Cup-winning Leighton Buzzard girls’ team heading to Wembley thanks to Vertu surprise
A talented young football team from Leighton Buzzard is set for a day to remember at Wembley after being surprised with tickets to the Vertu Trophy Final.
The Under-11 girls from Gilbert Inglefield Academy will be in the stands on 12 April after competition sponsor Vertu rewarded their recent cup success with a trip to the national stadium.
The team earned their moment in the spotlight after winning the South East regional final of the Premier League Primary Stars National Girls’ tournament. Representing Luton Town Community Trust, they secured their place in the national finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Watford.
As part of the celebrations, the squad was invited to an open training session at Kenilworth Road, home of Luton Town. The visit, organised by Vertu, included a behind-the-scenes tour and the chance to watch the first team in action.
But the biggest surprise was yet to come.
First team manager and former England international Jack Wilshere broke the news that the girls would be heading to Wembley to watch Luton Town take on Stockport County in the Vertu Trophy Final.
Vincenzo Russo, PE and Sport Lead at Gilbert Inglefield Academy, said the experience had been unforgettable for the team.
“The girls did a brilliant job to beat Watford in the final of the South East qualifiers, and to be rewarded with the chance to spend time at Kenilworth Road and meet Jack and the players was amazing,” he said.
“Being told by Jack that they will be going to Wembley to cheer on Luton Town in the Vertu Trophy Final was a huge surprise, and it’s a fantastic reward for their success so far.
“A huge thank you has to go to the club and to Vertu for the opportunity to attend the match and create even more memories.
“I expect it to be a tight game, and I’m predicting Luton to win 2-1 with an injury time goal so the girls can go crazy celebrating.”
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu, said the company was proud to support grassroots football and reward young players.
“We’re delighted to reward the Gilbert Inglefield Academy team with the opportunity to attend the Vertu Final this season,” he said.
“Qualifying for the final of a national competition is no mean feat, and hopefully the experience of a trip to Wembley will help to drive them on to further success in the future.”
The team will now look to build on their regional triumph as they prepare to compete against 19 other teams in the national finals, with a memorable Wembley trip already secured as part of their journey.