The 2009 Finals Series is almost here.
By Greg Danvers
Bill Turner Cup and Trophy Media Manager
The grand final of the 31st Bill Turner Cup for boys and 19th Bill Turner Trophy for girls will be played on Wednesday September 9, 2009.
But first the semi finals will be contested at Jack McLaughlin Oval (Park Street, Edgeworth) on Tuesday September 8, 2009 to determine the grand finalists.
The Bill Turner Cup, a 15-and-under high schools football knock-out tournament, was first contested at Wallsend’s Crystal Palace in 1979.
That first final was between Belmont High and Whitebridge High. Belmont prevailed with an extra time 1-0 victory, to hoist the inaugural Bill Turner Cup.
From 34 teams in 1979 the Bill Turner Cup now boasts over 500 schools that have played in the 2009 knock-out tournament to reach the final four. Some 400 girls’ teams have been reduced to the top four.
From as far north as Cairns to Bendigo in Victoria the tournaments that commenced in April are on their way to Wembley (Jack McLaughlin Oval) in what is best described as the FA Cup of Australian Eastern States High School’s football.
Last year’s finals were played before an enthusiastic crowd of supporters and a true legend of the game – former Socceroo Mark Bosnich.
This year’s final will have another very special guest in attendance. The Newcastle Jets have confirmed that their marquee player Fabio Vignaroli will attend the boy’s final, scheduled to commence at 4:30pm on Wednesday September 9.
The 2008 grand finals saw Illawarra Sports High lift the Bill Turner Cup with a well deserved 1-0 win over their Westfields Sports High opponents.
Westfields Sports High, with a golden goal in extra time, ended the three year reign of Hunter Sports High in an enthralling Bill Turner Trophy final.
This year’s semi finalists and timetable
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
Speers Point Park
11am: Civic Reception
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
Jack McLaughlin Oval, Park Street EDGEWORTH
2:00pm: Girls Trophy Semi Final 1
Harristown State High [Qld] v Illawarra Sports High [NSW]
3:30pm: Girls Trophy Semi Final 2
Hunter Sports High [Northern NSW] v Westfields Sports High [NSW]
5:00pm: Boys Cup Semi Final 1
Cavendish Road State High [Qld] v Daramalan [ACT]
6:30pm: Boys Cup Semi Final 2
Bossley Park High [NSW] v Endeavour Sports High [NSW]
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
Jack McLaughlin Oval, Park Street EDGEWORTH
12noon: Girls Trophy 3rd place play-off
1:15pm: Boys Cup 3rd place play-off
2:45pm: Girls Bill Turner Trophy Grand Final
4:30pm: Boys Bill Turner Cup Grand Final
Recapping the 2008 Bill Turner Cup (Boys) and Trophy (Girls) Finals Series
Bill Turner Cup Grand Final
Illawarra Sports High [NSW] 1 (Chris SIDONI 7m) beat Westfields Sports High [NSW] 0.
Austcraft Medals Star Player of the Tournament: Tomislav CIRJAK – Westfields Sports High
Third Place Play-off
Cavendish Road State High [QLD] 2 (Travis BERR 30m, Sam OWEN 33m) beat Whitebridge High [Northern NSW] 0.
Bill Turner Trophy Grand Final
Westfields Sports High [NSW] 2 (Candance SCIBERRAS 62m penalty, Alanna KENNEDY 63m golden goal) beat Hunter Sports High [Northern NSW] 1 [Tara ANDREWS 17m penalty)
Austcraft Medals Star Player of the Tournament: Hannah BREWER – Hunter Sports High [Northern NSW]
Third Place Play-off
Cavendish Road State High [QLD] 2 (Charlotte BOYES 43m, Courtney HOLMWOOD 46m) beat Illawarra Sports High [NSW] 1 (Emily MATTHEWS 8m).
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