Foundation Ladies Scholars win EFL title

Foundation of Light's female Football Scholars have been crowned EFL Community & Education Football Alliance (CEFA) champions after beating Manchester City on the final day of the season. The young Lady Black Cats headed to the Etihad Campus three points behind City, knowing a victory would secure the Women's Northern Premier Division title on goal difference. Emily Tokell's first goal - a sensational 30-yard freekick - settled the nerves early on as Kaura Keogh, Abigail Moss, Grace Mackie and Erin Liddle all netted in the 6-0 win. The Scholars' Head Coach, Steve McClarence, said: "The girls have worked really hard this year and deserve their EFL CEFA League win.

They have a 'winners do extra' mentality which has helped them develop technically and tactically as footballers as well as developing as people showing a lot of determination which has transferred into the classroom.

"Socially it has been an excellent experience for the girls travelling around the country to places like Manchester City and St George's Park and they have become stronger as a group." Lifting the EFL CEFA championship rounds off another successful year for the Foundation's Ladies Scholars as they finished runners-up in the NFYL Women's Northern Premier Division and represented South Tyneside College in the ECFA Women's Premier Cup Final. This season has also seen several Scholars establish themselves in the Women's National League for Sunderland AFC Ladies and Newcastle United Women, while Emily Hutchinson was called up with England U18s for a training camp. Foundation of Light’s Football and Futsal Scholarships, delivered in partnership with South Tyneside College, give talented players aged 16-18 years old, the opportunity to represent Sunderland AFC and gain nationally recognised qualifications through an extensive football and education programme.