It’s been a memorable season for Cockfield Juniors.
Formed in 2023, the club’s current committee took over last year and have overseen genuine progress on and off the pitch.
Following a very successful season, the Under-9s competed in a tournament at Elland Road, home of newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United.
Coach Ian Taylor took the team to West Yorkshire for an experience of a lifetime and the Cockfield team finished third overall after qualifying from a tough group stage before narrowly missing out on a place in the final following a penalty shoot-out against Carlisle.
Cockfield Under-12s, coached by Ryan Mackemson, had a remarkable season, completing a league and cup double.
They were beaten just once in a stellar campaign to finish top of the table and they completed the double by lifting the Stevie Johnston Memorial Cup. The cup victory was particularly special for the team as it was in memory of Jack Shaw’s dad who died in 2024.
Cockfield Under-17s are the club’s newest team and in their first outing wearing their yellow and blue kits they won the plate at the Billingham Synthonia Tournament. For any player in that age group looking for a team to play for, there are still a couple of spaces to be filled for next season.
At a Cockfield Parish Council meeting, chairwoman Brenda Singleton paid tribute to everyone involved at the club.
She said: “Our junior football teams are doing very well in their respective age groups. We now have seven teams.
“Two of our teams – the Under-9s and Under-12s have won their respective leagues. To have two league champions at our club is a great achievement, especially in such a new club.
“Congratulations to the teams, coaches and all those parents who turn up every week home and away to support them. All the players, regardless of where they finish in the leagues, deserve a mention.”
Cockfield Juniors host pay-as-you-go development sessions on a Wednesday evening at Pauline Charlton Pavilion, Cockfield.
Players aged four-seven are welcome and the cost is £2 per session. Cockfield have teams for under-9s, under-10s, under-12s, under-14s and under-17s (2024/25 season age groups).
The Under-10s have space for two players in Year 4 and 5 age group as they move up to nine-a-side.
