Blakehill Primary Pupils Set for Wembley Final

Bradford City Academy players offer support ahead of Utilita Kids Cup final

Two Bradford City AFC Academy players recently visited Blakehill Primary School to wish the school’s Under-11 football team good luck before their upcoming final at Wembley Stadium. The team will represent the Bantams in the Utilita Kids Cup final, scheduled as a curtain-raiser to the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final on Sunday 24 May.

Visit from Academy players

Oscar Lunn and Jacob Hall, both members of Bradford City’s Academy, met with the young players at Blakehill Primary School. During their visit, they spoke with the team, answered questions about playing football at a high level, and offered advice and encouragement ahead of the final.

Oscar Lunn, who was named the Neil Matthews Academy Player of the Year in April, commented on the significance of the event, saying he hoped the team would perform well and expressed his support on behalf of the Academy and the club.

Team’s journey and local media coverage

Blakehill Primary’s Under-11 team earned their place at Wembley after progressing through the national stages of the Utilita Kids Cup, a competition involving over 1,500 schools from across England and Wales. The tournament culminates in a final held at Wembley Stadium, providing young players with the opportunity to play on one of football’s most famous pitches.

Local media outlets, including BBC Look North and Greatest Hits Radio, have covered Blakehill’s achievement. Emily, a striker on the team who also plays for Bradford City AFC Girls Under-11s, expressed her excitement about the final and the chance to play at Wembley.

Coaching and community support

Mathew Lumb, a teacher at Blakehill and the team’s coach, highlighted the importance of the experience for the pupils, noting that playing at Wembley is a rare opportunity even for professional footballers. He described the children as passionate about football and proud to represent their school and city.

Oliver Read, Head of Premier League and Sport Development at the Bradford City FC Community Foundation, acknowledged the school’s previous appearance at Wembley two years ago and expressed pride in supporting their journey back to the stadium.

About the Utilita Kids and Girls Cups

• The Utilita Kids and Girls Cups are national school football tournaments involving over 20,000 junior players.
• Schools from across England and Wales participate in the competition.
• The finals are held at Wembley Stadium, offering young players the chance to compete on a professional stage.

With Bradford City AFC’s own Sky Bet League One Play-Off campaign starting on 9 May, there is a possibility that both the professional team and the Blakehill Primary pupils will play at Wembley on the same day, providing a unique occasion for the city’s football community.