The biggest weekend of football ever at GNP Sports FC with ALL 32 JUNIOR TEAMS in action on Saturday & Sunday. That's well over 400 players competing for GNP in their respective leagues over 2 days - WOW!!!

It was a successful weekend too, with our Under 18 boys progressing to the next round of the Challenge Cup, our Under 16 girls continuing an unbeaten start to their league campaign and two of our Under 15 boys teams (Lions & Tigers) continuing 100% starts to the season and topping their respective leagues at this early stage.

All the match action is rounded up below.

SATURDAY – GIRLS

The Under 9 Panthers (pictured) continued their great start to the season with another high scoring game against Warwick Juniors Angels. Goals from Poppy, Leena, Rhea, Asees and Jasmine. Fantastic teamwork from all, but special mentions for Hargun and Amiyah putting in great work both in goal and outfield. A performance to be proud of, well done Panthers!

GNP Under 10 Warriors travelled away again this week to face Kingshurst. The Warriors put in a resolute first-half performance, defending well as a team despite going into half-time two goals behind. It was a difficult second half, but the team didn’t let their heads drop and continued to work hard for one another until the final whistle. Despite the defeat, there was plenty of determination and grit on display, along with some areas to work on as we continue to develop as a team.

The Under 12 Panthers made the trip to Hillfields AFC this week full of confidence from their victory last week. With only the minimum squad available the girls knew it would be a game where their passion and determination would have to show through. After an initial bright start from GNP, Hillfields managed to open the scoring from a corner where the second ball was not closed down quickly enough. The girls regrouped and managed to pull one back straight from a corner by Lily (2 in 2 games and both direct from corners!!). The momentum quickly swung again though as Hillfields went into the break 2-1 up. A shuffle of positions for the second half saw the Panthers take control of the game, Elizabeth making it 2-2 after some great football and a fantastic assist from Rhea. GNP continued to push for a winner and looked the most likely to get one with Rhea hitting the post. With the Panthers wanting the win it did leave us vulnerable to the counter and Hillfields almost snatched a winner but Khloe, stepping up to go in goal, made a fantastic diving save from close range to keep the score level. Parents player of the week went to Excel, in only her 2nd ever game she showed some fantastic attributes, and with a bit more experience, is looking like she will cause the opposition problems on a weekly basis. Coaches player this week went to Rhea, a versatile player who consistently gives her all, was solid in defence, and created chances for the team when she moved into her more familiar forward role. Well done to all the girls!

Under 13 Panthers hosted Crusaders Girls in a competitive league game. After a heavy win the week before, the Crusaders were expected to provide a tough test and so it proved. They had GNP on the back foot for long periods of the game, but the girls stood up to the test throughout, defending with grit and determination, and pushed the visitors all the way to the final whistle. Unfortunately the final result was a 2-3 defeat, but lots of positives to take forward into the upcoming schedule!

Under 15 Panthers were away against Dream chasers. We knew it would be a physical battle from our fixtures against them last season. We quickly took the lead through some really good play, the girls continued to create chances dominating the ball and controlled the game very well. Unfortunately they equalised with their first attempt at goal. This seemed to happen again and again. The girls played some outstanding football and rose to the physical demands of this match without stooping to the tactics of the opposition. We managed to take the lead 4 times but some lack in concentration and individual errors led to the final score of 4-4. Another great performance from the girls with lots to build on.

Under 16 Panthers put in a great effort in their league encounter away to Alcester Town Girls. It proved to be a game of 2 halves that could have gone either way. In the end the final score of 1-1 was probably a fair one. The effort and attitude in tough conditions shows how far the girls have all come. 2 great results to start the season leave the Under 16s placed 3rd in the early league table - keep it going Panthers!

SATURDAY – BOYS

Under 14 Tigers

GNP Under 12 Lions suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 4–1 after a difficult opening half. Nuneaton Town started strongly and pressed relentlessly, scoring all four of their goals in the first half and making it difficult for the Lions to find their usual rhythm. After some tactical changes at half-time and asking a little more from the lads, the response was excellent. The Lions held strong and didn't allow the opposition to break through and score again. As the 2nd half progressed, the Lions finally began to build some momentum, with Jamie grabbing a late consolation goal to make it 4–1, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. Man of the Match: Finn. A special mention for Finn, who stepped in between the posts in the absence of our usual goalkeeper. He produced some fantastic saves throughout the game and showed excellent distribution from the back.

