An unbelievable week of football saw not one, not two, but THREE GNP Sports teams confirmed as league champions of their respective divisions! The Under 13 Tigers wrapped up their 2nd successive league title in the Mid Warwickshire League, whilst the Under 14 Tigers (pictured) and the Under 12 Pumas both won convincingly to ensure they cannot be caught in their respective divisions of the Coventry & Warwickshire Youth League. A huge congratulations to everyone involved in the 3 teams – A league title is the ultimate reward as it represents sustained high performance over a long period of time. The club is immensely proud of all the coaches and players who have secured these fine achievements!

TUESDAY – BOYS

Under 13 Tigers visited Balsall & Berkswell Hornets on Tuesday evening looking to wrap up the league title after an amazing unbeaten debut season so far in Mid Warwickshire League Division 1. The boys applied themselves professionally and came away with a 4-2 win which gave them enough points that they are uncatchable at the top of the league. Congratulations to Coach Harby and the squad for a 2nd successive league title!

SATURDAY – GIRLS

Under 15 Panthers were away against Alcester Town. The game started brightly with both teams keen to stamp their mark on the match but after the 1st 10 mins the Panthers started to control the play and missed a couple of good chances to take the lead. The home team also had some good attacking play but couldn’t find a way past the solid defence. The Panthers took the lead late into the 1st half with some good closing down and Mekenna rushing on to collect a loose ball and placing a cool finish across the keeper and into the far corner. The second half followed the same pattern as the 1st and the Panthers should have been 3 or 4 up but efforts saved and some near misses made it look like it was going to one of those days but the Panthers did eventually go 2-0 up with some short passes around the area and a defence-splitting pass found Kia who beat 3 defenders and coolly slotted past the keeper. 4 minutes later the home team were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area. The opposition striker stepped up, but Harkeerat in goal, saved the penalty kick and then charged down the rebound forcing the striker to blast over the bar. An excellent display from the Panthers means they now sit mid-table after some great recent performances.

Under 14 Panthers were away to Redditch Borough. First half the Panthers started off slow and unable to clear the ball from their own defence, gifted Redditch a couple of goals in the opening half. 2nd half the Panthers showed a lot more fight and played well. Koko deserved a special mention for her defensive work. All in all, a performance of two halves with the former one to forget and resulting in a 2-0 loss.

GNP Panthers Under 12s made the trek to top of the table Lutterworth on Saturday morning and from the get-go you'd have thought it was GNP who were leading the league. Sheena starting up front, made her physical presence felt, and it was her who fashioned the first chance with a bustling run into the area and shot but a great save from the keeper denied her. Avneet came close too and Faith just before the break was denied with another good stop from the keeper. Tino in goal not called upon throughout the first half only to collect long hopeful balls from Lutterworth. H.t 0-0. Second period was more of the same, every 50/50 ball saw every Panther running themselves into the ground, not giving an inch to the table toppers. Lutterworth, smarting from GNP's dominant first half, forced Tino to make a good save early doors in the second period to show they were still in the game and hungry, but 15 minutes into the 2nd period, Sheena, who dropped back into central midfield was tenacious and won the ball midway in Lutterworth's half and sent a nice pass to Faith on the right of the penalty area who sent a vicious shot that flew in, giving the keeper no chance. A deserved lead for the underdogs. The next ten minutes was a real scrap and end to end with clear cut chances few and far between and with 7 minutes to play Lutterworth equalised with a shot from 15 yards finding the bottom corner. On the balance of play Lutterworth will be happy with their point, as it was a fortunate one. But GNP went home very happy with their point, proving they are a match for any team in this league. Lutterworth 1-1 GNP Panthers

