Crusaders Football Club

Final details ahead of Saturday’s end of season awards and 50th anniversary celebrations….

🏅 Individual team awards taking place from 12pm

🍔 Food van serving from 12

🧁 Cakes on sale all day - please bring cash

🍺 Bar open from 12

🛝 3 inflatables from 12 - 5pm

🎈50th Anniversary celebration taking place from 5pm - presentation circa 5.30pm

This is set to be an extra special awards day and we invite all families to join us for the whole day from 12pm 💛💚

💛 U10s 💚

Crusaders Girls U-10 Yellow had a great experience at a ‘Play on the pitch’ tournament at St. Andrew’s stadium.

The level of the opposition was really high and only two girls teams had entered. Some teams travelling down from Lancaster and up from Oxford.

We didn’t progress out of the group stage but a stadium announced entry and playing on a Pro Pitch will be memories that will remain forever.

Thanks to coach paddy for organising.

💛 U10s 💚

This week girls U10 Greens were playing the last game of the season at home against Redditch.

Led out by Captain Emily the girls knew it was going to be a tough game, having played them previously, especially with the warm weather and only one substitute.

The girls started off positively with some lovely runs however Redditch had more of the game, and though Olivia and Aoife worked tirelessly in the back, and Maddie made some great saves it was not long until they went ahead.

The girls continued to battle and tried to attack but could not get through the Redditch defence, who kept countering in strength and though our back 2 worked hard they couldn’t stop them from continuing to score.

In the second half, following a team talk by Rob, the girls started more energised and worked better together to attack while getting back to give more support to the defence.

The girls continued to push forward with Hattie, Darcy and Emily all battled hard in the midfield and making penetrating runs up the middle, with support by Ella and Evelyn on the wings.

When Redditch did attack we were quick to counter with Maddie long goal kicks but just couldn’t convert the space this created into goals.

Though Redditch scored twice more our girls played so much better in the second half, playing more as a team, supporting each other and battling hard.

Though the result wasn’t how we wanted to finish the season, when you consider that for the majority of our girls it is their first ever season playing and that they have held their own against teams, such as Redditch, who have been together for at least 2 years, we are all very proud of how far they have come.

Parents player is Olivia for her endless energy in the back.

Coaches player was Aoife for her brilliant jockeying and tackling in defence.

💛 U14s 💚

Sutton Utd v Crusaders

The Champions travelled to 3rd placed Sutton without the pressure of the last few games - it was all about trying to keep the unbeaten run going.

On a lovely sunny morning we started in the perfect way, Scarlett releasing Georgia down the left and a powerful shot across the keeper brought her 27th of the season. A goal up in 60 seconds. The girls stood up well to a physical side, giving as good as they got. Further chances came, Erin, Bella and Georgia all going close. A good first half.

HT Sutton Utd 0 Crusaders 1

Sutton worked hard to get back into the game, but our calmness on the ball gave us an edge. Scarlett broke through the centre of their defence and unselfishly laid off to Georgia who skillfully chipped the keeper - her 28th of the season and our second of the day. Hope pulled off a couple of good saves, and Scarlett and Hannah were unlucky with good efforts. Our third came when Jojo broke from midfield and played a great through ball to Jess who slotted home. A well deserved goal. We saw the game out with no more scares.

FT Sutton Utd 0 Crusaders 3

POTM - Jemima, Sav, Teigan and Georgie

With our opponents next week unable to field a side, this was our last match of a fantastic season. Well done girls! Thanks for all the support.

💛 CHAMPIONS 💚

Congratulations to our U14s girls for securing the league with 2 fixtures remaining.

Well done to all involved 👏🏻👏🏻

Outstanding effort by all players and coaching stuff. The club are incredibly proud!

💛 U14s 💚

Stratford Town v Crusaders

Undoubtedly the biggest game involving a Midlands side this evening…

A win would guarantee the title for the girls. A 6-30 ko off following school, athletics comps and a long drive, plus a couple missing meant it was no sure thing. Stratford are a good side.

