It was a double delight for Charlton at Wembley on Sunday as St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Eltham, representing the Addicks, lifted the EFL Utilita Kids Cup thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout victory.
Prior to the League One play-off final which saw Nathan Jones’ men earn promotion to the Championship with a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient in front of a crowd of 76,193, pupils from St Mary’s took to the hallowed Wembley turf to take on a team representing Blackpool with silverware at stake.
St Mary’s won the right to represent Charlton in an initial tournament earlier this year, before winning their way through a number of rounds, culminating in a victorious semi-final clash with Wycombe Wanderers, echoing the Addicks first-team’s own journey to Wembley.
Pupils were given the VIP treatment, put up in a hotel on Wembley Way the night before the big day, while also being treated to a VIP tour of the stadium on Sunday morning, meeting a number of club legends including Alan Curbishley, Chris Powell and Kevin Lisbie who all provided vital advice.
Then it came down to business, with St Mary’s making their way onto the pitch for a cagey 15-minute encounter with their counterparts from Blackpool.
Despite dominating proceedings, the Addicks could not break down the Tangerines with Kenechi Ude hitting the crossbar and seeing an effort cleared off the line, while it took a spectacular goal-line clearance at the death from Jacob Beever to prevent a heartbreaking defeat, forcing penalties.
Albie Senatore stepped up to score the first penalty, before Beever sealed his deserved Player of the Match award by netting his spot-kick for the reds to make it 2-2.
The pivotal moment came when Blackpool’s third and final penalty taker saw his effort brilliantly saved by Addicks stopper Finn Wilson, leaving Franco Obertelli-Young with the honour of coolly slotting home to earn a 3-2 shootout win.
Spectacular scenes of celebrations followed and the shootout heroes were joined by teammates Ralph Seboa, Peter Griffin, Grace Garrity and Luke Carter to make the famous walk up the Wembley steps to the royal box and live every kids’ dream of lifting a trophy at the home of football.
