Ocklynge Junior School recently represented Eastbourne Borough FC at the regional stage of the National League Trust U11 Football Tournament held at Tonbridge.

Having won both of the Area boys and girls tournaments held at Priory Lane Stadium before Christmas, the next round saw both Ocklynge teams battle it out against the very best Primary Schools from across the South East. In addition to Eastbourne Borough FC there were Primary Schools representing National League sides that included Maidstone Utd, Welling, Dartford, Tonbridge Angels and Southend Utd.

Having battled through the group stages and then on in to the knockout rounds both Ocklynge teams made it through to their final, with the boys winning 1-0 against Southend Utd in a nail biting thriller and the girls narrowly losing out by a similar scoreline to a determined Tonbridge side who they had already beaten twice earlier in the day.

Eastbourne Borough Community Manager Tim Brown was on hand to support the staff and players, and was full of praise for how well Ocklynge Junior School had performed throughout the day. “Enormous congratulations must go to the amazing children, their hugely supportive parents and especially to Mr Clay and Mr Piercy who have both worked so hard with both teams,” he said.

”The standard of football was exceptional, and to play over 120 minutes of football across ten games and come out with both boys and girls teams qualifying for the Southern Finals next month in Slough is an outstanding achievement.

“Our Primary School representatives have traditionally never progressed past this stage of the tournament so to have both teams make it to the next round is possibly a first and extremely exciting for everyone involved!”

Everyone at Eastbourne Borough Football Club congratulates Ocklynge Junior School on becoming South East Region Primary School Champions for 2023/24 and the club wishes both teams every success at the Southern Finals in their bid to reach Wembley to play the Northern Champions on FA Cup Final day in May.