02/06/2026
💙⚽️ WHAT A TRIP! ⚽️💙
In just two days, we've experienced emotions that many teams don't experience in two seasons.
The joy of progressing through the rounds, winning on penalties, scoring last-minute winners, conceding early goals, and ultimately losing in the final. To go through so many highs and lows in such a short space of time takes remarkable mental strength.
We cannot express how proud we are of every single player.
Their professionalism with food preparation, recovery, hydration, behaviour around the town, attitude, charisma, and of course their football, has left a lasting impression on everyone involved in the tournament.
Fans, referees, bars, and restaurants were all talking about the lads. We were gifted free drinks, food, and gifts by locals, and people were even asking for players' shirts. The boys have truly put Halesowen on the map.
With matches being live-streamed and our social media reaching over 57,000 views, the club has once again made a huge impact on the international stage.
We felt the final was one game too many. Travelling with just 14 players while other teams had squads of 18–22 eventually took its toll. We had players cramping up while putting their boots on minutes before kick-off.
The lads pushed their bodies to the absolute limit, and to take the final all the way to penalties was an incredible achievement.
What's even more remarkable is that we were just one penalty kick away from winning the entire tournament. That's how close these lads came. One kick separated them from lifting the trophy, which shows just how fine the margins are at the highest level and how outstanding their achievement really was.
Playing in Spain brings a different challenge. The language barrier with referees, different interpretations of tackles, the intense heat, and the physical demands all create a unique test. When you've played nearly 280 minutes in the Spanish sun and the ball is dropping out of the sky for what feels like your 10,000th header, it becomes a battle of character as much as ability.
Every single one of our players kept going.
Spain's football structure is also very different. There are no separate academy leagues, with top grassroots teams able to earn promotion into elite divisions that include clubs associated with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. That gives an indication of the standard of opposition we faced throughout the tournament.
A special mention must also go to Jacob, who suffered the heartbreak of breaking his leg before the tournament and was unable to play. Despite his disappointment, he still made the trip and remained a huge part of the squad throughout. His positivity, support and presence around the group helped create the togetherness that made this team so special. While he couldn't help the lads on the pitch, he was every bit as important to this journey as those who wore the shirt.
We are also incredibly proud of Harvey, whose performances throughout the tournament earned him the Most Valuable Player Award. As a goalkeeper, he produced save after save when it mattered most and was a huge reason we made it all the way to the final.
A huge congratulations also goes to our centre forward, Regan, who finished as joint top goalscorer of the tournament. His goals, work rate and determination played a massive part in our success and helped fire us to within one kick of becoming champions.
These boys are true warriors.
To finish as runners-up in a tournament of this quality is a fantastic achievement and one they should all be immensely proud of. When the disappointment fades, we hope they realise they were only one kick away from becoming champions.
Most importantly, the boys will carry this experience with them forever. The memories they have created, the challenges they have overcome, and the togetherness they have shown will keep them connected for a lifetime. Years from now they will still be talking about this trip, the games, the penalties, the laughs, the battles, and the friendships that were strengthened along the way.
We hope every player looks at their medal and trophy with pride, because they have earned it.
The future is bright.
Up The Yeltz! 💙💙💙⚽️🏴 🇬🇧
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