Blackburn and Darwen School Games

Blackburn Primary 7-a-side Jubilee Shield Finals 2013/14

On Tuesday the 5th November St Bedes RC Sports College hosted the finals of the Blackburn Primaries 7-a-side Jubilee Shield finals.  The Jubilee shield has been contested since 1934 and is one of the oldest schools competitions in the country.

This year the finals consisted of 8 Schools who had qualified over 2 qualifying nights, in total an impressive 28 schools took part.  Schools were split into 2 groups and played the other teams in their group with the top 2 from each group going through to the semi-finals. 

Group one consisted of Salesbury, St James’ Blackburn, The Redeemer and St Paul’s RC.  Group 2 was St Francis, St Michael & St Johns, Feniscowles and Shadsworth.  The standard on display was exceptionally high, and in group one Salesbury won all of their games to top the group with St Paul’s and The Redeemer both registering a win a draw and a lose each. St Paul’s progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a better goal difference

Both Feniscowles and Shadsworth won 2 games and drew their game with each other, but Shadsworth topped the group thanks to a superior goal difference.

So the semifinals were between Salesbury and Feniscowles and Shadsworth and St Paul’s.  A last minute equaliser from Feniscowles sent the 1^st semi-final into extra time.  No goals were scored so we were faced with the drama of a penalty shoot-out.  In keeping with a game of high standards all 6 players scored their penalties which meant we went into ‘sudden-death’ eventually the 5^th penalty was missed by Salesbury which meant Feniscowles needed to score to reach the final.  The Fensicowles player dually kept his calm and sent Feniscowles into the final.

The second semi-final was a little more straight forward with Shadsworth proving too strong for a spirited St Paul’s team who can be proud of their 3^rd place finish.

So the final was a repeat of the 1^st game of the whole competition some 3 weeks previously, Shadsworth versus Feniscowles. Shadsworth took an early lead and then doubled it early in the second half; however, Feniscowles showed great character and determination and pulled a goal back with 2 minutes to go, bringing about a tense finish.  Despite some close calls Shadsworth hung on to be crowned 2013/14 Jubilee Shield winners and lift the historical trophy for the first time in their history.  Shadsworth will now go through to the county finals in Blackpool at the end of January and we all wish them well.

 

"This was a really enjoyable event to be involved with and it was great to see not only the high standard of football on display but also how much this competition means to the young people (and teachers!) of Blackburn.  All games were played in a really sportsman like spirit and the young people involved were a credit top their respective schools.  This competition seems to be growing in popularity every year and the fact that 28 schools competed boads well for the future of football within Blackburn and Darwen.   I would like to thank St Bedes and their staff for helping out with the running of the competition and for allowing us to use their excellent facilities for the 3 nights of the competition.  I would also like to say a massive thank you to Simon Keogh our School Games Coach and the Young leaders and Ambassadors from St Bedes who volunteered their time to referee all of the games in this competition"

Andrew Mercer Blackburn with Darwen School Games Organiser