A Busy Week of Sport and Inspiration from Former KSA Pupils and Challenge Cup Winners

It has been another action-packed and inspiring week of sport at King’s St Alban’s, with pupils competing across a wide range of events including cross country, swimming, football and netball. From national competitions and regional qualifiers to exciting local fixtures, our pupils have shown fantastic commitment, teamwork and determination throughout.

Adding to the excitement of the week, we were delighted to welcome back former KSA pupils Charlie, Ollie S and Louis L, fresh from their Challenge Cup success. It was wonderful for our current pupils to meet them, hear about their sporting journeys and receive words of encouragement and advice. Their visit was a fantastic reminder of where dedication, teamwork and a love of sport can lead, and it certainly provided plenty of inspiration for our young athletes as they headed into their own busy week of competition.

Across all events, pupils represented the school with great pride, demonstrating a real passion for sport. Here is a look back at another fantastic week of fixtures and achievements.

Sunday 1st March

U11/10 Cross Country at Malvern College

On Sunday, our U11/10 cross country teams travelled to Malvern College to compete in the National Cross Country Championships, with schools attending from all across the country. It was a fantastic opportunity for our runners to test themselves against some of the strongest school teams in the UK.

The course proved to be extremely challenging. Rain over the past few weeks left sections of the route covered in standing water, while the runners also had to contend with several steep climbs followed by fast, technical descents. It was a true cross country test that demanded resilience, strength and determination from every competitor.

Representing the school for the boys were Max, Adam, Dylan and Harvey, while Nell, Thea, Elizabeth and Nell ran for the girls. All eight athletes showed tremendous commitment and gave their very best effort in difficult conditions. Their positive attitude and determination throughout the races were particularly impressive.

The girls’ race got off to a dramatic start for Nell Davies, who unfortunately tripped early on and found herself having to begin her race from near the back of the field. Despite this setback, Nell showed excellent determination to work her way through the field, eventually finishing in an outstanding 22nd place. The girls’ team ran strongly throughout and finished 11th in the country in the Large Schools category and 7th in the Small Schools category — a superb achievement at national level.

In the boys’ race, Dylan also suffered an early fall which left him starting from near the rear of the pack. Like Nell, he showed real grit and resilience to recover and continue battling throughout the race. Supported by strong efforts from Max, Adam and Harvey, the boys’ team finished 34th nationally in the Large Schools category and 13th in the Small Schools category.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience for the team, competing against athletes from across the country. Every runner represented the school with pride. Their effort, determination and team spirit were a credit to themselves and the school.

Monday 2nd March

U11/10 IAPS Swimming at Warwick

On Monday, our swimmers travelled to Warwick School to compete in the IAPS Swimming Competition, racing against some of the strongest swimmers from independent schools across the West Midlands. The standard of competition was extremely high, providing a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to test themselves against some excellent swimmers from across the region.

Representing the school for the girls were Millie, Thea, Martha, Nell, Elizabeth, Romi, Elodie, Lillianna, Maddie and Poppy. The boys’ team was made up of Jacob, Adam, Max G, Ben, Harvey, Max C, Albert and Dylan.

Throughout the gala, all of our swimmers performed superbly and represented the school with great pride. The races were highly competitive, but our pupils showed excellent determination, focus and sportsmanship in every event.

It was particularly pleasing to see the progress that many of the swimmers have made. Their performances were a clear reflection of the hard work they have been putting in both at their external swimming clubs and during school PE lessons and swimming clubs. Their commitment to training and improving their technique is clearly paying off.

Well done to all the swimmers who took part for their fantastic effort and for representing the school so positively in a very strong regional competition.

Tuesday 3rd March

U9/8 Football Tournament at King’s Hawford (Team 1)

The majority of the Year 3 and 4 boys made the short journey to King’s Hawford on Tuesday afternoon to take part in a friendly football festival against teams from King’s Hawford, Winterfold School and RGS The Grange.

The boys were split into two mixed teams, with KSA Team 1 beginning their afternoon against King’s Hawford Team 1. The boys got the festival off to a fantastic start with a strong defensive display, preventing Hawford from finding the net. Gabriel was the standout player, scoring an excellent hat-trick to secure a convincing 3–0 victory for KSA.

As the other schools had slightly different squad numbers, several of the boys very kindly volunteered to join the other KSA team or play for Hawford when needed. This demonstrated excellent teamwork and sportsmanship, and meant the team line-up changed slightly for each match. Despite this, the boys played together superbly throughout the afternoon. Milan performed well in goal, while Xander, Ben, Edward and Mikaeel worked tirelessly in midfield. Archie and Akshay put in strong defensive performances, while Gabriel led the attack with great energy. Sam and Geoffey also contributed well during their appearances for Team 1.

The team’s next match was against Hawford Team 2. Despite creating a number of good opportunities, the boys were unable to find the back of the net and the match finished in a well-fought 0–0 draw.