The Under 11 Pumas travelled to Hockley Heath for what was always going to be a tough game, especially with no substitutes. From the very start, the boys showed great determination. Both teams created chances, but it was the Pumas who found the breakthrough, with Finan scoring our opening goal to put us ahead. Ajeet came close to scoring with a great strike from outside the box, only being denied by the keeper. Hockley Heath soon responded with a goal of their own to level it at half-time. The 2nd half saw the boys continue to battle and work incredibly hard, Jensen and Archie put in tackle after tackle and distributed well up field. A precise pass fell perfectly to Finan, who made no mistake to put us back in front for his 2nd of the game. The boys continued to work hard as a team, with some fantastic saves from Eric helping to keep us ahead. Then came another great piece of play from Zak, who carried the ball down the pitch before crossing it over to Yash, who calmly finished it and seal the win! Every single one of the boys gave absolutely everything today, they dug deep and they should all be incredibly proud of their effort, determination and teamwork. Zak Player of the Match, for his assists and excellent defending, which played a huge part in helping the Pumas secure another fantastic result!

The Under 11 Lions continued their positive form against a tough Firefighters team. Arjun started the onslaught from a nice kick in to Sahib, who set it up for Caleb for our first goal. Caleb dominated the middle supported by Ksawery, Nikhil and Veer each creating numerous chances at goal. Under pressure Firefighters conceded a penalty which Caleb calmly put away. It wasn't long before Caleb struck again, setup from Ksawery. The Firefighters tested our defences but Manroop, Wahid and Arjun held strong putting in solid tackles, while Sehaj kept his clean sheet, pulling off some big saves. Putting into practice all they have learnt at training, the Lions controlled the game, performing as a unit. From the chances the boys created, we could have got into double figures! Everyone played well but Caleb earned PoTM for bossing the midfield and playing a key role. Great result Lions!

GNP Under 11 Jaguars showed tremendous character and resilience today as they battled to a well-earned draw in a game that tested the team both physically and mentally. Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the match, the Jaguars remained focused, stuck together and continued to play as a team. They refused to let anything distract them and showed the togetherness and determination that has been developing within the squad. The Jaguars got themselves on the scoresheet through Agam, before Jake found the net from a corner after the ball took a deflection. Zion then produced one of the moments of the game with an outstanding strike to complete the scoring. The boys continued to push forward and create opportunities, showing that they were not prepared to give up regardless of the situation. Defensively, Anshveer, Angad and Oscar worked extremely hard and put in strong performances, while Eli, Marc and Reggie provided plenty of energy and effort on the wings. Most importantly, every player contributed and played their part in helping GNP salvage a result. It was a performance full of character, resilience and team spirit, and the boys should be extremely proud of how they represented the team today.

The Under 10 Jaguars travelled to play Rugby Borough Colts. The first half was an uncharacteristically flat start from the Jaguars, with Colts scoring from a corner before a counter-attack and another quick goal saw the boys let their heads drop. A good half-time talk from the coach about staying positive and playing as a team seemed to do the trick, as a completely different Jaguars came out for the 2nd half. They were back to their usual physical and skilful selves, linking up some great attacking play. Bobby played a beautiful ball forward to Leo, who finished superbly to get us on the scoreboard, before Theo smashed an amazing free kick into the top corner after Isaac was fouled outside the box. The boys kept pushing right until the final whistle but unfortunately couldn’t find any more goals to close the deficit. Leo was our PoTM for his constant effort, brilliant finish and for keeping positive with a smile on his face all game. The 2nd half showed how different the game could have been if we’d started with that same attitude, and there was some great attacking football and teamwork to be proud of.

GNP Under 9 Lions vs Wellesbourne Wanderers Tornadoes. With players away and Evan’s hand injury, today was a great opportunity for the Lions to adapt, try different positions and learn together. Both teams played positive, competitive football in the right spirit. Wellesbourne worked hard throughout, giving the Lions plenty to think about. But there was lots to celebrate across the GNP team. Gurshaan scored, created chances and communicated brilliantly, helping organise his teammates even when moving into defence. Thomas covered lots of ground, tackled strongly and was rewarded with a goal. Abdul continued his impressive start, working hard to win the ball and getting himself on the scoresheet again. Theo P looked much sharper in only his 2nd competitive game and confidently stepped into goal when needed. Theo N made some excellent saves before showing his quick thinking to score from distance. Evan, usually our goalkeeper, didn’t let his injury stop him contributing, working tirelessly outfield to defend, win the ball and find teammates. Player of the Match: Shaan — who also scored and showed how much he is taking on board from training, communicating well, tackling strongly, crossing and supporting his teammates throughout. A big thank you to the referee, who took time to explain decisions and coach players through them, helping both teams understand and learn. The final quarter summed up the Lions perfectly. Even when facing 7 players in the powerplay, they kept working, looking for each other and finished exhausted from the effort they had put in. Another positive step forward as a team. Well played Wellesbourne and Well done Lions!