Under 11 Panthers began the home Cup encounter with Daventry Town Panthers with real determination, taking control of the early stages and applying sustained pressure in the opposition half. From the opening whistle, attacking intent was clear, with Elizabeth, Anaiya and Anya all creating promising opportunities. Their efforts were either narrowly off target or well saved by the Daventry keeper. The Panthers’ attacking dominance defined much of the first half. However, against the run of play, Daventry capitalised on a swift counterattack to take the lead. Shortly before half-time, an unfortunate player deflection following a diving save from Poppy resulted in an own goal, leaving the Panthers trailing 2–0 at the break. The 2nd half saw GNP come back fighting. The team worked tirelessly to redress the balance. Khloe battled with impressive skill and speed across the pitch. The Panthers raised the intensity. Elizabeth ignited the comeback with a well-taken goal, before confidently converting a penalty with a searing high shot, following an opposition handball to level the score. An evenly matched game of skill, but momentum firmly with GNP, further pressure came from Anaiya, Elizabeth and Rhea, though the opposition goalkeeper made several key saves. Defensively, Poppy denied Daventry on multiple occasions, while Jodh, supported by Aish, Avneet, Rhea and the ever-energetic Hope on the wing, ensured resilience throughout. Elizabeth completed a superb hat-trick, and a dangerous corner from Hope forced an own goal to extend the lead. The fifth goal followed a brilliant run from Elizabeth, setting up Avani for a composed finish. A last-second save from Poppy secured victory for this team after a thrilling match. An outstanding team performance and a brilliant comeback. Elizabeth was named Parents’ Player, with Anaiya awarded Manager’s Player.

GNP Under 9 Panthers made the journey to Stockton for their latest away fixture, and what a performance it turned out to be. After a two-week Easter break, the team returned refreshed, focused, and full of energy — and it showed from the very first whistle to the last. This was a complete team performance, with every single player contributing to what was arguably one of the strongest displays of the season so far. The Panthers played with real intent, combining positive, high pressing football with disciplined and resilient defending. Their teamwork and understanding of each other’s play was evident throughout, with some excellent passages of link-up play that kept the opposition under constant pressure. In attack, the goals flowed beautifully. Jackie and Abigail both delivered outstanding performances, each securing well-deserved hat-tricks. They were supported brilliantly by additional goals from Shreya, Mihar, and Siya, reflecting the team’s attacking depth and confidence going forward. Defensively, the team were just as impressive. Tanaya, Jaye, and Shreya put in exceptional performances at the back, working tirelessly to break up play and protect the goal. Their efforts laid the foundation for the team to push forward with confidence, ultimately securing a fantastic clean sheet. What stood out most was the cohesion, determination, and spirit shown by the entire squad. From defence to attack, every player played their part in a performance full of energy, teamwork, and quality. A brilliant result, a clean sheet, and a display full of pride — this is certainly a game the Panthers can look back on as a benchmark for the season.

SATURDAY – BOYS

The Under 9 Jaguars travelled to Warwick Cricket Club for the return fixture against Warwick Juniors Knights, coming into it hungry for a win after last week’s result — and they delivered, heading home with a brilliant victory. The boys were on fire from the start, defending superbly and working tirelessly to clear every attacking ball that came their way. The opening goal was a lovely team move — a sharp one‑two between Bobby and Emaad, slipped into Theo, who found Mithun in the box to finish it off. Exactly the kind of link‑up play the boys have been working on. Midfield was full of energy, with proper box‑to‑box work helping us keep the pressure on. The chances kept coming, and it paid off again when Theo scored our second, this time from a great assist by Isaac. Warwick didn’t make it easy. They pushed hard and kept Freddie busy, but he bossed his box brilliantly and made some big stops. They eventually pulled one back on the counter, setting up a tense finish. The 2nd half was intense, with the Knights throwing everything at us in search of an equaliser, but the Jaguars dug deep, stayed organised and held their lead right to the final whistle. PotM went to Emaad for his relentless running up the line — he didn’t stop all game. A fantastic team performance and a well‑earned result.

