25/05/2026
⚽🦁 Lions on Tour! 🦁⚽
This weekend the Lions hit the road for a sunny adventure in the Home Counties… and what a weekend it turned out to be.
With Ollie and Pablo sadly unavailable, the travelling squad of 8 was:
Reggie, Ben T, Ben G, Henry, Kit, Zach, Seb and Shahveer.
The tour started at Lee Valley White Water Centre... home of the London 2012 Olympic rafting events. After an entertaining pre-match warm-up in a 40 degree changing room involving wetsuits being put on backwards, taken off, then put back on the right way around, the boys split into two rafts and took on the rapids.
There were thrills, spills, plenty of shouting, one briefly “missing” player, and lots of laughter. A brilliant way to start the trip.
From there it was on to the Crowne Plaza in Gerrards Cross for dinner, a live band, and a well-earned sleep before tournament day.
After a morning swim and an impressive effort at the breakfast buffet, the Lions headed to Beaconsfield Town FC for the team’s first ever 6v6 tournament.
The organisers split teams into ability tiers, and based on the Lions’ NCYFL performances this season, they were placed straight into the top “Strong” group.
One look at the warm-ups and Coach Chris genuinely wondered whether we’d accidentally entered the U14s. The opposition were enormous!
But the Lions didn’t blink.
⚽ Game 1 – Chesham
A tough opener. The Lions went behind early but responded brilliantly to level things up. In the final few minutes they piled on the pressure, peppering the goal but just unable to find a winner.
Full time: 1-1
⚽ Game 2 – Fulham
Another intense battle. The Lions took the lead, Fulham equalised, but the boys showed huge determination and regained control to take a deserved victory.
Full time: 2-1
⚽ Game 3 – Beaconsfield B
The Lions settled into their rhythm here, moving the ball confidently and taking a quick two-goal lead. In truth, it could have been more.
Full time: 2-0
⚽ Game 4 – Beaconsfield A
A huge test against a very strong side. The winners would top the group.
The Lions rose to the challenge magnificently.
Kit produced a brilliant individual goal to put Cringleford ahead, before a controversial penalty decision allowed Beaconsfield level.
But the response was superb. The Lions kept playing, kept competing, and retook the lead through a fantastic team move finished brilliantly by Shahveer.
The post rescued Beaconsfield several times, while at the other end Seb was a rock and Reggie made excellent saves dealing brilliantly with everything thrown at him.
Full time: 2-1
UNBEATEN. Group winners. Into the semi-finals.
⚽ Semi-final – Fulham
By now the Lions were flying.
They dominated the game from the start, scoring early and creating chance after chance. The woodwork was rattled multiple times before another goal sealed an outstanding performance.
Into the final.
⚽ Final – Beaconsfield A
The Lions absolutely roared out of the blocks and thought they had scored after just two minutes… only for the referee not to spot the ball had bounced back out from inside the goal after hitting the back wheel.
It was a huge moment.
In sweltering heat against a physically massive side, the boys kept battling. Reggie produced another outstanding save to keep things level and, with penalties looming, the Lions were still pushing.
But with less than three minutes remaining Beaconsfield finally broke through. Chasing an equaliser in the final moments, the Lions were caught with the last kick of the game.
Full time: 0-2
Beaconsfield somewhat sheepishly took the trophy. However, the tournament organisers awarded both teams as gold medal winners.
Winners or runners up… what a fantastic weekend.
Their first ever 6v6 tournament. Probably the strongest group of teams they’ve ever faced. Yet they competed brilliantly, topped their group unbeaten, reached the final, and represented Cringleford with enormous pride.
More importantly, they showed togetherness, resilience, character and courage throughout.
Hopefully the result will fade with time, but the memories from this weekend won’t.
Brilliant effort, boys. 🦁💛💙