The Under 8 Pumas continued their great start to their first ever season against a strong SoccerRockz Jaguars side. This display really showed the progression the team are making. Zoran got the game off to a great start scoring in the first minute with further goals from Roshan and an unstoppable penalty won and scored by Ramis. Ramis also starred in goal, making some unbelievable saves. Jora kept the standard up during his stint in goal by making a fingertip save over the bar. SoccerRockz played some great football which made for an entertaining match up. The match was rounded off with a fantastically taken goal by Roman earning him the player of the match trophy. The defending from the team today was superb with Mehnga working especially hard at both ends of the pitch. All in all, a great team effort!

The Under 8 Lions travelled away to Sphinx Juniors and got off to a fantastic start, dominating possession and taking a well-deserved two-goal lead in the first quarter. Harvansh and Leon both found the back of the net with two brilliant goals! Despite creating plenty more chances, we just couldn’t quite find the finish in the remaining quarters. The boys continued to show great determination and teamwork throughout the match, putting in some excellent challenges and working hard for every ball. Aarav made some fantastic saves in goal, while Kritin and Aathi put in strong defensive performances, spotting gaps and driving the ball forward. Although the match finished in Sphinx’s favour, the Lions showed plenty of fight, quality and great team play. Well done boys!

GNP Under 8 Tigers put on a spirited performance, hosting a formidable CTK Red side. The match began with CTK showcasing their offensive strength, putting immediate pressure on the Tigers. However, the Tigers' backline rose to the challenge, with Uday and Rehmat putting in excellent defensive shifts to break up dangerous attacks. As the half progressed, Cameron led the charge forward to shift the momentum. The Tigers' hard work paid off in style when David produced a cool, composed finish. CTK maintained their attacking intensity after the break. The hosts managed to keep the opposition out from adding many more to their lead thanks to heroic performances between the posts, as both Gian and Lucas made a series of exceptional saves to deny a relentless CTK frontline. Marsels POTM. Technically excellent throughout the game, displaying skills and a faultless work ethic.

Another really positive morning for our Under 7 Lions against Hillmorton Warriors. For anyone unfamiliar with the new U7 format, the boys now play 3v3, with three games taking place simultaneously. Across the games we won a few and lost a few, with some really competitive and evenly matched football throughout. There were plenty of good goals, some excellent tackling and lots of good individual moments from the boys. Our main focus at the moment is developing their technique, confidence on the ball and understanding of the game, and we’re already seeing improvements week by week. Most importantly, the boys had a great time playing football and it’s brilliant to see their development continuing each week!

SUNDAY – BOYS

GNP Under 18s had an away game in Leamington vs Khalsa FC in the opening round of the Challenge Cup. After a slow start from being 1-0 down with an own goal, the lads found rhythm and scored 7. A shout out to Ethan Campbell who scored a hat trick of headers! We move onto the next round!

Under 15 Tigers visited CHESS Warriors in a one-sided affair, camped almost permanently in the hosts half against a team with no ambition to attack. The boys played it really well in the 1st half, passing the ball patiently and switching play to move the ultra low block from side to side. Goals came at regular intervals; Ayden lashed home a superb left volley before Jasper finished from Oscar’s pass. Another Oscar assist teed up Harman B who finessed his shot into “top bins” before Harman turned provider for Emmanuel, who turned sharply on the edge of the box before finishing at the near post. 2nd half opened with Emmanuel’s 2nd goal from a superb Saavun cross. Our PotM, Emmanuel, then went on a dynamic run to the byline from his new wing back position, before cutting the ball back to a grateful Oscar who easily slotted home GNP’s 6th and final goal. The scoreline could easily have been doubled but for goalkeeper heroics and some wild shooting. But job done - 6pts out of 6 and top of the early table alongside Chapelfields Colts after last season’s title win & promotion.