The Under 10 Lions produced an excellent performance against a strong Firefighters side, showing real character and growth, particularly in an outstanding 2nd half. The Lions were a little slow to get going in the first half and found it difficult to get shots away early on. The Firefighters took advantage of this and scored before the break. Despite the early setback, the Lions stayed positive and worked hard to regain their shape. The defence was well organised and led confidently by Arjun, who set high standards throughout. After half time, the Lions delivered one of their best performances of the season. The team played with new confidence, tackled with greater intensity, and passed the ball far more effectively. Their improved possession and teamwork were clear to see and were fully rewarded when Sahib finished well from an excellent cross by Fakhir. Momentum stayed with the Lions, and Fakhir then produced a moment of real quality with a superb free kick from outside the box, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. It was a fantastic piece of skill and a highlight of the match. The Firefighters continued to test the Lions, but the defence stood strong, and on the occasions they broke through, Sehaj made some excellent saves to keep the team secure. The Lions’ performance was capped off with another well‑worked team goal, as Fakhir finished confidently after a great pass from Nikhil, underlining the team’s strong passing play. This was a brilliant all‑round team effort, full of determination, improvement, and support for one another, with POTM going to Arjun for outstanding work in defence

Under 10 Pumas were away to Leek Wootton. The Pumas started strong and created numerous chances, but could not find the back of the net for the first 15 minutes. The breakthrough finally came when Ife was put through by a great through ball and he slotted calmly to give the Puma’s a lead going into half time. The pattern was much the same in the 2nd half with the Pumas creating many clear-cut chances but were wasteful in front of goal. Leek Wootton managed to find a goal and despite a number of further chances for the Pumas, that was the end of the scoring. A performance the Pumas can be proud of and Player of the match went to Ife for his well-taken goal.

Under 10 Jaguars

The Under 8 Lions travelled away to Vision Lions after the Easter break, and it was the hosts who struck first with an incredible long goal kick from their goalkeeper that found the net. GNP responded quickly. Elliott picked up the ball, drove forward with confidence, and fired a rocket into the top corner to level the score. The game quickly turned into an end-to-end battle. Up front, Kiaan showed excellent strength, constantly pressuring defenders and fighting to win the ball back. Theo was full of energy on the left wing, tracking back to defend and pushing forward at every opportunity. Dhillan’s relentless pressing paid off as he finished brilliantly from a tight angle to give GNP the lead, before adding another soon after to extend the advantage. The 2nd half followed a similar pattern, but this time Vision were on the front foot, forcing GNP to defend more. Thomas stood strong at centre-back, making crucial last-minute tackles to keep the team ahead. On the right wing, Jagraaj impressed with his strength and capped off a great team move with a well-taken goal. Sahib once again showcased his superb footwork, helping to create attacking opportunities throughout the match. Luca showed great energy and footwork trying to get GNP up the pitch. Vision managed to pull another goal back, but Dhillan sealed a fantastic performance by completing his hat-trick. The Lions showed great team spirit and determination to secure a well-earned victory. Player of the Match: Dhillan – for his relentless pressing and outstanding hat-trick performance

GNP Under 8 Tigers vs Bedworth United Hotshots. Everyone was excited at the prospect of a rematch after an entertaining and competitive early season match-up. And they were not disappointed by a fantastic game; Bedworth have a team of talented players with a lot of strength, but the GNP boys were up for the challenge! Every player gave 100% forcing Bedworth onto the back foot. After a tight first quarter, Tigers took the lead and refused to let it slip. Lucas was quick footed in goal and out to stem the attacks and trouble the United wings. Rayan made challenge after challenge and added some great runs out from the back creating chances. Similarly, Naod was tough to beat in defence and made audacious runs down the wing to shoot or feed the front line. Luca, Petru, Taran and Akram played tirelessly and had a great mix of dangerous crosses and attempts on goal. Meanwhile Rhys's quest for an overhead kick into top bins continues despite a valiant effort this week! Goals for Rhys, Luca and Akram, with Petru, Naod and Lucas providing assists. This game was exactly what grassroots is about, evenly matched teams, experimenting and challenging themselves, having a lot of fun as individuals and a team. And the final result didn't hurt either! Well done Tigers, you made us all proud!

