by Peter Scherer
Not for the first time Mickleover Academy have ended the season with both the Regional and National titles under their belt.
Back in 20-21 Mickleover had won the Midlands ESPFA title, before seeing off both the Northern and Southern Champions, and only two years later it’s a repeat in the National Academy.
Having secured the Northern title, the play-off for the National title was on the Oxford City ground at 7pm last Wednesday evening, racing the might of Southern Champions West Ham Utd.
Sports youngsters had dominated the game and only a string of critical saves from the Hammers keeper kept the game goalless.
But the deadlock was finally broken in the 75th minute, when George Atwal fired in a telling cross, for Ethan Mann to send a powerful header into the back of the net.
It sealed a strong and successful season for the whole squad, but even more so for Mann. After earning his place in the first team this year, he not only scored the winning goal in Wednesday’s final, but was also named as Man of the Match.
“The boys have dedicated their victory to the memory of former team mate Finn Bowen, on an amazing night for the club, which cements the hard work I have been able to do with Pablo Mills and Andy Dales,” concluded Sports gaffer John McGrath.