Honeybourne Hawks Reach Final in Prestigious Football Tournament

Local football team Honeybourne Hawks FC achieved remarkable success at the FA affiliated Crowle Football Tournament on Saturday 17th May, with several players from Honeybourne School representing the village with pride.
The tournament, featuring 24 teams from various FA affiliated leagues across the Cheltenham and Worcestershire area, proved to be a challenging competition that showcased the talent and determination of our young local players.
Honeybourne Hawks made an impressive start to the tournament, winning their opening two matches with goals from William Attridge. Their defensive resilience was particularly noteworthy, as they managed to keep clean sheets in their first three games, including a hard-fought draw against a strong Stratford Town side.
The team’s defensive determination continued through the group stages, with the Hawks not conceding a single goal until their fourth match – their only group stage defeat. Lucas Spiers stepped up to score the crucial goal in their fifth match, securing another victory, and a final group game draw was enough to see the team through to the semi-finals.
The semi-final against Perdiswell proved to be a nail-biting affair. With no goals scored during regular play, the match went to a penalty shootout where Honeybourne’s young players showed exceptional character under pressure.
All five penalty takers held their nerve, with Honeybourne School pupils Alfie Mitchell, Dexter Saunders, and William Attridge joining Leo Corbett and Jake Fay in successfully converting their spot kicks. A fantastic penalty save by goalkeeper William Giddings sealed Honeybourne Hawks’ place in the final.
The final against Chaddesley was a closely contested match that saw Honeybourne dominated possession of the game. The Hawks created several scoring opportunities and showed great bravery in expressing themselves on the ball under pressure. Despite their strong performance, they were ultimately defeated by a single goal in what proved to be an entertaining final.
Coach Steve Attridge praised the team’s achievements, noting that reaching the final of such a high-standard tournament was an incredible accomplishment. “Congratulations to all the players who showed amazing composure, character, determination and ability,” he said.
The team featured five players from Honeybourne School: Alfie Mitchell, Dexter Saunders, Lucas Spiers, William Attridge, and Leo Callaghan, alongside players from outside the village: Leo Corbett, Jake Fay, Sam Reynolds, Oscar Matthews and William Giddings.
This outstanding achievement reflects the quality of young football talent in our community and demonstrates the positive impact of local sports clubs in developing both athletic skills and character in our young people. The entire village can be proud of how these young players represented Honeybourne on such a prestigious stage.