A women’s team has become football’s latest “invincibles” by remaining unbeaten all season – while playing in a men’s league.
Queens Park Ladies under-12s finished top of Bournemouth Youth Division Three Soccer Championship, with 18 wins, four draws and no defeats.
They dominated the 11 men’s teams in the league, scoring 61 goals and conceding just 11.
At the end of all matches, the team had 58 points, 16 more than second place, which still had two matches to play.
To make their triumph even sweeter, they had to overcome initial resistance from county FA chiefs, who initially told them they would have to play in a women’s competition.
The under-12 team celebrates winning the championship. Photo: Ladies of Queens Park
Manager Toby Green was convinced his team was good enough to play the boys every week and the players, who train twice a week, proved him right on the pitch.
Next season, the girls will be promoted to the under-13 second division.
They topped the league away to Moordown & Southbourne several weeks ago, but clinched the ‘Invincibles’ title last weekend with a 3-0 victory over Lymington Town.
Speaking to Sky News, Green said: “The girls did really, really well. They worked hard throughout the season, not just in games but also in training.
“They were very disciplined…they deserve it.”
Photo: Ladies of Queens Park
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Green said securing the league title with a 3-0 away win against a team who had won six games in a row was one of the highlights of the season.
“We really had to push ourselves, especially away from home,” he said.
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Four of the girls on the 14-player squad have been playing together since they were five years old.
Green started the team when his daughter Olivia told him she wanted to play soccer. He had previously coached his eldest daughter as the only girl on a boys’ team and decided this time that he would put together a girls’ team, but wanted them to play in the boys’ league.
The team hopes to inspire more girls to get involved in football.
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