Wilson's School

Leavers face victorious staff team

A notable fixture in the calendar, Tuesday saw the annual Year 13 Leavers vs Staff football match, with teams competing to claim the much-coveted Simmons Shield.

A sizeable (and somewhat partisan) supporting crowd welcomed the competitors and a Champions League-style entry ensued, as atmosphere reached fever pitch and staff kicked off this year’s event.

Year 13 started brightly, showing their speed and skill, eager to move the ball quickly. Early on the deadlock was broken when Jonathan’s pace left Mr McLaughlin in his wake and, whilst Mr Dixon saved the initial shot on goal, Myles was there to follow up and score. Cue wild supporter celebrations, music ringing from the student support and staff with work to do.

Further year 13 pressure saw Mr Dixon make smart saves before, on the stroke of half time, a staff set piece found its way to Mr Straw, whose clipped effort nobody quite still knows exactly how it went in, but it did. A timely reprieve for the staff and a terrific celebration from Mr Straw that had more aplomb than the finish. As Bill Shankly once stonily said, “Every goal is a good goal”.

Half time arrived and, as both teams took on provisions, managers shuffled their packs. Rumours of an innovative staff 3-3-3-1 formation from staff manager Miss Fairbrother unsettled the students and the staff stepped out for the second half with a glint in their eye that said, ‘this shield is staying with us’.

However, it is said that great pride comes before a great fall and so step up Emilio who, after breaking a few challenges in the centre of the pitch, unleashed a lovely low shot from 20 yards that sailed into the bottom corner. 2-1 to Year 13, a cacophony of celebrations in the grassy stands, and staff left with hands on hips.

But there is a reason that the staff are undefeated in this fixture for several years now, and Miss Fairbrother’s re-jigged staff midfield 3 began to influence the game more fully. A quick switch of play to the right and a fantastic Dr Karamath cross was beautifully headed in by debutant Mr Blake. 2-2.

In goal for Year 13, Adhrit showed calm and a deft touch in taking more than one raking staff long ball on his chest before delivering back up the pitch, and one of these forays led to Mr Dixon needing to push another Year 13 effort wide to keep staff in the game.

Both defences were holding firm, with Zeph, Mr Dudley and Mr Straw all assertively marshalling their players, and Josh and Tito industrious in midfield. The game sat finely-balanced.

As the half progressed, the increasingly-influential Mr Karamath then attacked the box from the left, combining power and prowess to move through challenges before being fouled in the box, with a penalty awarded. Up stepped Mr Palmer to send the keeper the wrong way and, for the first time in the game, staff were ahead.

Soon after, Mr Palmer was put through on the right of the box and he deftly cut the ball back for Mr Blake to tap in his second. Suddenly the staff machine had clicked into gear. In quick succession, some more fine Mr Karamath footwork, including amongst it a cheeky nutmeg, then allowed him to dink a ball to the back post where the oncoming Mr Palmer volleyed staff into a commanding lead, and he brought out his namesake’s ‘cold’ celebration to the delight of his nearby form. 

Staff momentum was now high and Mr Eves delivered a teasing corner into the box, where Mr Blake went full Fabrizio Ravanelli to head in a debut hat trick and stake his claim for Man of the Match. 

Despite the momentum change, Year 13 rang the changes and pushed back up the pitch. Determined work on the left wing saw the ball recycled back in and Mr Dixon’s save fell into the path of Zeph, who deservedly scored to reduce the deficit. 

With the final whistle bringing a 6-3 staff victory, the mutual respect between all competitors was evident to see as both sets of players spent time congratulating each other on a fiercely-contested match. Following gracious words from Zeph at the presentation ceremony, staff then enjoyed their moment as the shield returned into their hands for another year. 

A selection of photos from the match are available on the school's Instagram account (see below):