It was another mare of a start! On a tiny pitch, Stratford went long and their striker tucked it away from a tight angle. 1-0 down in 40 seconds. After that it was a battle. We had a few long range efforts, but Stratford were always dangerous. Hope made a great one on one save, and we were a little rattled. Just before half time, Jojo and Erin arrived from athletics - it was to be a huge help. We went in still in the game, but with plenty to do.

HT Stratford Town 1 Crusaders 0

A good half time team talk saw the girls go out with confidence. Scarlett put herself about and our midfield pushed us up the field. Chances came but their keeper made several good stops. We keep rotating to keep fresh, and with 15 to go, Georgia was played in by Jess and finished brilliantly. What happened next is a bit of a blur! Hope made some more saves, every single player won multiple tackles and with 8 to go, Georgia made it two. 60 seconds later, it was deja vu, Georgia, hattrick, three. In the last few minutes, Georgia got her and our fourth. It was all over!

FT Stratford Town 1 Crusaders 4

After several weeks of Saturday/Wednesday, it is amazing to get over the line with 2 to play. Tonight was our 18th unbeaten, a run that started with us several points behind a few other sides but with games in hand. The girls have shown a huge amount of bottle, winning battles, coming from behind and picking up results even when not at their best. They deserve it.
Huge credit and thanks to our parents. The best lift givers, goal putter awayers and lines people out there. It wouldn’t have happened without you. Up the Cru.

POTM - Georgia, Erica, Hope

Less than 2 weeks to go until our 50th Celebrations 🎈🎈🎈🎈

Hope you’re all as excited as we are to celebrate! Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday 30th May 💛💚

We would love to have as many past and present photos for the 50th anniversary celebration, if you have any photos you would be willing to share over the last 50 years please email [email protected]

💛 U11s 💚

The U11 Greens took part in a play on the pitch experience yesterday afternoon/evening at the WBA Hawthorns ground.

The players got to explore the dressing rooms, experience the tunnel line up and pitch run out to their names over the PA system.

5 x 12min games were played in total against teams from different parts of the country and we managed to finish the day on a high by winning our final game 4-0 with some fantastic team work goals.

Thank you to the players and parents for making this memorable experience possible.💚💛

💛 U16s 💚

Last home games of the season yesterday as u16 girls played a double header v Redditch Borough.

In game 1 we started strongly before a bad 5 minute spell saw us fall two goals behind. We always know we’ve got goals in the team and after this point we were back to our normal self. The game finished 3-3.

Second game was a far more controlled performance resulting in a 2-1 win thanks to some stubborn defending at the end.

Congratulations to Hafsa who was manager’s player, Adele who was parents player and Sophia and Ruby who were coaches players

The girls remain keen to stay together in u17s next season so new players will be very welcome 👍

💛 U12s 💚

Under 12 Girls today welcomed Kings Heath Panther’s to Rowheath for this penultimate match of the season.
The home side kicked with the slight slope in the first half and soon put the visitors under pressure.
The home side were playing some good free flowing football and created several good half chances before they opened the scoring with another typical goal from Jamie who fired home from inside the box. Mia soon doubled the lead when she crossed the ball that the visitors defence couldn’t prevent from sneaking in at the far post. The visitors did start to create some chance but the home defence and Phoebe in goal weee upto the threat. Despite making several chances the home attack lead superbly by Gracie created several more chances before the end of the first half
Half Time 2 - 0
The second half started and it was the visitors that took the early initiative and when the home failed to clear and the Panthers reduced the deficit. The home side fought back and soon increased the lead when Mia picked up the ball in the centre circle and broke through down the right channel and fired home from outside the box. The home side soon increased the lead with Mia netting her third following great work from Jamie down the right. The last kick of the game gave the Panthers some reward for their efforts following another penalty.
Parents Player
Mia Seeney who scored an excellent hat trick and work hard
Managers Player
Gracie Davis who lead the line superbly first half and played some excellent passes when at right back.