The new football season is well and truly underway, but Oswestry School staff and pupils have been making the most of each opportunity that has come their way over the summer months.

Sixth Form sports scholar Ben Clark travelled to Macedonia to play KF Shkëndija in the first qualifying round of Champions League for Welsh team The New Saints.  A 5-0 away loss prompted a remarkable comeback in the second leg and despite a 4-0 home win The New Saints found themselves out of the Champions League to compete in the Europa League. Ben then travelled to Gibraltar to play Lincoln Red Imps, where the team secured a win, and then played FC Midtjylland of Denmark, who are currently second in the Danish league. A 5-1 loss saw the end of the TNS European adventure, but gave Ben the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of Europe.  Ben hopes to secure a professional contract with The New Saints upon completion of his A levels at Oswestry School.

Meanwhile Year 11 pupils Chun and Yat Wong, twin brothers, played for Hong Kong U16’s against Manchester United in the JC Youth Football Academy Summit in Hong Kong.  The brothers have played for the Hong Kong team age groups since they were 14 having been scouted playing for their home club.  Chun and Yat hope to either sign for a professional team or enrol on a football scholarship programme in the USA upon completion of their A levels.

While the pupils made names for themselves in International football the Oswestry School 1st XI football coach and former pupil, Alun Morris, travelled to Lithuania with Cefn Druids. The Druids qualified for the Europa League and were drawn against FK Trakai of Lithuania. Due to injury Alun missed the first leg, but headed out with the squad to play in July.  A 1-0 loss meant the Druids exited the competition at the first round stage.

“Oswestry School’s football provision has gone from strength to strength in the past two years,” said Alun Morris. “It’s a privilege for me to coach these young players and help them achieve their dreams of playing professional football once they have completed their A levels here at school.  Playing competitively myself gives me a full understanding of the level of training and competition that the boys need when they are playing here at school.  I am really looking forward to the new academic year and seeing how far the teams will go in the Shropshire league.  Without a doubt we are the centre of footballing excellence in North Shropshire”.

To learn more about sporting opportunities at Oswestry School and their strong sports scholarship programme, or to talk to members of the Sports Faculty, go along to either Open Morning at 9.00am on Saturday 6 October, or visit them at their Sixth Form information evening at 7.00pm on Thursday 18 October.