Milton Abbey Football Flying High!

Milton Abbey Football Flying High: Team Triumphs, Emerging Talent, and a Season to Remember

It has been another busy and successful term of football at Milton Abbey, with all four teams making strong starts across their competitions. Each squad has shown fantastic progress and development, setting the stage for an exciting Lent term.

TEAM REFLECTIONS

First XI:

The Firsts have enjoyed an excellent term, playing 13 matches and recording 9 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. This gives the team a 73% win rate and places them 21st out of 245 schools nationwide – an outstanding achievement given the size of Milton Abbey compared to many of its opponents. The defeats came against Champion Football Academy, Charterhouse (a top-20 football school nationally), and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who have remained unbeaten for 18 months. The Firsts now look ahead to the second half of the season still competing in two major tournaments – the Dorset U19 Cup and the Society of Heads – and are currently in the quarter-finals of the Dorset Schools Cup after a dominant 13–1 victory in the previous round.

Second XI:

The highlight of the term has been the remarkable success of the Second XI, who went on to win their league – a competition previously won by our First XI – with 3 wins and 2 draws. This achievement is particularly impressive given the strength of opposition, which included Canford, Warminster, Kings Bruton, Downside, and Taunton. The victory marks a significant milestone in the development of the Seconds, who have transitioned from a more social side into a competitive squad under the guidance of established coaches. Over the course of the term, the team played 8 matches, recording 3 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, giving them a 57% win rate and ranking them 33rd out of 93 schools. Considering they often faced first teams and schools with much larger player pools, this success is a testament to their commitment, progress, and growing competitiveness.

U15s:

The U15s faced one of the toughest fixture lists this term, playing 10 matches with 4 wins and 6 losses, leaving them 84th out of 189 schools. Their fixtures included cup ties against some of the country’s strongest football schools, such as Whitgift, currently ranked 5th nationally. Despite a narrow 3–0 defeat, the result was highly respectable given Whitgift’s depth of four U15 squads compared to Milton Abbey’s smaller pool of 14 boys across U14s and U15s. A highlight of the term was their 2–1 victory over Marlborough in the ISFA first round, handing Marlborough their only defeat of the season. The U15s now look forward to the West Dorset Cup with optimism.

Girls’ Programme:

The girls’ football programme continues to grow, with sessions introduced during Round Square on Friday afternoons and coaching provided by Matty Burrows of Weymouth FC and Champion Academy. The girls have played three fixtures this term, winning two and losing one, with more matches scheduled for next term. Football will also be added to the summer sports programme, further strengthening opportunities for girls at Milton Abbey.

Looking ahead, Milton Abbey will welcome two new teams into the football programme. The U16s will enter the Society of Heads knockout competition, aiming to progress further than ever before, while the U18 Third XI will, for the first time in school history, enjoy a full fixture card against local schools across the South West.

INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES

ISFA U17 Trials:

Six Lower Sixth Milton Abbey boys – Zach A, Sean E, Phanuel A, Ini A, Khalid AS, and Kobi C – were nominated for ISFA U17 trials at Eton College in September. This record representation highlights the depth of talent within the school. All players performed superbly, showcasing their footballing ability, work ethic, and ambition, while acting as excellent ambassadors for Milton Abbey.

North Dorset Schools:

Congratulations to Fourth Form students Alfie C, Keenan P, Seb A, and James SR, who were selected to trial for the North Dorset Schools U15s team. Alfie and Keenan have since been named in the squad and played their first fixtures. All four boys have also made their debuts for the U18s Milton Abbey teams, contributing strongly to performances.

Senior Football Success:

Euan J, Middle Sixth, has taken his first steps into semi-professional football this term, making his debut for Shaftesbury in the Southern League (Step 4) before joining Portland United in the Wessex Premier League (Step 5). He has been a consistent presence since dual signing, gaining valuable minutes and experience as he looks to climb the football pyramid.

Theo S, also in Middle Sixth, has also progressed, signing for Blandford United in the Dorset Premier League. He has become a regular starter, helping the team push for promotion into Wessex One (Step 6). Euan and Theo’s journey as football scholars at Milton Abbey reflects their ability to balance academic studies with sporting ambitions. Through our partnership with Champion, they train weekly with Dorchester U23s and have gained valuable match experience against Winchester U23s, Weymouth U23s, and Poole Town U23s.

This term has demonstrated the strength, depth, and ambition of Milton Abbey football. With team success across multiple age groups, growing opportunities for girls, and individual players making strides into representative and semi-professional football, the programme continues to thrive. The Lent term promises even greater achievements.