Hailsham Primary Cluster Girls Football

On Wednesday 6th May, girls from across the Hailsham Primary Cluster participated in a competitive and thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of football. Six of the eight primary schools from the partnership were in attendance, with parents and carers turning out in great numbers to support the teams from the sidelines and help create a positive, encouraging atmosphere.

The tournament gave all participants the opportunity to proudly represent their schools in competitive fixtures. For some pupils, this was their first experience of playing football or of representing their school in a competitive setting. Regardless of experience, the girls were exceptional throughout, displaying fantastic effort, commitment and attitude in every game.

A particular mention must go to Hellingly, who competed throughout the tournament with just six players. Despite being short of numbers, they showed remarkable resilience and teamwork, earning two hard‑fought 0–0 draws and valuable points in the final standings. Their determination and team spirit were a credit to the school.

The lower end of the league table proved extremely tight, with Thornton Grove, Hellingly and Hankham all separated by goal difference at the end of the competition. Thornton Grove came agonisingly close to securing a 1–0 victory in their final match but were unable to convert a close‑range chance, leaving them finishing 6th overall. Hellingly finished just above them on two points with a goal difference of -6.

Hankham, who arguably had the smallest pool of pupils to select from, also competed superbly throughout the tournament. They recorded two impressive 0–0 draws and were only narrowly beaten by Herstmonceux, Hawkes Farm and Hailsham Academy, all of whom had been scoring freely against other teams.

Moving on to the top three, Herstmonceux secured the bronze medals after an impressive campaign, recording three wins and two defeats to finish on nine points with a +1 goal difference. In addition to their performances on the pitch, Herstmonceux stood out for their outstanding support from the sidelines, arriving with handmade banners and leading chants throughout the afternoon. Their enthusiasm added greatly to the atmosphere and was a real credit to the school community.

The tournament concluded with a thrilling contest between the top two sides, with the title not decided until the final game of the day. Going into this decisive fixture, both Hailsham Academy and Hawkes Farm had won all four of their previous matches. Hawkes Farm sat on 12 points with a +14 goal difference, while Hailsham Academy were also on 12 points with a +12 goal difference, meaning Hawkes Farm required just a draw to secure the tournament title.

The final match lived up to expectations, proving to be a tense encounter with neither side willing to give an inch. With both defences holding firm, the game was ultimately decided in the closing minutes when Hailsham Academy broke through to score, leaving little time for Hawkes Farm to respond.

The goal secured victory in the match and confirmed Hailsham Academy as tournament champions. Credit must go to the players for their composure and determination. This success capped off an excellent period for Hailsham Academy, who have now claimed two titles in as many weeks, having also won the Dodgeball tournament the previous week.

A big thanks as always to the staff for taking the time to bring the children along, giving up their time to support them throughout the event.

We look forward to welcoming the primary schools again this week at the re-arranged Cross Country event.