National Academy wins the Utilita Girls Cup Local Finals!

Yesterday, the Utilita Girls Cup Local Finals brought together 10 schools from across Nottinghamshire for a day of competitive and enjoyable football, with each team aiming for the chance to represent Mansfield Town in the next stages of the competition.

It was our greatest turnout yet for the competition! Our 10 schools attending were: Meden, Joseph Whitaker, Selston, Magnus, Samworth, National Academy, Manor Academy, Minster, Garibaldi, and Sutton Academy. Seeing this many schools take part this time was fantastic and really highlights how the support for girls’ football continues to grow across our local area. Throughout the afternoon, the matches were competitive and showcased excellent skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship from all players.

The tournament was split into two groups, with teams competing within their respective pools. In the end, it came down to the final match between those at the top of their groups, National Academy and Meden. After a tense 0-0 draw in regular time, the game went to a penalty shootout, with National Academy narrowly winning 3-2.

A huge congratulations to National Academy! They now advance to the area finals in January. Success there could see them progress to the regional finals and, ultimately, the chance to play at Wembley Stadium. They’ve also earned an invitation to be flagbearers at our Her Game Too fixture in March, a well-deserved recognition of their achievement.

Once again, a big thank you to all the teams, coaches, and families who came to support the players and help make the day a success. With such a strong turnout, the extra encouragement made a real difference.

👇 Check out our tournament gallery below!