Football at King’s Park

 

A Footballing Legacy

Football is an important part fo life at King’s Park and the local community.

There is a rich history of footballing greats that grew up only a stone’s throw from our school - from as far back as Trevor Thompson, the 1964 ‘Ulster Footballer fo the Year’ and Alan McDonald who represented Northern Ireland in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico through to Julie Nelson, the first woman to reach 100 caps for Northern Ireland, and Jonny Evans the Northern Ireland and Leicester City defender.

Today, there are many children who seek to follow in their footsteps and make their mark on the world with their feet.

King’s Park fields a number of football teams - at differing age levels and including boys’ teams, girls’ teams and mixed teams.

We are very proud of the fact that the IFA awarded us a Gold Level School Quality Mark for the development of football. This standard of accreditation has only been given to a handful of primary schools in Northern Ireland.

 

A Culture of Respect

We work hard to create the right environment for our players, both on and off the pitch. We recognise the importance in developing the whole child and aim to develop the character of our players just as much as their footballing skills.

It’s important that we all play our part in creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment for our teams. That is why we have a Code of Conduct for Coaches, Players and their Parents.

 

Match Reports

P5 Mixed Team vs Abbots Cross PS - 23/11/21

Well done to the King’s Park Primary School P5 Footballers who played Abbott’s Cross PS today. 

King’s Park won Game One 4-2 with a brace from Ollie M and further goals from Daniel C and Islam M. Game Two was won by Abbott’s Cross 2-0 but the King’s Park Team fought back in game Three to get a 1-1 draw, Mason G getting the goal. Game Four finished 1-0 to King’s Park. It was a hard fought win with Brody M getting the winner. 

Well done to all the boys and girls who took part, they played brilliantly and showed fantastic attitude throughout. Another big thank you to Jim for coaching and refereeing and thank you to all the supporters who came along, it’s great to have football back! 

 

Girls’ Football Team - 21/05/19

Well done to the King's Park Primary School Girls' Football Team who took part in the Newtownabbey Area Girls' Football Tournament today. 

The King's Park team went into the tournament with a very inexperienced team, some of whom had never played football before! It was a great day and it was lovely to see the girls enjoying themselves and representing the school. They came up against some really strong sides and although the results didn't go for them they played brilliantly and did themselves and the school proud.

Well done girls!!

 

School Futsal Teams - 21/03/19

Well done to the Girls' and Boys' Futsal Teams who took part in the regional Futsal tournament today. 

The Girls' Team had not played together before and had a really tough day against some very good teams. They played really well and came away disappointed with 4 losses but happy with the way they improved throughout the tournament. Their attitude was fantastic in every game and the results did not reflect how well they played. 

The Boys' Team had a very successful tournament coming away as losing finalists. They finished top of their group after wins against Carniny (2-0, 2 goals from Zac, Millquarter (3-0, goals from Zac, Ross and Jay), Ballykeel (3-2, 2 goals from Zac B, 1 from Jack) and Buick (2-0, goals from Zac and Jay)

After topping their group they played St Bernards in the semi final, winning 2-1 with 2 goals from Jay. In the final they played Antrim and although they dominated large parts of the game, ended up losing 2-0. Although they are disappointed not to win the tournament, the boys can be very proud of themselves as they have a very young team and have still been named the second best Futsal team in the district. 

Both teams had a great day out, playing some great football and showing great team spirit throughout. Well done to both teams, you did your school proud!

School Futsal Teams 2019

 

A New Kit - 24/10/18

Today the King's Park Primary School Football Team got to meet the people who made their new kits possible. 

Jan Kilpatrick from Whitehouse Ballet School kindly offered to be the team sponsor and Ian Simpson from Imagis did all the embroidery and printing for the new kits.

King's Park would like to say a big thank you to Jan and Ian. They have been very generous and their kindness means a lot to the team and the coaches. 

Now we are looking forward to the tournaments later in the year so we can show off our new kits even more!

 

Newtownabbey Area Girls' Football Tournament: Girls’ Football Team: 17/05/18

Congratulations to the King's Park Primary School Girls' Football Team  who played in the Newtownabbey Area Girls' Football Tournament today. 

