21st October 2006
Free-scoring Bishopthorpe White Rose under-13s have a treble in their sights – but taking home the British Sugar Minor Football League crown would be the biggest reward.
Unbeaten White Rose are currently top of the league after scoring 18 league goals and conceding just one so far, and netting 11 unanswered times in their two cup games to date.
The club only kicked off seven years ago when current chairman and under-13s manager Gary Featherstone and wife Jackie decided to launch a junior club for the village through the school along with Geoff Fisher. Jackie’s dad, former York City pro Barry Tait, also pitched in and another Minstermen star Ricky Sbragia ran one of the first ever training sessions.
Now they have the backing of the FA charter standard and a healthy-looking trophy cabinet.
But even though the current U13s have taken home several trophies in the last three seasons, they have never managed a league title – and that’s the number one priority.
Manager Featherstone said: “The treble would be nice. Since we moved into 11-a-side football, we’ve done well but never won the league.
“Most of the team have been together since they were seven and when we first started we used to get beat quite heavily.
“But in the under-10s we won all the trophies possible that year in the second division and we were then promoted into the first division of the first 11-a-side league at U11.
“That year we came second in the league and won the Ryedale Cup and at U12 we were second again in the league and won the Mitchell Cup.”
They are currently on track in that bid but will have to conquer rivals Wigginton Grasshoppers and Nestl en route.
They got more points on the board on Sunday against Rawcliffe A’.
Substitute Callum Annett got the scores rolling before skipper Tim Patton
Bishopthorpe’s strong approach has even caught the eye of professional scouts. George Foster-Vigors has interest from York City and Ipswich Town while goalkeeper Jordan Church has shown a huge improvement thanks to coaching from the Leeds United academy.
Said Featherstone: “It’s massively improved him from last year. We might have leaked a few goals last year but his confidence at the back is a real boost to the defence.”
The club hope that their turnaround from suffering heavy defeats to potential title-winners will send out a positive message to new clubs just starting out.
Featherstone added: “We started out with 18 children one Sunday morning in May 1999 and look where we are now