GNP Under 7 Tigers took on Copsewood Tigers away. It was a fast, high energy game from the get-go and never let up! GNP had control early on with Marsels & Uday denied. Uday put in a strong cross to Rehmat who with one fantastic volley got the goal - top bins! Rehmat was relentless on the right; not giving his opponent a chance on the ball. Uday was phenomenal down the left running down the wing and creating chances. Marsels linking up well with both of them. 2nd quarter GNP continued to have the edge. Joban as Goal Keeper gave a great ball to David who took on multiple players and the goal keeper to score. Shortly after Tobias on the wing set David up in the box for his second goal. Joban had a fantastic quarter in goal with some great clearances and a particularly necessary and impeccably timed tackle on the edge of the box. Copsewood hit back from a direct free kick just outside of the box. The third quarter was a little surprising with GNP uncharacteristically conceding 3 goals in quick succession, lacking defensive pressure on the ball. GNP were awarded a penalty which was struck just wide. Uday made multiple good saves, and Marsels finished a chance well to show that GNP were still fighting together. GNP felt they had the strength and determination to edge a competitive final quarter. Tobias took his chances with a long shot from halfway and, having scored from here multiple times for GNP before, it was great to see the ball go into the back of the net again. Joban also set Uday up for a great goal shortly after. However with some gaps in defence and getting caught off guard a couple of times, the match finished all square, with GNP pushing for a decisive goal right to the end!

Under 7 Lions hosted Sphinx White this weekend. The game ignited early when Sphinx found the back of the net to seize an early lead. However, the lead was short-lived. The Lions responded with immediate intensity; Gian applied pressure on the Sphinx defence, creating the opening that allowed Aathi to slot the ball home and level the playing field. Aarav was in great form in goal, producing a string of important saves. As the half drew to a close, the momentum remained with the hosts. With confidence surging, Gian fired a strike from range. The ball found the target, sending the Lions into the half time break with a hard-fought lead. In the 2nd half, the match pace continued. Both sides trading blows and creating a flurry of opportunities. The midfield battle intensified as both teams fought for control of the pitch. Lucas and Mikey on the wings in this half showed excellent ball retention and determination. Sphinx, showing great resilience, refused to fade away. Their persistence paid off as they engineered a tactical turnaround, finding the net twice in the 2nd half to overhaul the scoreline. The Lions pushed desperately for a late equalizer, but the visitors’ defence held firm to secure a victory. PotM was Shivaay. He showed great effort throughout the game.

SUNDAY – BOYS

Under 14 Tigers visited CHESS Lions on a mission to secure the CWYL League title with 4 games still left to play. With a full squad available the Tigers dominated possession and territory for the whole 1st half. With CHESS camped out with a compact shape around the edge of their box it was important to use the team’s natural width and our wing backs, Harman S & Cinar, were heavily involved, It took 17 mins to make the breakthrough when Cinar launched a long pass from his own half; MD sprinted onto the ball and slipped the ball easily past the onrushing keeper. Harman B was a driving force in midfield with excellent pressing and calm distribution of the ball into good spaces, allowing the boys to move the CHESS defence from side to side before delivering dangerous crosses into the box via Saavun, Harman S & Cinar. Half time was only 1-0 up, but the Tigers had already worked the home team so hard in the 1st half, that we saw the floodgates open early in the 2nd half. MD added his 2nd goal after a backpass was left short. Then the goal of the game came when MD carried the ball across the midfield area before switching out to sub wing back Aaron D, who took a fine 1st touch before unleashing a perfect, powerful finish in the far corner from 18 yards. Dylan pounced on another loose ball to smash home GNP’s 4th goal. The boys then took their foot off the pedal and play became sloppy for a 15 min period before another burst of 3 goals in the final 10 minutes. First Saavun drove down the left and crossed hard for Ayden to tap in at the far post. Dylan lashed home his 2nd of the game, this time with his left foot after a goalmouth scramble, and then jubilant scenes were sparked when defender Harshaan was thrown upfront & scored to make it 7-0 in the final minute. He had been the only outfield Tigers player not to score a goal in the league this season, so his goal marked another special statistic in what has been a super-special season for the GNP Tigers! The boys celebrated in style after the final whistle with their families and will now aim to finish off the season with a 100% win record in the League. Congratulations to the team, the coaches, Jat, Jazz and Ant as well as the loyal supporters for an amazing achievement!

