Whalley Primary Crowned Regional Champions in Premier League Primary Stars Tournament
Pupils from Whalley Primary School delivered an outstanding performance as they proudly represented Accrington Stanley Community Trust at the Premier League Primary Stars National Girls Football Tournament – Regional Qualifiers.
The tournament took place on 16th March at the impressive training facilities of Manchester City in the Community, where some of the region’s top primary school teams gathered to compete for a place in the national finals.
The competition began with three groups of five teams, with only the group winners and the best runner-up progressing to the semi-finals. Whalley Primary rose to the challenge in style, battling through a highly competitive group stage. The team showed resilience and quality throughout, securing three wins and one draw to finish top of their group and book their place in the knockout stages.
In the semi-final, Whalley faced a strong Huddersfield side, knowing that victory would secure qualification for the national finals. Fully focused and determined, the team produced a fantastic performance to win 3-1 in a closely contested match, sparking celebrations as they confirmed their place among the country’s elite.
The final against Stockport proved to be a dramatic and emotional encounter. Whalley took a 1-0 lead and looked set for victory, only for Stockport to equalise in the final five seconds, forcing the game into extra time. Showing incredible character, Whalley responded brilliantly. A long ball from Eilah found Elsie, who calmly flicked the ball past the goalkeeper to restore the lead at 2-1. The decisive moment sent the team into jubilation, and they held on to secure a memorable victory and become regional champions.
This incredible achievement means Whalley Primary School will now go on to represent Accrington Stanley Community Trust in the National Finals, competing against other regional winners from across the country.
Everyone at Accrington Stanley Community Trust expressed immense pride in the team’s success, praising not only their talent but also their attitude and teamwork throughout the tournament.
Jack Leaver said:
“The girls were a credit to themselves, the school and us as a community trust. They showcased their talents, work rate and incredible team spirit. They approached all the games in a positive manner and were a dream to work with. I’m so proud of them and cannot wait to see what else they can achieve together going forward.”
A truly remarkable achievement—and one that promises an exciting journey ahead at the national stage.
We would like to express our thanks to Manchester City in the Community for hosting such a great event and one that will live long in the memory of all the teams that were taking part today.
The Premier League Primary Stars National Final venue and date are to be confirmed.