U16 TFC CHAMPIONS

Photos: @mediaplusuk.

The journey began on Friday, with families travelling to Derbyshire and checking into their hotels. By Sunday night, they were heading home with the TFC Under-16 Cup.

Between those journeys came five matches, 37 Braintree goals, a perfect group stage and a final that went down to a penalty shoot-out. There were individual honours for Yuvi and Max, too—but above all, this was a triumph of togetherness.

Braintree had already celebrated TFC success in other age groups. On their fourth appearance at Under-16 level in the competition, the club lifted the trophy at this age group for the first time.

A weekend built on two months of work

The tournament at Repton School on 24–25 October was the destination. The preparation had begun much earlier.

Since coming together in pre-season, this young squad had spent two months learning how to play with one another: when to be patient, when to change the approach and how to respond when a match turned against them.

For head coach Jack Harrod, that work was visible throughout the weekend.

“It was the togetherness that made me proudest,” he said. “From starting pre-season together and putting in two months of training, they went on to play some of the highest-level Under-16 futsal I’ve seen in this country.”

Braintree showed more than one way to play. They moved between 4–0 and 3–1 systems, involved their goalkeepers in possession and used a flying goalkeeper when needed. They could chase a game, protect an advantage and change its tempo.

At Repton, every part of that preparation would matter.

Saturday: three matches, three wins

An 8–1 victory over West Yorkshire gave Braintree an excellent start on Saturday morning.

Their next opponents, City of Peterborough, presented a much tighter test. In a match containing 13 goals, Braintree came through 7–6—a narrow margin that underlined the demands of the competition.

There was still another challenge before the day was done: Futsal 360 Bristol.

Braintree finished their group campaign with a 5–1 win, securing first place with three victories from three matches. They had scored 20 goals, conceded eight and collected all nine available points.

It was a strong Saturday. More significantly, it gave the squad a shared belief to carry into Sunday.

The group stage was complete. The trophy was still two matches away.

Sunday: belief becomes a place in the final

West Yorkshire stood between Braintree and the final.

The teams had already met in the group, but Sunday brought a fresh contest with a place in the championship match at stake. Braintree produced a 13–2 semi-final victory to earn their opportunity.

For Harrod, the performance grew from what the players had built together the previous day. Saturday’s experiences had strengthened their confidence—not just in themselves, but in one another.

Now came the biggest test of the weekend.

Waiting in the final were Futsal 360 Bristol.

The final: familiar opponents, a different challenge

There would be few surprises about how either team wanted to play.

Braintree had won their Saturday meeting, but that result gave Futsal 360 both a reason to respond and a match’s worth of information. Both sides had seen the other’s strengths. Both had time to consider what needed to change.

Futsal 360 raised their level.

What followed pushed Braintree to the last seconds of the tournament.

With three minutes remaining, Braintree led 4–2. The trophy was close, but the final was far from finished.

Futsal 360 fought back. Then, in the closing seconds, a spectacular strike into the top-left corner made it 4–4.

After everything Braintree had put into the weekend, the final would be decided from the penalty spot.

Max makes the cup-winning save

Both Braintree goalkeepers had been outstanding across the tournament, giving the team a platform to play and contributing to its progress.

For the shoot-out, the responsibility fell to Max—an Under-15 competing in the older age group.

He made two saves.

One of them was the save that won Braintree the cup.

After two days of competition, the decisive moment belonged to one of the squad’s youngest players. Braintree were TFC Under-16 Cup champions.

Four years of entering the competition at this age level had brought Braintree their first TFC Under-16 title, adding to the club’s previous successes in other age groups.

Photos: @mediaplusuk.

Individual honours within a team triumph

Braintree’s success was reflected in the tournament awards.

Yuvi, wearing number 6, won the Top Goalscorer award with 14 goals. His contribution put him at the top of the scoring chart across the entire event.

Max was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament, recognition of a weekend that ended with his decisive contribution in the shoot-out.

Those awards deserve their place in the story. So does the work around them: the movement that created chances, the defending that protected the goal and the willingness of players to adapt for the team.

This was a squad achievement.

Photos: @mediaplusuk.

A first Under-16 title—and a glimpse of what comes next

Three members of this Under-16 squad are still Under-15s and will be eligible to return to the tournament next year.

For the group as a whole, Repton offers encouragement for the challenges ahead.

Their next major target is the England Futsal Under-16 qualifiers at Loughborough University on 22 December, where they will aim to reach the knockout rounds beginning in January.

Beyond that lies the pathway into senior futsal.

Harrod believes the understanding developed by this group can help them make that transition. The ambition is for these players to arrive next season ready to compete as they become eligible at 16, carrying forward the confidence, adaptability and collective responsibility they showed at Repton.

There is more work to do. They now know what that work can produce.

For the families who made the journey

A weekend like this asks a great deal of families.

There is the Friday journey, the hotel booking, the meals, the travel costs and the time committed across three days. Behind that is the regular support that gets players to training and matches long before a trophy is in sight.

Braintree Futsal Club thanks every family for making that commitment, for believing in the sport and for trusting the club with their children’s development.

The players earned this title on court. Their families helped make the opportunity possible.

On Friday, they travelled to Repton for a tournament.

On Sunday night, they travelled home as champions.

Together.

Braintree’s route to the trophy

Group: Braintree 8–1 West Yorkshire

Group: City of Peterborough 6–7 Braintree

Group: Futsal 360 Bristol 1–5 Braintree

Semi-final: Braintree 13–2 West Yorkshire

Final: Futsal 360 Bristol 4–4 Braintree — Braintree won on penalties

Group winners: nine points from nine. Tournament goals: 37. Top Goalscorer: Yuvi, 14 goals. Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Max. TFC Under-16 Cup champions: Braintree.

Results: Futsal Index — TFC U16 Cup.

Have a question about this story? Contact the club.