPR and a couple to Arsenal but their coach said we were one of the few teams who could match them physically. We also showed more composure on the ball.”
Truelove added: “Reece’s first goal was like Nahki Wells’ in reverse. Matthew Foulds went down the left wing, crossed the ball and Reece put it in at the far post.
“His second was from a through ball and he had the strength to hold off two defenders before putting it under the keeper’s body. Reece’s third came after he rounded the keeper and scored with his left foot.
“We have the replica trophy but apparently the original, which we are waiting for, is 3ft high and has to be delivered by Securicor.
“There won’t be an open-top bus parade but we hope to have a civic reception. We have already e-mailed the Lord Mayor!”
Bradford won the trophy in 1916 with a goal from Maurice Wellock, and shared it in 1991.
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