Pupils from Shire Oak School have enjoyed outstanding success once again on the sports field in the 2009 Walsall “Kick Racism out of Football” football tournament held at the Bescot Stadium on the 16th October.  This young team of accomplished footballers went all the way to clinch the crown with five wins recorded and no goals conceded throughout the day’s football.

The year 8 squad started the tournament with a solid 3-0 win beating Bluecoat School in the first pool game. In their second match against a Shelfield “A” team, the boys ran out 1-0 winners in a close fought game.  Having already qualified for the semi-finals, the team took on a Bescot Panthers team and comfortably disposed of them 2-0 with the whole squad stepping up to perform to a really high standard.

The semi-finals pitted Shire Oak against a Shelfield “B” team in a game that would ultimately decide who would play for the trophy in the final. Shire Oak played some outstanding football to force their way past Shelfield with another comfortable 2-0 win.  The final would prove to be a game full of missed opportunities and great football.  Shire Oak fielded their strongest team against their previous group opponents, Shelfield “A” team.  Shire Oak spent the whole game battering down the door of the Shelfield goal but the ball would not cross the line, thanks to a fine string of saves from the Shelfield goalkeeper. With the game going into “Golden Goal” extra time, Andre Brown stepped up to take a throw in.  He launched the ball into the oppositions half and it was neatly plucked out of the air by Connor Nelson.  Skinning his defender, Nelson slotted the ball past the Shelfield keeper into the corner.  The game was won by 2 pieces of magical football and was very much deserved for the Shire Oak team.

Boys PE teacher – James Gibbons said, “It was great for the boys to be invited to this tournament as it was not only about the football but also about the meaning behind the national campaign to kick racism out of football.  All of our boys deserved to win today as their attitude and conduct both on and off the field was spot on and I really could not have asked for anymore.  I am delighted and proud for the boys to win this trophy as it just shows how successful the school has become across the board in sport this year.  They have done ever so well and I’m proud of them.”

Shire Oak also entered their Year 7 team into the Walsall “Kick Racism out of Football” Tournament. These boys are unbeaten this season and did really well to reach the semi-finals before going out to Shelfield “A” team.