Under 15 Lions visited Rugby Town Spartans in League action with a healthy squad, but expecting a tough challenge following double defeat against these opponents last season. The boys started solidly in an even affair, but were undone by 2 set pieces. On both occasions the ball was half cleared from the initial delivery, and a Rugby attacker was first to react with both finishes looping high over the helpless Davide in goal. The half time talk was focused on the boys trying to make things happen with aggressive pressing in the hosts half, to turn the game around. Michael stepped up to the challenge on 48 mins, stealing the ball from the defender and embarking on a strong run down the left channel before slotting with ease past the keeper. Michael then turned provider, delivering a switch pass on the counter to Savvy on the left wing, who attacked his marker on the outside with pace before scoring in off the near post for his first ever goal for GNP! 2-2; game on and the Lions were buoyant, sensing the tiring legs of the Spartans. Rugby hit GNP on the counter and thought they had won it when their winger tapped home a rebound off the crossbar but his joy was short-lived when he was flagged offside. GNP took full advantage of this with Mario & Rikhil combining in the left corner with 5 mins left; Rikhil cut inside and then unleashed an unstoppable curling effort from 20 yards which went high over the keeper and into the net. Jubilant scenes, which were then repeated on the final whistle when Michael robbed a midfielder, then drove at the heart of the defence, beating 3 players before lashing it home for a fantastic goal which sealed a superb victory and a POTM performance for Michael. 3 wins to start the season for the Lions, 2 in the league, leaving them joint top of the table in the early standings!

Under 15 Pumas went down to a narrow 0-1 home defeat against Hartshill Sports Hurricanes on Sunday. They will feel disappointed given there were ample opportunities to get on the scoresheet.

Under 14 Pumas played their first game of the season against Racing Club Warwick (RCW) Black. First outing in division C for the Pumas, following promotion last season. Strong start by the Pumas with Nathan shooting wide after 2 minutes. Generally GNP remained in control but they let their guard down at the back allowing the RCW winger to get in behind the defence, to put Warwick in front half way through the opening period. Pumas got themselves back into the game with a goal through Mayo. 1-1 at halftime. Pumas then took the lead with a shot by Evan as the RCW keeper could only watch the ball fly past him. But Racing Club got themselves on level terms following up from a shot which hit the Pumas crossbar. Pumas piling on the pressure but unable to break down the RCW defence, along with some good goal keeping by the home keeper. RCW almost got themselves a winner late on in the game but were denied by Harrison who made a great save! Final score 2-2. Player of the match performance by new signing Layton.

GNP Under 13 Pumas 6-4 Hurley Kings. Lekan opened the scoring with Jamie assisting, before Lekan doubled the advantage with Kian providing the assist. Two defensive errors, including an unlucky bounce into the goal, allowed the opposition to level at 2–2. Lekan completed his hat-trick with Timothy assisting to restore the lead before half-time. Sam also made an excellent save, while Jaiden went close with a good effort. The second half saw Lekan add another, assisted by Jaiden, before the opposition pulled one back. Kian then scored from a goalmouth scramble, followed by an excellent individual goal from Lekan to make it 6–3. The opposition scored late, but the team held on for a deserved 6–4 victory. A great attacking performance.

Under 13 Jaguars delivered a fantastic all-round team performance to secure a well-deserved 3–0 win away at Coventry Saracens, making it two wins from two in the league. The boys started strongly and dominated from the outset, with Noah opening the scoring with a superb volley. Ahmed then added a second before half-time following some excellent build-up play. Despite losing Harrai to injury, the team remained strong and disciplined, with Morris stepping into defence, while Joven B and Robin made valuable contributions. Ahmed completed the scoring with a great run and finish to make it 3–0. The scoreline could easily have been doubled given the number of opportunities created. Victor was particularly unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, having several excellent chances. On another day, he could easily have found himself with a hat-trick. With three goals and a clean sheet, it was a thoroughly deserved result. Ahmed was named Player of the Match for his tireless work at both ends of the pitch and his two well-deserved goals.

