Argyle Community Trust’s Cornwall Post 16 Football and Education team completed an historic league and cup double this season when they were crowned EFL Community & Education Football Alliance (CEFA) Cup winners with victory against Derby County Community Trust.
CEFA is a football competition run for EFL Club Community Organisations, featuring teams representing Premier League and EFL Clubs across the country.
A fiercely contested final in Doncaster ended in victory for the Pilgrims as goals from Ben Shaw, Greg Eastman, and Ned Symons saw off a strong Derby side to lift the EFL CEFA Cup for the second season in a row.
The game got off to a fast start with Derby largely control possession. Argyle, however, were able to use their pace, catching Derby with two quick-fire counter attacks, Shaw netting the opener on eight minutes and Eastman adding another just a minute after the restart before Derby could react.
Argyle continued to threaten and created numerous chances whilst defending resolutely with Derby continuing to dominate possession for the remainder of the half.
The second half followed much the same format with Argyle strong and organised at the back and restricting Derby to few clear-cut chances. Derby’s frustration grew as the half went on with Argyle forcing them to resort to efforts from range.
Morgan Jones made a fantastic save at 2-0 which proved to be a pivotal moment in the game as, against the run of play, Ned Symons finished well on the break on 80 minutes, a fitting goal to settle a fantastic cup tie.
Argyle Community Trust Head of Football for Cornwall Jamie Day said: “I’m delighted for the players. The commitment they have shown throughout the cup competition, which started back in September, has been really impressive.
“The lads have shown some incredible character and drive with some tough away journeys and balancing their club football with their education. I’m pleased they have something to show for it – National Champions!
“They had to dig in at times out of possession, but we always felt there were goals in the team and they executed the game plan brilliantly.”
Cornwall Education Manager Mike Foley added: “Winning the National Cup competition is a truly remarkable achievement and the culmination of many years of hard work in building the programme to be where it is today.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our incredible staff team, including our Head of Football, tutors, coaches, physiotherapists, goalkeeper coach, and the unwavering commitment of our players.
“Since the programme’s inception in 2012, we have strived to create a culture of excellence that inspires young footballers to achieve their full potential. The standards and work ethic we expect of our students and players are that of a young professional footballer, and we are immensely proud to provide the tools and skills needed for these talented players to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. We firmly believe that we are the very best place for the best players to come for their post-16 education in Cornwall.
“Moreover, our programme offers a fantastic education that has opened doors for our past students, providing them with opportunities overseas, at top universities, and in the sporting world, including the FA and Plymouth Argyle Academy. As the programme manager, I am extremely proud of our team and the tremendous success we have achieved. This latest victory is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our unwavering dedication to providing our players with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive both on and off the pitch.”
The team was able to celebrate their success at a recent CEFA Awards Ceremony at Wembley on the day of the League One Play-Off Final.
The end-of-season awards ceremony celebrated all eight winners ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s victory against Barnsley which saw the Owls join Argyle in the Championship next season.
The players were hosted in a suite inside Wembley, had photos taken on the turf, and watched the Championship Play-Off Final from the stands.
Congratulations to all the winners, and huge thanks to our friends at Derby County Community Trust for a superb final.
If you are interested in combining A-level equivalent qualifications with the life of a professional footballer get in touch https://argylecommunitytrust.co.uk/what-we-do/post-16-football-programme/.