Junior girls’ team win boys league as Crayford Arrows Reds, Bexleyheath, edge close title race in South East London & Kent Youth Football League under-13D Navy

A junior girls’ football team have been celebrating - after they won a boys league!

Crayford Arrows Reds from Bexleyheath, near Dartford, finished top of South East London & Kent Youth League (SELKENT) under-13D Navy in their inaugural campaign at the level.

“It’s been an amazing season for them,” said manager Allen O'Shaughnessy.

“They have had a little bit of a pushback from some teams and some parents. I think maybe some parents struggle to realise that girls can play football and, when they beat their sons, they weren’t too happy!

“But overall, it’s been quite a good experience for the girls.

“They have loved every moment.”

O'Shaughnessy detailed why the girls’ side opted to compete - and indeed succeed against - male counterparts.

He noted: “I just think the girls wanted a little bit of a challenge.

“We kept going into girls’ leagues but, once you get halfway through the season, you don’t get to play the opposition again. Once you have beaten them once, they kind of just handed us the points.

“So, that’s why the girls decided this year that they wanted to play in a league where they could play every game and it would be a bit more of a challenge.”

Crayford Arrows edged out Halls AFC and Sutton Dynamo Blues in a close title race.

“The top three have been quite even,” admitted the manager whose daughter, Lacey, is part of the team.

“But the girls have been outstanding.

“Just after Christmas, I think they had five or six games against the top three and they just went on a little run of winning every single one. I think that maybe knocked some of the drive out of the boys.

“Once they lost against them, they realised they were trying to play catch-up, rather than leading the league.”

The talent of the Crayford Arrows