Melbourne Heart FC hosted the inaugural Schools Cup in Keysborough today, with over 400 students from 19 Victorian schools competing against each other at Mentone Grammar and Haileybury playing fields.
Captains from PEGS (blue) and Ivanhoe (white) hold the trophy that they will vie in final of the Melbourne Heart FC Schools Cup later this year
Melbourne Heart FC hosted the inaugural Schools Cup in Keysborough today, with over 400 students from 19 Victorian schools competing against each other at Mentone Grammar and Haileybury playing fields.
First teams from Ivanhoe Grammar and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS) were the two eventual finalists, emerging from the penultimate semi-finals as winners of their respective groups.
The two teams will contest the final of the Melbourne Heart FC Schools Cup at AAMI Park later in the year as a curtain-raiser match to a Heart fixture during the 2013-14 Hyundai A-League season.
Head Coach John Aloisi addressed all competing schools ahead of the semi finals and thanked all schools for their involvement in the competition.
“It-s the first year of the Melbourne Heart Schools Cup and I think it was a great day,” Aloisi said.
“There are some good kids going around.”
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Heart-s Assistant Coach Hayden Foxe, National Youth League coach Joe Palatsides, outgoing Goalkeeper Coach Peter Zois and Football Operations General Manager John Didulica took in all the action.
Defender Jeremy Walker and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne also interacted with students from the competing schools.
Organiser and General Manager Community at Heart, Sue Crow, said the inaugural competition had been a success and she hoped it would become a annual competition for all schools to look forward to.
“It-s really exciting; it-s our first foray into organising school tournaments,” Crow said.
“They-ve all come from the AGS and APS (Associated Grammar Schools/Associated Public Schools) and from all reports it has been a very successful day.
“It-s great to have a fantastic day weather-wise as well and to get the schools here and to see them all playing in the spirit of the game that we all like to see.
“We would like to thank and acknowledge all our volunteers, SEDA students and Game Development Officers, as well as Mentone Grammar and Haileybury for hosting the tournament.”
Successful Ivanhoe Grammar coach David Plumb said the Cup had been a great opportunity for his players.
“It-s very exciting and a great opportunity for the squad [to play on AAMI Park],” Plumb said.
“It-s a great opportunity because we don-t get to play many games against the APS teams and it-s been a great day.”
Melbourne Heart FC Schools Cup
Semi Final Results
Ivanhoe Grammar 2 d. Caulfield Grammar
PEGS 1 d. Melbourne Grammar 0
Competing Teams
Ivanhoe Grammar, Caulfield Grammar, PEGS, Melbourne Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Camberwell Grammar, Carey, Haileybury, Marcellin, Geelong Grammar School, Parade, The Peninsula School, Scotch, St Kevins, Trinity, Wesley College, Xavier College, Yarra Valley, Mentone Grammar
Tables
The winner of each group played off in the semi-finals.
Pool A
1. Melbourne Grammar 8 pts
2. Wesley 7pts
3. Haileybury 6pts
4. Marcellin 2pts
5. Geelong GS 2pts
Pool B
1. PEGS 9pts
2. St Kevins 6pts
3. Carey 1pt
4. The Peninsula 1pt
Pool C
1. Caulfield 12pts
2. Xavier 9pts
3. Parade 2pts
4. Trinity 2pts
5. Yarra Valley 2pts
Pool D
1. Ivanhoe GS 12pts
2. Brighton 7 pts
3. Camberwell 6pts
4. Mentone GS 4 pts
Scotch 3pts
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