Cambridge Football Club grade 10 McCartney tournament winners.jpg – Cambridge Football Club’s Grade 10 McCartney Invitational Tournament champions celebrate their win at Crown Park in Taupo. Photo: supplied.
Cambridge Football Club’s 10th grade team had plenty to cheer about last weekend after their win at Australasia’s largest junior football tournament.
The team played 12 other teams from around Aotearoa at the annual McCartney Invitational Tournament in Taupo, winning eight games, drawing one and losing three to take out grade 10.
They scored 22 goals in total and conceded seven to finish just one point ahead of closest rivals, the Tawa Titans.
“This is a big achievement for the kids,” said Cambridge Football Club official David Gaiger.
“There were clubs from Wellington and Auckland represented in their grade that have significantly larger playing bases to choose from and target McCartney as a tournament to perform well at as an advertisement for their programmes.”
Cambridge Football Club sent nine boys’ and girls’ teams to the tournament, which was run by Taupo AFC at Crown Park from October 6-8 and attracted about 140 teams from around New Zealand.
Established in 2004, the annual event caters for 9th-15th grade players.
Two other Cambridge Football Club teams narrowly missed top three placings. Its grade 9 boys’ team finished fourth with seven wins, one draw and three losses and its grade 12 boys’ team was also fourth with seven wins, two draws and two losses.
“It was a huge logistical effort from all the team managers to ensure all teams and players were in the right places at the right times,” Gaiger said.
“The weather ranged from baking hot to freezing cold, wet and windy, so it was definitely a physical challenge to make sure everyone was strapped up and iced, ready to go for the next game.”
He said each team played about five hours of football across the weekend.
“The McCartney tournament is a great way to end the season and acknowledge the efforts put in by kids and parents alike,” he said.
“It is something for players to strive to be selected for and gives great opportunities to play against different opposition and see how other clubs and teams are set up.”
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- Cam Livingstone, 12, on attack for Cambridge Football Club’s grade 12 team, which finished fourth at the McCartney tournament. Photo Steph Bell-Jenkins.
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- Cambridge Football Club player Toby Cornegé,11, lines up a shot for his Grade 12 team at Crown Park in Taupo during a match on Sunday. Photo Steph Bell-Jenkins.
