IN its first year of entering the competition, King Edward’s School, Witley, has been crowned national champions.

They walked away with the English Schools’ Football Association’s Premier League Under 16s Small Schools’ Cup for state and independent schools.

The victory, which represented the school’s second national football final in three years, was met with rapturous applause from both the King Edward’s supporters on the ground at Manchester City Academy Stadium, as well as back at the school where the game was being beamed live last Wednesday.

The U16 Small Schools’ Cup is open to all schools in England with less than 65 boys in eligible to play in year 11. In recent years, King Edward’s has seen four pupils represent the Independent Schools’ national squad and gained regional or national recognition in each of the past five seasons in both boys’ and girls’ football.

In addition, King Edward’s is currently the Independent Schools’ FA Futsal national champions.