Goal-hungry Trinity Catholic College aim to bring a prestigious trophy back to Teesside after hitting the back of the net 39 times and conceding just six times on their way to tomorrow’s ESFA Under-18 Girls National Cup final.

The 16-strong squad, who have only been together since September, travel to Stoke City’s Bet 365 Stadium to take on Surbiton High School in the showpiece event.

NPCAT PE curriculum lead and team manager Gemma Gibson says that whatever the result, she couldn’t be more proud of them.

“These girls didn’t all know each other and had never played together and the fact that they’ve made it through to a national final is amazing,” she said.

“Their attitude throughout the whole competition has been exemplary. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of players to work with. They deserve their opportunity to play in a final and to win it.”

Last year, Gemma led an under-16 team to the quarter-final of the same competition, a previous best for Trinity.

More than 100 teams entered this year’s competition and Trinity have had to win seven games to get this far, including a 6-0 semi-final thrashing of Neale Wade Academy in Cambridge.

A hat-trick from top scorer Fran, two goals from England international Rose and another from Daisy sealed Trinity’s place in the final.

“We were absolutely fantastic as a team and it was a pretty much flawless performance,” said Gemma.

“The opposition were a good side, it’s just that our girls played out with the skin that day. Nobody would have got close to them. I just hope they can reflect that same attitude and determination in the final.”

The girls are excited and understandably slightly nervous about the big game, but Gemma says they’re determined to give everything they can to bring the trophy home.

“Apart from being very talented, they’re also a fantastic group. You can’t get to a final just by having the right attitude, but that is the key thing for me – their work ethic, teamwork and the way they play for each other.

“Our captain, Ruby, leads by example, but although she wears the captain’s armband, I have a team of captains. They’re never negative with each other and if someone misses a chance or mistimes a tackle it’s, ‘Get straight up, keep going, you’ve got this!’ It’s such a positive environment to be around.”

One of the team, Rose, is already part of the England set-up while several are hopeful of pursuing careers in football, inspired by the Lionesses’ success in last summer’s Euros.

“I played football from a young age, but I didn’t really have any role models to look up to and think, ‘Gosh, that’s what I could do’.

“But quite a few England players come from small towns in the North-East. Beth Mead, Jordan Nobbs, Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze are all from our region and that’s four big players. Why shouldn’t our girls have the same aspirations as them?

“We’ve always had a strong girls’ football programme at Trinity and bringing the national cup home would be a remarkable achievement.

“But as a school, as a sixth form and as a trust, we should celebrate this whether we win or lose. Just reaching the final is a tremendous success.

“I couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them. When they step out onto that pitch, I know in my mind they will give me 100 per cent.

The squad comprises Year 11, 12 and 13 players from Trinity Catholic College and Sixth Form, which boasts the superb new T6 Football Academy, where highly talented male and female footballers can continue their academic studies alongside elite soccer training on world-class facilities.

“We work closely with T6 and they have been exceptionally accommodating with their equipment, facilities and kit,” said Gemma.

“If pupils in any of NPCAT’s secondary schools or any other schools in the Teesside and North Yorkshire area are good footballers, they should know they have an opportunity to be part of this.”