Brighton Boys' U-15s reach English Schools Final

[Al Bion]

Pride in defeat at Goodison
By Mike Donovan

Brighton and Hove's bid to lift the English Schools' Under-15 Trophy ended in heroic failure at Goodison Park last night.

The district were defeated 4-2 by hosts Liverpool with substitutes Steve Whelan and Jimmy Rae scoring their consolation goals.

Brighton were 3-0 down at the interval when manager Adam Brown introduced Whelan who reduced the arrears.

Whelan controlled a long ball from Brad Murray and lobbed home.

The hosts made it 4-1 before Rae cut their advantage in half.

He drove an Af Williams knock down into the net with 15 minutes left.

Brighton and Hove were re-instated after losing their quarter-final to Blackheath.

Their victors and opponents Plymouth were thrown out of the competition following a bad-tempered last-four showdown.

Then Brighton and Hove overcame Jersey to earn their date at the home of Everton FC.

Hopes of a belated revenge on Liverpool, who defeated them in the final at the same ground 52 years ago, proved beyond them.

Brown said: "It was just one step too far. I don't think the lads let down in the competition after being re-instated. They didn't let down anyone.

"Liverpool deserved the win but they were given a tough ride. It was disappointing to give away a few soft goals in the first half. But credit to the lads for not keeling over to come back and win the second half 2-1.

"We can all feel proud of their efforts."

Brighton and Hove Schools' under-15s: Josh James, Henry Golding, Sam Smith, Ahmed Shakur, Joss Goodwin, Brad Murray, George Hayward, Jordan Lang, Harrison Cullinane, Freddy barker, Af Williams. Substitutes: Nick Alden, Elliot Evans, Jimmy Rae, Seb Saunders, Steve Whelan.

 

[dougdeep]

They did well to get there, and they were playing in Liverpool. Perhaps next year.

 

[kalinski]

brings back memories of when i was in the Brighton Schools team and we got to the quarter finals of the national competition losing after a replay and extra time. That team had John Robinson in it...mind you distant past now as it was in 1985/86!

 

[SeagullRic]

No, I did not go as I stupidly rejected the chance to go with them to Swansea and sit on the bench.

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm quite good enough for that anyway. Af Williams is not on Brighton books, although they have twice offered him a contract. He says he 'doesn't like the atmosphere' and prefers to play for Whitehawk.

Brighton didn't get there on merit though, as they actually lost in the quarter finals to Blackheath 2-0. Blackheath and the tteam they played in the semis had a massive punch up though, so both were thrown out of the competition, before Brighton beat Jersey 3-2

George Hayward is quality, even if he's incredibly thick and Jordan Lang has just recently been offered a contract after a trial.

 

[Sajerz]

Schoolboy football is a notoriously bad indicator of which players will make it anyway.

History is littered with lads who were genius at the age of 12, but then disappeared off the radar. There are plenty of players who only really started to shine at 15 or 16. How many times do you read articles in the likes of The Sun excitedly telling how Chelsea have signed up some outstanding ten year old, yet these kids rarely come through in the end.

Paul Moulden was the classic example, if memory serves me correctly he was in the Guinness Book of Records for scoring something like 270 goals in a season for Bolton Lads, and everyone at Man City (where he was a schoolboy I think) thought he'd be the greatest thing ever.

Granted, he did make it as a pro, and had a few decent games for the Albion as I recall, but he was never the superstar he was predicted to be.

I still have a chance then!! :yahoo:

 

[Burgess Hill Seagulls]

Played against most of them and with one or two and they are class players!
Congratulations for getting there lads, would hate to come up against the team that beat you!

 

[Brovion]

No, I did not go as I stupidly rejected the chance to go with them to Swansea and sit on the bench.

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm quite good enough for that anyway. Af Williams is not on Brighton books, although they have twice offered him a contract. He says he 'doesn't like the atmosphere' and prefers to play for Whitehawk.

Brighton didn't get there on merit though, as they actually lost in the quarter finals to Blackheath 2-0. Blackheath and the tteam they played in the semis had a massive punch up though, so both were thrown out of the competition, before Brighton beat Jersey 3-2

George Hayward is quality, even if he's incredibly thick and Jordan Lang has just recently been offered a contract after a trial.

Yeah, it was Af I was alluding to in my earlier post about the lad who didn't want to play for Brighton. Josh (James) was the other one (apart from Geroge) I knew about as he's recently turned down Reading and plumped for Brighton instead.

I can't believe the Albion turned down Bradley Murray, and they can do worse than take a look at Ahmed - apparently he was Brighton's best player on Friday.