KSA’s final match was against RGS The Grange and proved to be another closely contested encounter. Both sides worked hard in attack and defence, but the breakthrough eventually came when Sam scored to put KSA 1–0 ahead. Mikaeel, who had worked tirelessly all afternoon, then added a second with a well-taken and thoroughly deserved goal to secure a 2–0 win.

This result meant that KSA Team 1 finished the afternoon unbeaten – a fantastic achievement and a reward for the boys’ excellent effort, teamwork and football skills throughout the festival. To top things off, KSA Team 2 also remained unbeaten in their matches, putting the icing on the cake for a very successful afternoon.

Well done to all of the Year 3 and 4 boys who took part — Geoffey, Ben, Rory, Xander, Edward, Mikaeel, Sam, Milan, Magson, Gabriel, Archie and Akshay — who represented King’s St Alban’s so well.

A big thank you also to the parents who came along to support the boys. Your encouragement on the sidelines, as always, was greatly appreciated.

U9/8 Football Tournament at King’s Hawford (Team 2)

The Kings St Albans U8 and U9 squads enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of football at the King’s Hawford Festival on Tuesday, showcasing skill, teamwork, and brilliant determination in warm conditions. The players rose to the occasion superbly and finished the day unbeaten across all three of their matches.

The standout attacking moment of the afternoon came in our well‑earned victory, where Sam scored two excellent goals, both taken with confidence and composure. His finishing gave the team a well-deserved win and set the tone for a strong overall performance.

U9/8 Football Tournament at RGS

On Tuesday, the U9/8 football team travelled to RGS to take part in an exciting football tournament against several local schools. The team produced some excellent football across the afternoon and showed great determination and teamwork throughout.

The first group game was against The Elms School. The team played some very good football and created lots of chances throughout the match. Unfortunately, it was one of those games where the ball simply would not go into the net despite our best efforts, and the game finished 0–0.

The second game was against Hereford Cathedral School. KSA went 1–0 down early on, but the team showed brilliant resilience and refused to give up. After some good work down the left side, the ball was crossed into Hugo F, who finished well to level the score. Shortly afterwards, Archie scored a lovely goal that nestled into the corner of the net, giving KSA a 2–1 lead and securing a well-deserved victory.

The third group game was against our hosts, RGS. Unfortunately, we conceded three goals in the first half, which made it very difficult to get back into the match. Despite continuing to work hard, we were unable to recover.

Finishing second in the group meant we faced Claines in a 3rd place play-off. Once again, the team played some excellent football and were the better side for much of the game, but we struggled to convert our chances. The match finished 0–0, leaving the teams unable to be separated.

Overall, this was the best football the team has played all term. The players worked incredibly hard, created lots of chances and played with great teamwork and determination. It was a very positive afternoon and a performance the whole team should be proud of.

U9/8 Netball v MSJ

What a fantastic performance from our U8/9 team in their match against The Elms! The girls showed brilliant teamwork, determination and growing confidence throughout the game.

From the first whistle, the team worked tirelessly in both attack and defence, moving the ball down the court with increasing control and awareness. Their passing was sharp, and they supported each other well, creating some excellent scoring opportunities.

A special mention goes to Luna H, who had an outstanding game. Her shooting was fantastic throughout the match, with impressive accuracy and composure in the circle. Not only did she convert key chances, but her constant movement and strong attacking work created space and opportunities for her teammates. For her all-round performance and impact on the game, Luna was deservedly awarded player of the match.

Another brilliant performance came from Nell H, who was exceptional in defence. She made some crucial interceptions and showed great determination in winning the ball back. What stood out most was her fantastic transition from defence into attack, quickly turning over possession and driving the team forward to keep the pressure on The Elms.

Overall, it was a wonderful team effort with every player contributing, encouraging one another and showing great sportsmanship. The progress they are making each week is fantastic to see, well done, girls!

U9/8 Netball v MSJ

The U8/U9 netball teams delivered an outstanding afternoon of sport in their triangular fixture against Malvern St James and The Elms, securing two impressive victories. From the outset, the girls played with energy, teamwork and excellent control of the game, moving the ball confidently through all areas of the court.

Tiegan was exceptional throughout, earning Player of the Match in both games thanks to her brilliant interceptions, quick reactions and superb shooting. She consistently disrupted opposition play and finished her chances clinically. Leen also impressed in the shooting circle, demonstrating accuracy and composure to help secure our strong scorelines. Hibah deserves special praise for her intelligent positioning, always appearing in the right place at the right time to support play.

Molly, Olivia and Alice all worked tirelessly, contributing fantastic movement, strong passing and determined defence.

It was a superb team effort, and all players should feel incredibly proud. Well done!

Wednesday 4th March

U11 Football v King’s Hawford and Winterfold

On Wednesday, our team took part in a triangular football fixture against King’s Hawford and Winterfold House. It was a great afternoon of football with plenty of positives to take from both matches.

Our first game was against King’s Hawford. The KSA team played well throughout, creating lots of chances and seeing a great deal of the ball. Max and Adam were both heavily involved, using their skill and pace to beat defenders and drive the team forward.

