Posted on 7th Jun
Mansfield Town FC chairman John Radford flew in by helicopter to surprise young footballers at Peafield Lane Academy, Mansfield Woodhouse.
John landed at the school to present the years 4 and 5 boys’ football team with the John Radford Trophy after their success in the final at the club’s One Call Stadium.
Sixteen primary schools entered the tournament and after winning two qualifying matches, Peafield defeated King Edward School, Mansfield, 1-0 in the final, which was played at half-time during the Stags match against Cambridge.
Max Wakelin hit the winning goal. Coach Corey Nightingale said: “The team is a fantastic set of boys. They all have excellent attitudes and work hard for each other on the pitch.
“The team and I were all nervous before the game but once it started the players weren’t fazed by the thousands of fans watching.
I was nervous about the game as our school had lost twice in previous finals, but it was a great game.”
Malachi Fallon, (10), said: “It was mind-blowing to play on the pitch.
“We were speechless when the helicopter came to our school and it was a pleasure to meet John Radford.”
Pupils from Peafield Lane Academy’s winning team with Jordan Ferrer, community coach and head of female football development at Mansfield Town FC; John Radford; and school football coach Corey Nightingale.
Corey said the whole school gathered to await John Radford’s arrival.
“Everyone was excited and cheered when they first heard the helicopter and saw him coming in to land,” he said.