A depleted Under 13 Tigers squad made the trip to Nuneaton to take on Hartshill Tigers in their first league match of the season. Knowing they faced a daunting challenge with the bare 9 players available, every player would need to dig deep. The Tigers started slowly but soon found their rhythm, taking control of proceedings and laying siege to the Hartshill goal. They were unlucky not to hit the target, and when they did, the home goalkeeper repeatedly denied the visitors. Against the run of play, disaster struck. The usually resilient Tigers defence was caught by a swift turn of pace, allowing Hartshill to snatch the lead and send the visitors into the break a goal down. The uphill battle became steeper shortly after the restart. A free kick conceded in a dangerous area gave Hartshill their opportunity, and a looping effort sailed beyond reach to double the advantage. With tired legs and the odds stacked against them, the Tigers refused to surrender. Showing great determination, every player raised their level. They chased every loose ball, battled for every challenge, and began to turn the tide. Their reward arrived when Jude unleashed an effort that took a cruel deflection for the hosts, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net. Suddenly belief surged through the Tigers ranks. With momentum swinging their way, slick passing and excellent link-up play through the centre carved open the Hartshill defence. Declan provided the perfect assist and Jude kept his composure to fire home his second goal, levelling the contest and completing a remarkable comeback. Hartshill responded with fresh legs from the bench and pushed hard for a winner, but the GNP Tigers would not be broken. Both teams had chances in a thrilling finale, yet neither could find the decisive goal. At the final whistle, the score stood at 2-2, giving them their first well deserved point.

Under 13 Lions

Under 11 Tigers were away to Rugby Borough Juniors. Tigers dominated the opening 10 minutes with plenty of attacking play however couldn’t quite put their opportunities away. Tigers then got caught on the counter against the run of play conceding 15 minutes in. They pressed on, however, and finished the first half strong. Second half saw more of the same and with Player of the Match, Arveer, controlling the midfield, they looked to score. Rivan drove the ball forward well and with Rajan being involved in much of the link up play, they were unlucky to concede. Tigers saved their best passing performance for their goal though which Rajan took well. With passes from Veer to Arveer to Tyrae to Rajan, it highlighted exactly what they’re capable of. Deserving of a draw at least, however it wasn’t meant to be. Nevertheless the Tigers can take a lot from the performance, which will hold them in good stead as the season progresses.

Under 10 Tigers hosted Maine Athletes and put in a positive performance to come away with a deserved result. After conceding early, the comeback was kickstarted with an Aron goal, then substitute Viyan made a huge impact when he came on up front, scoring a wonder solo goal and assisting twice for Bishoy’s long-range screamers to put the game out of Maine’s reach. Congratulations Tigers!

The GNP Under 10 Lions faced SoccerRockz U9 Warriors at home with tremendous courage. The Lions were on the back foot from the get-go with an intense onslaught from a collected and tactful opposition. SoccerRockz were able to exploit gaps in our midfield but the defence were in fine form with our exceptional keeper Balraj saving numerous attempts to score. The second half of the game saw the first goals with a goal from Anwar, assisted by Jeevan. Followed by goals from SoccerRockz before Harvey scored the equaliser from the halfway line. The Lions showed fantastic grit in a challenging match and should be proud of themselves.

Under 10 Pumas were away to the Rugby Borough FC Hawks. It was an early-morning start in the sunshine and both teams came out of the blocks quickly. The opposition had all the possession and were peppering our goal with shots, but they couldn’t get past Jodhbeer who was immense in goals. Late in the first half, we hit them on the counter with a jinking run from defence by Eshaanvir, playing a great through-ball to Srihan who slotted it home. In the second half, we changed things around and had more possession, which led to Jodhbeer scoring with a cracking long-range shot. Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived as the Pumas were pulled out of position at the back, and the opposition soon drew level. We then conceded a penalty which was wonderfully saved by Eshaanvir. Late in the game, we conceded a decisive third goal, but the scoreline doesn’t do justice to how well the boys played as a unit.

The Under 9 Pumas played their 3rd match of their debut season against Coundon Court and got off to a great start, with goals from Jake and Kritin giving the boys an early lead. The team showed great movement and worked hard. Coundon Court fought back to level the game by half time, despite Tyan making some great saves along the way. In the second half, Coundon pulled away with the Pumas finding themselves 2 goals behind. But showed a ‘never give up’ attitude in the final 10 minutes. Great team effort and persistence paid off, with two late goals, both assisted by Harmilun and finished by our Player of the match, Angad, who finished the game with a hat-trick to earn the boys a well-deserved draw against a well drilled opponent. A brilliant team effort from the Pumas overall!
Under 9 Tigers