United boss Paul Simpson and keeper Tomas Holy got the chance to say well done and good luck to the Trinity U13 Girls team on Wednesday afternoon for their efforts in this season’s EFL Utilita Girls Cup competition.
The girls will be representing their school, the city, the club and themselves at the final of the Papa Johns Trophy at Wembley on Sunday 2 April (Bolton Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle), where they will face Surbiton High School for the right to be crowned champions.
And the route to their showcase game has not been an easy one, with three different six-a-side tournaments to negotiate along the way.
First up was their success in the area final, which included clubs and schools from Carlisle and West Cumbria, before they moved on to the north-west finals held in Burnley.
Having won that one they progressed to the northern finals in Accrington where they played against Hartlepool, Hull and Tranmere.
Their reward is their weekend in the capital and a game on one of the most famous pitches and in one of the best known stadiums in the world, where they will get:
+ A stadium tour
+ Use of the changing rooms
+ The chance to meet professional players before the game
+ The girls names projected on the boards around the pitch
+ Their own EFL strip made for the girls to play in and to keep
+ Travel and accommodation all paid for
+ Tickets to stay and watch the Papa Johns Trophy final
Emma Crook, for the Community Sports Trust, said: “It’s an amazing opportunity for the girls to get this once in a lifetime chance to play at Wembley, and we are so proud that they have represented Trinity School and Carlisle United so well.
“Whatever happens now they’ve been fantastic, and we hope they really enjoy the experience and the weekend.”
Manager Paul Simpson said: “It was brilliant to be able to meet the girls this week and talk to them about their route to the final.
“They have done exceptionally well, and it’s now about them going and enjoying themselves. Not many people get the chance to play at Wembley, so they are joining a relatively exclusive club!
“If they win, fantastic, but I don’t think it’s about that. They’ve done the hard work to get to the final, now it’s about really taking it all in and making sure that they really do enjoy everything about the magnificent time they’re going to have down there.”
Keeper Tomas Holy said: “When I was told that they’d been through a series of competitions to get to play at Wembley all I could think was, wow!
“They’ve done so well and I passed on a good luck message from all of the players. They’re going to play in one of the best stadiums in the world and I really do hope they have a wonderful time.”
