Olchfa School Win Five-A-Side Football Tournament
Date Published: 02/07/2012
OLCHFA
Comprehensive
School put in a superb performance to be crowned No Messin' Railway Safety Cup 2012 champions in their home city.
They defeated
Porth
County, from Rhondda Cynon Taff, 6-5 in a pulsating final at
Swansea's PlayFootball complex, with Lliswerry (
Newport) and Ferndale (RCT) making up the semi-finalists.
The five-a-side tournament, organised by British Transport Police (BTP), Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, saw teams from comprehensive schools across
South Wales battle it out on the pitch.
Around 350 children have been involved in the tournament, which included regional qualifying rounds for schools in
Cardiff,
Newport,
Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Neath Port Talbot, with the top four from each heat qualifying for the finals.
During the tournament, each team of Year 8 pupils received a safety presentation from police community support officers.
Inspector Gary Ash, who is in charge of BTP's Welsh neighbourhood policing teams, said: "Finals day was a fantastic occasion for all involved, and the final between Olchfa and
Porth
County was of exceptional quality, befitting of the standards set throughout the tournament.
"It was a pleasure to see so many talented young players being given the platform to display their abilities.
"The Railway Safety Cup is now in its third year and the response from schools has been outstanding."
Olchfa's Mark Harries was named player of the tournament to make it a clean sweep of awards for his school. It was the third year in a row that a
Swansea school has won the tournament, following successes for
Daniel
James
School and Pentrehafod.