South Wirral High School students Autumn Clarke and Jess Byrne have been central to a remarkable season for the Wirral Schools Under 15 Girls’ team, who have made it to both the English Schools FA Regional Semi-Final and the National Final—set to take place at the Bet 365 Stadium in Stoke this May (TBC).
The team’s journey to the final has been nothing short of impressive. They remained unbeaten throughout the league phase, overcoming strong sides such as Hyndburn & Ribble Valley, Knowsley, Redcar & Cleveland, Barnsley and Rotherham.
In the national quarter-finals, the team made the long journey to Brighton & Hove, where they secured a brilliant win. Autumn Clarke was named Player of the Match for her performance, while Jess Byrne contributed a key goal. Their momentum continued into the semi-final against last year’s runners-up, York, where the team battled to a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Both Autumn and Jess have been standout performers this season—Jess has played in every game, while Autumn has featured in 12 out of 13 matches, only missing one through injury. Their high standards on the pitch have led to numerous goals and Player of the Match accolades.
Wirral U15 Head Coach Phil praised their contributions, saying:
“Jess and Autumn have been a fantastic asset to the squad and are a credit to their school. It is an absolute privilege to coach these two outstanding players—they hold a very bright future in the sport and in life.”
Mr Cloherty, Headteacher at South Wirral High School, added:
“We are incredibly proud of Autumn and Jess. Their achievements are a testament not only to their dedication and talent but also to the values we hold at South Wirral. They continue to represent the school with distinction, and we will be cheering them on every step of the way.”