Shrewsbury v Hampton - ESFA Final 2023

Shrewsbury School vs
Hampton School
ESFA Under 18 Schools’ Trophy
Thursday 4th May 2023

Headmaster’s Welcome
There’s nothing quite like a Cup run. This year’s journey to the
final of the ESFA Under 18 Schools’ Trophy has captured the
imagination of the Salopian community far and wide.
We’re on the cusp of glory, but whatever the result today, we are enormously proud of this
historic achievement. It is a huge credit to all the boys in the squad, our fantastic coaching
staff, and the inspirational leadership of our Director of Football, Steve Wilderspin.
As a school, we were involved in the forming of the rules of the Beautiful Game. Today,
another page of our footballing history is waiting to be written. With the status of ESFA
finalist already assured, we will all be cheering our squad in the hope that the letters will
be written in gold.
Whilst competitive sport is ultimately about results, even
more important to me is the way our players conduct
themselves on and off the pitch. As well as some magnificent
team performances, the culture of hard work on the training
pitch has been allied to a spirit of fellowship and respect for
our opponents. That’s how the game should be played.
Good luck to both sides and may the best team on the day
prevail. Floreat Salopia!
Leo Winkley, Headmaster
Introduction from the
Director of Football
Thursday 4th May will be the day this squad of
players have the opportunity to write their
names into Salopian Footballing folklore.
The final will be a wonderful culmination for a squad that has
shown an ability to win games of football, despite several setbacks
and disappointments throughout their cup run. The group
has had to deal with the upset and disappointment of losing
their vice-captain J. Gowar, with a broken leg 10 minutes into
the Round of 16 win vs Altringham, and we lost S. Jones to a
ruptured ACL on the eve of the semi-final, another huge setback
prior to the biggest game of the season vs Brooke House College
in the Semi-Final.
However, despite the huge disappointment of losing these two influential players, the
team have found a way to cope with these setbacks. It is this strength of character and
togetherness that is the hallmark of this great group of individuals. I hope that they
can go one step further in the final and claim a piece of silver, which they thoroughly
deserve.
Our ESFA journey started all the way back on the 20th September, at home to Wrekin
College in Round 1 and we now find ourselves in Round 9, heading to Stoke City and
the final for the first time in the School’s history.

This group of players has created an everlasting bond of friendship and achievement
throughout this cup run that will always be part of this squad. Win or lose, this day and
this season will be forever etched in their memories and these shared experiences I am sure
will be talked about in years to come. Not once as staff have we ever had to question their
commitment, their work ethic or their desire to play for the badge.
They are a credit to the School and its Football Club and I wish them all the very best.
Steve Wilderspin, Director of Football
The Squad
Name Position No. Name Position No.
W. Jenkins GK 1 O. Cooke RB/RM 12
J. Gowar (Vice Captain) ST 2 S. Jarman CB 14
G. Hughes LB 3 E. Clarke CM 15
O. Sharp (Captain) CM 4 M. Dewhurst RB/RW 17
J. McDonald CB 5 G. Davis LW 18
S. Archer (Vice Captain) CB 6 O. Smith CDM 19
S. Jones RW 7 A. Barlow ST 20
J. Rooney CM 8 S. Ishiwatari GK 21
J. Home ST 9 S. Patten CM 22
B. Stanley CAM 10 T. Barrow CM 23
L. Crofts LW 11 T. Griffin CB 24
Scan the QR Code to see a full list of player profiles written by
Vice-Captain J. Gowar and further information on Shrewsbury’s
journey to the ESFA final.

Route to the Final
Tuesday 20th September 2022 at 16:00 - ESFA Rd 1
Shrewsbury School 7-0 Wrekin College
Goals: Crofts (2), Gowar, Sharp (2),
Kinrade, Own Goal
Scorers
Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 16:15 - ESFA Rd 2
Shrewsbury School 3-0 Haberdashers’ Adams
Goals: Crofts, Jarman, Sharp
Scorers
Monday 7th November 2022 at 14:15 - ESFA Rd 3
Shrewsbury School 7-0
Goals: Jones, Sharp (3), Smith,
Barlow, Davis
Scorers
Marches School and
Technology College
Tuesday 29th November 2022 at 14:00 - ESFA Rd 4
Shrewsbury School 5-1 Ashton-on-Mersey School
Goals: Crofts, Sharp, Barlow, Parker
McLain, Davis
Scorers
Friday 6th January 2023 at 14:00 - ESFA Rd 5
Shrewsbury School 4-0
Goals: Sharp, Gowar, Barlow, Jarman
Scorers
Bacup & Rawtenstall
Grammar School
Saturday 21st January 2023 at 13:00 - ESFA Rd 6
Shrewsbury School 1-1*
Goals: Barlow
Scorers
Altrincham Grammar School
for Boys
*Shrewsbury won penalty shootout 2-0
Scorers: O. Smith & S. Jarman

Tuesday 7th March 2023 at 13:45 - ESFA Qtr Final
Shrewsbury School 2-0 South Hunsley School
Goals: Crofts (2)
Scorers
Wednesday 22nd March 2023 at 13:30 - ESFA Semi-Final
Shrewsbury School 3-2 Brooke House College
Goals: Crofts, Sharp, Barlow
Scorers

Our Sponsors
We are proud to announce our sponsors for the
ESFA Under 18 Schools’ Trophy:
The Salopian Club

The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA | Tel: 01743 280552
Email: admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk
www.shrewsbury.org.uk
SHORTLISTED
Boarding School of the Year
WINNER
Independent School of
the Year 2020
WINNER
Community Outreach
Award 2020