A girls’ football team from Thomas Estley Community College is just one step away from playing at Wembley Stadium, after winning the Utilita Girls Cup Area Final while representing Leicester City.
The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, topping the league table before edging past hosts Derby County in a closely contested final decided on penalties. Derby County were represented by The Ecclesbourne School, with both finalists now progressing to the North Regional Finals in March.
Picture credit: Thomas Estley Community College
The Utilita Girls Cup is a national competition organised by the English Football League, pairing school teams with local EFL clubs. Winners of the regional finals will advance to the national final at Wembley, held ahead of the Vertu Trophy Final on 12 April 2026.
Yesterday’s Area Final was hosted by Derby County Community Trust in partnership with EFL in the Community, bringing together schools from across Club Community Organisation (CCO) areas to celebrate girls’ football. Mansfield and Sheffield Wednesday reached the semi-finals, with Derby County overcoming Mansfield 2–0, while Leicester City progressed via penalties after a tightly fought match.
The Leicester City coach praised his players’ performance and said he was eagerly anticipating the next round, while both coaching staff and school representatives thanked Derby County for hosting the event despite challenging weather conditions.
David Goulding, Inclusion Team Leader at Derby County Community Trust, said:
“It was a fantastic day of football for all involved, with every team picking up points and scoring goals. Although the weather didn’t hold out, there were plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the day. We’d like to thank our host venue, Leisure United Derby Racecourse, for their hospitality and patience, and we’re looking forward to supporting The Ecclesbourne School at the North Regional Finals.”
The Utilita Kids & Girls Cup is one of the country’s largest national football competitions for schoolchildren, involving more than 20,000 boys and girls each year who represent the 72 EFL clubs across England and Wales. The tournament aims to inspire young people to stay active, develop teamwork skills, and strengthen connections between professional clubs and their local communities.
