Cardinal Allen Triumph in Thrilling Final to Win Fleetwood Town Community Trust’s EFL Girls Cup

Last Thursday, Fleetwood Town Community Trust proudly hosted its annual EFL Girls Cup at the outstanding Poolfoot Farm training complex — and what a day of football it was. With crisp winter weather and plenty of excitement in the air, 135 talented Year 7 and 8 girls from local schools took to the pitches for a festival of teamwork, competition, and passion for the game.

A total of 15 teams, each bringing a squad of nine players, competed in a 7-a-side format across three highly competitive groups. The top three schools in each group and the best overall runner-up progressed to the knockout stages, setting the stage for some nail-biting football as teams battled to become the EFL Girls Cup champions and take the next step on the national stage.

From the first whistle, the level of play was exceptional. Coaches, staff, and supporters were treated to a fantastic showcase of skill, determination, and sportsmanship. Despite the cold conditions, the girls brought relentless energy, scoring brilliant goals, showing incredible teamwork, and demonstrating everything that is positive about the growth of the girls’ game.

After an exciting morning of group-stage action and a dramatic series of knockout fixtures, the competition culminated in a thrilling final between Cardinal Allen (A) and St Aidans. The match lived up to its billing, with both teams playing free-flowing, attacking football and showing great resilience at both ends of the pitch.

In a close and entertaining encounter, it was Cardinal Allen (A) who emerged victorious with a 2–1 win, securing the title and receiving the winner’s pennant in front of their proud teammates and supporters. Their performance across the whole tournament was outstanding, combining discipline, flair, and a strong team spirit throughout the day.

As champions, Cardinal Allen (A) will now go on to represent the Fleetwood Town FC Community Trust in the regional stage of the EFL Girls Cup, where they will compete against other qualifying schools from across the North West. The date and venue for the next round will be confirmed soon.

Fleetwood Town Community Trust would like to congratulate all teams for their effort, behaviour, and commitment throughout the event. The day highlighted the incredible development of girls’ football in the local area and demonstrated the power of sport in bringing young people together.

A huge thank you is also extended to school staff, volunteers, parents, and Poolfoot Farm for helping make the day such a success.

We look forward to cheering on Cardinal Allen as they continue their EFL Girls Cup journey — and celebrating many more opportunities for girls to engage, develop, and shine through football.