Reigning champions Thurrock among the teams defeated (From Thurrock Gazette)

Success for district team

12:00pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport

FOOTBALL: THE Basildon Primary Schools’ district football team has hit the ground running this season.

The team was only reformed for the current campaign after an absence of 20 years.

But the side is unbeaten in their last four games and are second in the Essex Finch League.

They have already beaten Redbridge and reigning champions Thurrock, and currently only have a talented Barking team ahead of them.

“The managers are incredibly proud of the team,” said Lee Chapel Primary assistant headteacher Ian Hampshire, who runs the side with Ben Figg, also from Lee Chapel, and Lincewood Primary’s Simon Horne.

“They have gelled well and pulled off some fantastic results against teams comprised mainly of professional academy football players. “They have really made the district of Basildon proud and put it on the footballing map.”

The top scorers so far for Basildon this season are Louis Young and Ralphie Cohen, both of Lee Chapel Primary, who have scored five goals each.

Basildon’s managers are already looking to build on the success of the team, which is drawn from Year 6 pupils in Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.

They plan to enter more Essex and national competitions against districts from around England.

Trials for next season’s team will start early in September and parents of boys currently in Year 5 interested in arranging a trial can contact Ian Hampshire on 01268 474177.