Talented young footballers from Bishop’s Stortford and the surrounding area played a key role in their Essex-based team winning a continental title.
FC Evolution’s under-12 girls triumphed at the Barcelona Cup tournament thanks to a 2-1 victory over Newbury District in the final in sweltering conditions in Spain.
Niamh Caulfield and Matilda Port, who attend Birchwood High School and Northgate Primary School respectively, scored four goals apiece in the competition.
Hatfield Heath Primary School pupil Ayda Davies, whose dad Simon Davies played for Tottenham, Everton and Fulham and won 58 Wales caps, also bagged four goals.
Also part of the triumphant squad were Holly Coughlan, who goes to Henham & Ugley Primary School, and Felsted Prep School’s Jessica Sullivan, with both players netting twice.
The other players part of the success were Madeleine Lockwood, Maisie Catling, Luca Rose Younan, Eva Branch and Talisia Napier.
Many of the team started playing the game under the late Ray Greenwood at Bishop’s Stortford Community Football Club.
More than 80 teams from countries including England, Ireland, France and Spain competed across the under-11 to under-15 age groups, with FC Evolution entering four sides in the under-11, under-12, under-13 and under-15 sections.
The under-12s first took part in a divisional round and won all three matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding five, to come top.
They won their semi-final on penalties before overcoming Newbury District in the final to lift the trophy.
It completed a successful season for the team, who are sponsored by Hatfield Heath-based Reset Cryotherapy, as they won their division in a Brentwood-based boys’ league and were runners-up in the county cup.
FC Evolution’s head of girls’ football Sarah Smith said: “Taking the girls to this international tournament is such a great experience for them on and off the pitch.
“They have made memories for life doing what they love - playing football with their friends. “I’m privileged to be part of this club, working with such talented players at a time when girls’ and women’s football continues to grow to new heights.
“I’m so proud of all the girls that play for FC Evolution, they’re amazing.”