CTFC’s Academy Copa Catalunya 2025 Day Three Recap
CTFC’s academy become continental champions!
The Copa Catalunya came to a climactic end for CTFC academy with Joe Sharples’ CTFC-1 taking home the title, with Luke Spokes’ CTFC-2 winning their playoff match to finish a respectable 13th after late group stage heartbreak.
Day 2’s results saw CTFC-1 confirmed in top-spot of group D and through to the final four shootout for the title, while CTFC-2 conceded late in a controversial game that confided them to bottom of group B.
CTFC-2 opened day 3 with their first knockout game against GSV Pleidelsheim, despite Day 2’s disappointment we were up from the start with first half goals from Kian Evans and two from Todd Howitt saw out a comfortable first half performance. In the second period Evans would strike again, before Pleidelsheim struck from a set-piece. Max Spencer would complete the scoring with just minutes to go to round out a 5-1 victory and send CTFC-2 to the 13th placed playoff.
CTFC-1’s semi-final would be against SV Ebersbach 1910 for a spot in the grand final. The 40 minutes would be tense with both goalkeepers forced into saves but with either team failing to score, a penalty shootout would decide the hand. CTFC-1 score all of their spot-kicks with Ed Oatley, Finley Palmer, Will Banfield, Lewis Royston all netting. The hero would be the goalkeeper Thomas Hobson making a decisive save to send CTFC-1 through to the grand final!
CTFC-2 would then play for their best finishing position against TG Böckingen. Kian Evans again scored first to mark his third goal of the day before Mason Meaney netted to secure a 2-0 halftime lead. Despite Böckingen scoring early, Henry Peart would score to round out CTFC-2’s tournament and secure them a strong end on day 3!
Congratulations to the CTFC-2 squad! 💙
The next game would be for the ultimate prize, the 2025 Copa Catalunya title. CTFC-1 would play PSG 05 Phorzheim to take the title.
The game started cagey with Banfield booked for a sliding tackle. Just four minutes later however, Lewis Hayward would strike low into the bottom right corner to put CTFC-1 in front!
As the half-time whistle came and went, PSG 05’s tempers would flare, with a booking for dissent, another for a foul on Ethan Murehwa and a straight red card with just nine minutes to go. CTFC-1 would fight to the end, and hold on to the victory cementing their place in Copa Catalunya history and earning the trophy!
All at Chippenham Town would like to extended huge congratulations to everyone involved in the academy’s trip, you really have done us proud!
Congrautlations CTFC 💙
