SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Silver medal for Yeovil team

THE men’s football team at Yeovil College has won a silver medal at the Association of Colleges championships following triumph in the regional league.

The national Association of Colleges (AOC) championships represent the highlight of the sporting calendar for many colleges and sixth forms.

The event brings together 1,800 elite student sportsmen and women from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who take part in a range of events in a three-day, 14-sport competition at the University of Bath’s SportsTrainingVillage.  Yeovil College students have regularly competed at this level in previous years.

Coached by lecturers Andrew Mitchell and Matt Hann, Yeovil’s football team took silver in the five-a-side competition.

Captained by Louis Irwin, 17, the team comprised of Liam Norris, 19, Aaron White, 17, Connor Williams, 16, Scott Morgan, 18, Dom Szalas, 19, Steve Flynn, 17, Duncan McCabe, 19, Harry Richards, 17, Matt Buse, 17, all of Yeovil, and 18-year-old Brett Cotterill, of Radstock.

The Yeovil football team finished the tournament with six wins, two draws and one defeat, leading to the silver medal.

PHOTO – TOP: The Yeovil College team with, back row from left, Brett Cotterill, Duncan McCabe, captain Louis Irwin, Liam Norris, Matt Buse, Dom Szalas, Aaron White and, front from left, Connor Williams, Steve Flynn, Harry Richards, and Scott Morgan.

It was an outstanding achievement for the Yeovil students, who took on teams representing professional outfits including Tottenham Hotspur, MK Dons and Rotherham United.

This result comes hot on the heels of Yeovil’s triumph at the AOC’s South West as regional finals, where it beat off tough competition from eight other regional colleges.

The team has received specialist coaching through the College’s Elite Sports programme, as well as benefitting from the institution’s partnership with Yeovil Town Football Club.  This led to student players working with assistant manager Terry Skiverton and first team coach Darren Way.

Manager of the Yeovil College team Andrew Mitchell said: “I’m very proud of the team for their work rate, commitment, teamwork and achievement at the national championships.

“To come away as UK silver medallists is a huge achievement on top of their regional success. The players have had a fantastic experience as part of our Elite Sports programme, which is complimented by our link with Yeovil Town Football Club.

“They are a fantastic example of how hard work and commitment both in and out of the classroom can lead to success.”

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