Thrills and spills at fog-hit Rotherham Schools Finals day
THICK fog couldn’t stop the 2026 Rotherham Schools Football Finals day from being a success.
The heavy mist throughout the morning added an extra layer of difficulty for players at the annual event at Wickersley School and Sports College, testing communication, awareness and composure.
Despite that the quality and intensity of the football never dropped, with five fixtures producing 17 goals and a dramatic penalty shootout.
That came in a tightly contested Year 7 between Wickersley and Wales.
With the game finishing 1-1 in normal time, the match went to penalties and Wickersley held their nerve to claim victory and the trophy.
Both sides showed quality and resilience in an excellent introduction to Finals Day.
In the Year 8 decider Wales edged a competitive encounter against Clifton 3–2 in a high-tempo contest in which both sides created chances.
Wales continued their strong showing in the Year 9 final, overcoming Wickersley 2–1.
It was as close as the scoreline suggests, Wales’ clinical edge making the difference.
The Year 10 final saw Wales make it three victories on the day by defeating Maltby 3–1 with another impressive performance, highlighting the school’s strength across multiple age groups.
The most clean cut result came in the 1st XI decider between Thomas Rotherham College and Wickersley.
It finished 3-0 with TRC controlling the game throughout.
The whole event was delivered by Maltby Learning Trust as part of a joint effort with hosts Wickersley.
Spokesman Elliott Flowers said: “The finals delivered another thrilling showcase of football and provided a platform for the borough’s most talented young players to shine.
“A special mention must go to the staff from Wickersley and Maltby Learning Trust, whose efforts ensured the event ran seamlessly and upheld the proud tradition of this historic competition.”
Work continues to try and compile a complete record of results dating back to the 1979/80 season.
Anyone with information on missing or incorrect results is encouraged to contact Elliott Flowers at [email protected]), with records available to view via the Maltby Learning Trust website.