GNP Under 14 Pumas came into a life or death game against Nuneaton Borough, only a victory would make them safe from relegation. This weekend saw the first time this season that Pumas had a full squad of 16 which was a huge boost before kick-off. The game started with Nuneaton piling the pressure on but Pumas were hitting back with strong counterattacks, this led to a first goal for GNP early on through Corbyn. Pumas then turning up the pressure themselves as Striker, Del, burst through, slotting home to put Pumas 0-2 up. GNP then sat back, allowing Borough to dictate the game, in doing so gave away a penalty which Nuneaton slotted away. Pumas went into halftime 1-2 up having showed tremendous fighting spirit. Following a good half time team talk from both GNP coaches, the Pumas went into the 2nd half more aggressive in defence, with the back 4 of Corbyn, George, William and Jacob clearing everything and anything away from danger. Goalkeeper Caleb then pulling off some world class saves when called upon as Whites tried to fight back. GNP were always dangerous on the counter attack with their pace causing Nuneaton problems. Then Dom picked up a loose ball, drove forward & played in Arjun K who squared it to Right winger JJ who finished the game off, making it 1-3. GNP switched things up towards the end to see out the game, allowing Nuneaton the ball, but with no real danger. The full-time whistle blew, everyone was happy with a great performance. Today was about avoiding relegation from the league and this massive result for GNP Pumas does that. Special mention for PotM, our goalkeeper Caleb!

Under 14 Lions made an early morning trip to Rugby to face Sporting Rugby Spartans who are competing towards the top of the table. The boys missed out narrowly last time in a fine display so were determined to go 1 better. Unfortunately, an uncharacteristic goalkeeping slip from an innocuous free kick gave Sporting the early advantage which they held onto until half time. GNP though gave a spirited display especially in defence, with the back four of Theo, Bhairav, Yuvraj and Ashwin keeping the dangerous striker relatively quiet. Mario, Rikhil & Emmanuel provided the main threat going forward but it was a combination between subs, Sahib & Reon, which created our best chance in the 1st half which was denied. GNP started the 2nd half well but were undone by a lapse from a high long ball down the middle. The imposing Rugby midfielder pounced and sprinted through before rounding keeper Daniel and slotting home. Thankfully the boys showed plenty of spirit in the middle of the park thanks to good performances from Aaron and Reon in central midfield. They scored a deserved goal, when Bhairav intercepted a dangerous attack, carrying the ball out of defence before unleashing a fine through-ball down the right channel for Mario. Mario held off his defender before finishing past the onrushing goalkeeper. The boys continued to push and probably edged the 2nd half in terms of possession and territory but couldn’t quite make any further inroads on the scoresheet. Final score Sporting Rugby 2-1 GNP Sports, PotM: Theo for another solid performance at right back.

Under 13 Pumas were in action against Camp Hill (CHESS) Lynx. First game in a while for the Pumas following the Easter break and cancellations, which resulted in a rusty 1st half performance on a difficult, uneven playing surface. The GNP backline had a relatively quiet first half. The Pumas missed chances which included 2 goal line scrambles but Nathan gave the Pumas a half time lead. Pumas started the 2nd half very strongly and extended their lead with goals from Armaan, Evan, Haris, Junior and another 2 from Nathan earning himself another hat trick. Nathan’s hat trick goal was struck from the edge of the penalty curling into the top corner helping secure a 7-0 away win to keep the pressure up at the top.

