The girls from Eleanor Palmer School celebrate winning the CSSA Year 5 & 6 Football League

THERE were smiles and silverware as the best footballers in the borough were finally revealed following months of intense matches in the Camden Schools Sports Association (CSSA) Year 5 & 6 Football League.

Overall 28 primary schools took part in the competition, competing in three separate divisions: the Northern League, which was held at the Talacre Community Sports Centre in Kentish Town; the Southern League, which was staged at Regent High School in Somers Town; and the Central League, which was played at the sports pitches in Castlehaven, Camden Town.

The best eight girls’ teams and the best eight boys’ teams booked their place in the borough play-offs, which were then held at Talacre last Tuesday.

The boys from Fleet School in Hampstead came out on top after reaching the semi-finals in last season’s competition

And when the dust settled it was the girls from Eleanor Palmer Primary School in Tufnell Park and the boys from Fleet Primary School in Hampstead cheering the loudest after completing a double triumph – being crowned the champions of Camden to add to the Northern League titles that they also both captured along the way.

Active Schools officer Ashley Dunne-Watts, who helped organise the event, said: “This season’s CSSA Primary Schools Football League was incredible. The talent on show was amazing and it was great to see so many young people engaging in physical activity.

“There were some standout moments during the league, from winning goals in the dying seconds, flying saves and Fleet boys’ team only conceding two goals the entire season – a truly remarkable achievement!”

Reflecting on Fleet’s big win, volunteer manager Thomas Looney said: “We got beat in the semi-finals last season, so to come back and go two better this year is fantastic.

“All the kids were really overjoyed; it was a great way for the Year 6 players to bow out before moving on to secondary school.”