At the back, Nell, Jacob and Pip all worked extremely hard in defence, making strong tackles, staying well organised and showing excellent positioning. Further forward, Ben, Zack and Joshua were lively in attack, putting pressure on the opposition defence and goalkeeper.

Our pressure eventually paid off when we were fortunate to capitalise on a goalkeeper mistake, giving KSA the lead. The team then showed good composure to control the remainder of the game and hold on for the win.

The second match was against Winterfold. We unfortunately conceded an early goal, but the team responded well and significantly improved as the game went on. Once again, we created several good chances but were unable to convert them, with one of the Winterfold defenders having a particularly excellent game to keep us out.

At the other end, Hugo made a brilliant point-blank save to keep us in the match. As we pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Winterfold managed to score again with the final kick of the game.

Despite the result in the second match, there were many positives to take from the afternoon. The team worked hard, created plenty of chances and showed great teamwork throughout both games.

U10 Football v King’s Hawford and Winterfold

The Year 5 boys made the short journey to King’s Hawford on Wednesday afternoon to play two well-contested football matches.

The first fixture was against King’s Hawford. The boys from St. Alban’s began strongly, making excellent use of the downhill slope in the first half to apply sustained pressure on the home side. After several early chances, some tidy interplay through midfield saw the ball worked up the pitch before St. Alban’s scored their first goal of the half-term as a Year 5 team.

In the second half, King’s Hawford created a handful of opportunities, but Haadi was ever-present in goal – calm, alert, and consistently in the right place to gather or block every shot that came his way. With determined defending and impressive teamwork, the boys held firm to secure a 1-0 victory: their first, and much deserved, win of the term.

Next up was Winterfold, and despite conceding midway through the first half, the St. Alban’s boys showed tremendous perseverance and character. Their efforts were rewarded when they battled back to score an equaliser, making it 1-1. Defending the slope in the second half proved challenging, and although the boys worked tirelessly, Winterfold managed to edge ahead with a second goal. St. Alban’s pressed forward bravely during the closing stages, but despite several promising attacks, they couldn’t quite find the equaliser.

Before the matches started, the message to the boys was made clear: the results were not the most important aspect – what mattered more was their performance; working hard for each other in both attack and defence, demonstrating passion, teamwork and giving their very best effort. And by jove, they certainly did all of these. The post-match consensus from both the boys and their parents was that these were the team’s strongest performances of the term so far, reflecting hugely encouraging progress.

Special mention must go to Man of the Match Haadi, who was outstanding in goal; Dylan, Max and Monty, who worked tirelessly in defence; Theo, Eli and Jack, who covered expertly in midfield at both ends of the pitch; and Matthew, who led the line well in attack. It was definitely a team performance to be proud of.

Thank you very much indeed to all the parents and relatives who came along to support the boys – your encouragement, as always, is very much appreciated!

U10 Football v King’s Hawford and Winterfold

Kings St Albans U10s put in a strong and spirited performance on Wednesday as they faced both Winterfold and King’s Hawford in a well‑contested afternoon of football. The team showed great teamwork, determination, and resilience, coming away with two hard‑fought draws.

Bertie struck our only goal of the afternoon, finishing confidently to put the team level with Hawford in the last minute.

A special mention goes to Daniel, who volunteered to play for King’s Hawford to help balance the teams. His willingness to support the fixture and show great sportsmanship was fantastic and much appreciated by both sides.

Thursday 5th March

U11 IAPS at Millfield

The U11 squad enjoyed a superb day of high‑level netball at the prestigious IAPS tournament hosted at Millfield, facing an extremely competitive field of schools from across the region. The girls approached every match with determination, teamwork and outstanding resilience, demonstrating real progress throughout the day.

Our pool was a tough one. We opened with a brilliant 3–2 win against Bristol Grammar, showing excellent movement down the court and calm decision‑making under pressure. The team followed this with a narrow 3–4 loss to Cheltenham College, a game that could easily have gone our way. Against The Downs, Bristol we battled hard but were edged out 2–4, before meeting strong opposition again in The Bluecoat School (2–6) and King Edward’s Bath (2–6). Despite the challenges, the girls never dropped their heads and continued to work for each other.

Millie and Romi were instrumental in defence all day, forming a strong and reliable partnership. Millie in particular produced numerous turnovers with her excellent timing and ability to anticipate play, while Romi supported superbly with tight marking and confident feeds out of the circle. In attack, Martha was outstanding in the shooting circle, finishing with accuracy and composure. The mid‑court unit—Hannah, Nell, Cerys, Flo, Elizabeth and Thea—worked tirelessly, driving the ball forward, offering constant passing options and maintaining high levels of intensity.

Our efforts in the group stages earned us a place in the Bowl competition. The semi‑final against Blundell’s Prep was one of our best performances of the day, a dominant 5–0 win showcasing excellent teamwork, quick transitions and superb defensive discipline. This took us into the Bowl final, where we faced a team we had beaten earlier in the tournament. Despite another strong effort, the opposition adjusted well and managed to take the game 6–2.

The girls should be incredibly proud of their performance, work rate and spirit. It was a superb day of netball played with enthusiasm, commitment and true team camaraderie.

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