GNP Under 12 Pumas hosted Coventrians in their final league match, knowing that only a win would guarantee top spot. GNP wasted no time asserting themselves. Inside the opening two minutes, they took the lead with a sharp attacking move, Lekan bursting forward before Jaxx applied the finish to set the tone early. The second goal a perfectly weighted through ball from Jaiden found Ziyaad, who unselfishly squared it to Lekan for a simple finish. The fluid passing move highlighted Puma’s attacking cohesion and control. Lekan added his second and Puma’s third with a moment of individual brilliance. Latching onto a long ball from Faris, he drove forward from distance, with pace before calmly slotting home after a powerful 30-yard run. The fourth goal came from a set piece, as Jaiden’s corner caused chaos in the box and resulted in a Coventrians own goal, further extending the advantage before halftime. GNP showed no signs of easing up after the break. Lekan completed his hat-trick with a superb strike from just outside the box, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and capping off a dominant personal display. The scoring was rounded off by Ziyaad, whose shot took a deflection on its way in, sealing a comprehensive six-goal victory and the league title for the Under 12 Pumas. Congratulations to everyone involved in the team!

Under 12 Lions were away to high flying Rugby Borough Jaguars. The lads started strong and caused Rugby problems with good pressing all over the pitch. They were rewarded when Jack neatly converted a nice through ball from Veeran. Lions created a few more good chances before conceding an equaliser from a hopeful ball into their box. 2nd half Rugby came into the game more as the Lions began to tire with no subs available. Elijah was player of the match with some quality saves to keep the score to 4-1.

Under 12 Jaguars produced a dominant performance away to 2nd-placed Nuneaton Borough, but were left disappointed after conceding a last-minute winner. They started brightly on the front foot, creating early chances through Ahmed, Arjun and Armaan. Despite the strong start, Nuneaton took the lead against the run of play on the counter with a near post finish. The response was excellent. Ahmed equalised with a calm finish after a brilliant outside-of-the-foot assist from Arjun. Jaguars then took a deserved 2-1 lead when Arjun drove down the right with strength and power, cut into the box before pulling the ball back to Joven B, who fired into the roof of the net. Nuneaton levelled just before half-time, but the Jaguars continued to dominate in the second half, creating a number of excellent chances. Arjun hit the woodwork, Ahmed was a constant threat, and Joven B forced some outstanding saves from the keeper. Despite sustained pressure and clear attacking intent, the Jaguars were unable to find a winner and were punished on the counter with the final kick of the game. Overall, it was a performance full of positives, showing clear progress against strong opposition and highlighting the team’s attacking quality and improvement. Arjun was the Player of the Match for his two assists and all-round impact.

Under 12 Tigers

Under 10 Tigers were up against Hawkesmill. With a full squad and the sun shining the Tigers made hay. Some fabulous passing to begin with allowed Veer to score early doors. This provided the Tigers with plenty of confidence and they held possession well. Arveer then saw an opportunity from long range and managed to extend the Tigers lead. The Tigers now looked in full control and as the opposition started to press higher, this left further opportunity against their defence. This allowed Sahib to score a well deserved hat-trick, the first for the Tigers to complement his sharp new haircut. A fantastic performance by the Tigers and one they can be proud of with everyone contributing!

Under 9 Pumas were away to the Coventrians. Having played them a few times, we expected a tough match. For large parts of the match, we couldn’t get out of our own half but soaked up the pressure well. However, late into the first half, we conceded a goal. We came out fighting in the second half and some great interplay between our strikers and midfield saw us get into their box more often and get a couple of shots of goal. Unfortunately, while pushing for an equaliser, we conceded a second goal in the last minute. Overall, it was a great performance by our boys, undone by a decent opposition.

Under 9 Lions

Under 9 Tigers