After a keenly contested tournament, Rainham School for Girls won Gillingham Football Club’s regional phase of the EFL Utilita U13’s Cup, beating Rochester Grammar School 1-0 in the Final.
Ten schools took part in the 7-a-side tournament at Watling Park Football Centre and the winners now progress to the regional finals in January, where they’ll be representing the club for the ultimate prize of playing at Wembley before the Vertu Trophy Final.
Toby Waters, the club’s Football and Sports Community Manager organised the event, saying:
“It was great to have the ten schools taking part and the games were really competitive with the players showing great commitment and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Rainham School for Girls and we are looking forward to seeing how they get on in the next phase.”
Gillingham FC’s Co-owner and Director, Shannon Galinson, attended the event and commented:
“It’s fantastic to see so many young girls playing Football and enjoying the experience and we are looking forward to supporting the growth of female Football in Medway and the surrounding area in the future.
“Congratulations to all the schools that took part and good luck to Rainham School for Girls in the next phase.”
The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup – delivered by the EFL partners, Utilita Energy, the EFL and its 72 Club Community Organisations (CCOs) – are two of the country’s biggest national football competitions for schools and children.
In 2024/25, the annual football competition will see more than 20,000 boys and girls from across 2,500 local schools take to the pitch to represent the 72 EFL Clubs across England and Wales, bolstering the existing ties between clubs and their local communities.
