LYN GREEN GRAB CUP IN GRAND FINALE!

Lyndon Green ended the season for 2025-26 by securing the ESPSFA Cup in dramatic fashion pipping Abbey to the prize in the process - the second time in a week Abbey have had to settle for runner-up medals.

There were just six teams left to vie for the season finale following late withdrawals over the previous 24 hours so instead of a knockout tournament, the ESPSFA Cup was played - as it was last season - on a league basis with each school playing each other. And with Short Heath unable to attend, there was always going to be a different ESPSFA Cup winner for the first time in four years.

The eventual winners, Lyndon Green, began inconspicuously as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Guardian Angels. Pre-tournament favourites, Abbey, began their afternoon with a hard-fought 3-2 win over old foes, SS Peter & Paul. Timberley - as they did in the Year 5 competition last week - set their stall out with a resounding 7-0 victory against Rosary.

And in the second round of games, Rosary were once again defeated, this time 4-1 by Lyndon Green. Abbey backed up their opening win by seeing off Timberley, 4-1 whilst SSPP picked up their first three points as they edged past Guardian Angels, 2-1.

Round three saw Abbey hit four again, this time against Guardian Angels to make it three wins from three games. Lyndon Green were 3-2 over a battling Timberley side as SSPP netted themselves another win, downing Rosary, 3-1.

The penultimate round of matches saw both Lyndon Green and Abbey take maximum points and so, going into the final set of fixtures, Abbey led the way on 12 points with Green, two adrift. And lo and behold, purely by chance, the two would face each other in the final round of games to ultimately decide the cup winners. A point would have been enough for Abbey to take the cup to Erdington and they took an early lead but Lyndon Green turned on the after-burners and scored four times without reply to leap-frog Abbey into first place in dramatic style and to take home the coveted, albeit sparkling new, ESPSFA Cup.

So there we go, another amazing, wonderful and exciting ESPSFA season comes to an end, a season in which almost 500 children were given the chance to represent their schools in competitive matches from Year 3 to Year 6, boys and girls and SEND children too. Thanks to all who have made this season so enjoyable.

ESPSFA - Better than ever, Stronger together.