The girls played Carmoney in their first game and played very well from start to finish with a comfortable 2-0 win. The defence from Lily F and Tia M gave the team a strong platform that allowed Darcey C and Rebekah R to get the goals. 

Next up was Fairview and the girls knew they had their work cut out to get a result. They started strongly with Ellie B and Rachel R giving King's Park the lead. Fairview got a goal back to make it a nervy ending before a Sophie C pass set up Ellie B to score another to make the game safe and round off a 3-1 win. 

Favourites Whitehouse were up next and it was a tough game from the start with King's Park trailing 3-0 after the first 5 minutes. Whitehouse scored another before Rebekah R got a consolation on the final whistle to hand King's Park a 4-1 loss. 

The girls responded perfectly in their next game against Lowwood, dominating from start to finish in an impressive 4-0 win. The goals came from Gianna L, Rebekah R and 2 from Darcey C. 

Last up in the group was Earlview and the girls knew a strong showing would send them through to the Quarter Finals. They used the pressure as motivation and took control of the game from the start. Gianna L and Sophie C dominated in the midfield and goals from Rachel R, Rebekah R and Darcey C sealed a 3-0 win. 

In the quarter final, King's Park faced Carnmoney and started strongly. Ellie B, Rachel R and Rebekah R scored to give the team a convincing lead and they continued to ramp up the pressure on their opponents with Ellie and Rebekah scoring another goal each to give King's Park an impressive 5-0 win and safe passage to the semi finals. 

In the semis, King's Park met a very strong St Bernards team and the game turned out to be a cagey and competitive affair. The match was poised at 0-0 for the majority of the game before St Bernards scored late on to advance to the final. Although King's Park were disappointed they took heart from their great performance. 

This tournament signalled a great deal of progression for girls' football in King's Park. In last year's tournament, the girls only won one game and failed to progress to the knockout stages altogether so to reach the semi finals in what was a very competitive tournament was a brilliant achievement.

Well done to all the girls who did themselves and their school proud!

Newtownabbey Primary Schools’ League Tournament 2019: School A Team - 08/10/2019

Congratulations to the King's Park Primary School Football Team who won the Newtownabbey Primary Schools' League today!  

The team went into the tournament as favourites having won the League the previous 3 years. They dealt with the favourites tag brilliantly and fully deserved their win. 

First up, King's Park played St Bernards and stuttered to a 1-1 draw having been ahead for most of the match. They used their disappointment as motivation in their next game against Carnmoney. They ran out 5-0 winners, Jay L with a brace and Corey M, Lucas S and Ross C scoring the others.

King's Park kept their momentum going with a brilliant 4-0 win against rivals Fairview. They dominated from start to finish, a hat trick from Jay L and and goal from Jack L settling the game.  

Whitehouse were up next and King's Park found themselves behind early on. The team rallied however and 2 goals from Jack M gave them the win. Another tight game followed against Templepatrick but Jay L got another brace to give King's Park a fourth win on the bounce. 

King's Park finished the day with a resounding 5-0 win over Greenisland, Zac B got a hat trick and Ross C and Harvey L finished well to seal another impressive victory. 

We are incredibly proud of this group, they work so hard and are so committed to training and school. They deserve all the success that they get. Well done boys!

Newtownabbey Primary Schools’ League Tournament 2019 Winners - King’s Park PS

 

School A Team & Development Team - 20/11/18

Well done to the King's Park Primary School Football Teams who played Lowwood Primary School at Seaview today. 

Two teams were brought down to play games and both sides played excellently in two impressive wins. 

The 'Experienced Team' were up against a very strong Lowwood side and knew they had to start well. That is just what they did with Jack M and Jay L scoring early goals to put King's Park 2-0 up at half time. Lowwood grew into the game in the second half and only some excellent defending from Corey M, Ross C and Harvey L kept King's Park's lead intact. As the half wore on King's Park missed some great chances and Lowwood managed to pull a goal back to ensure a tense finish. But 3 brilliant saves late on from Zac B allowed King's Park to take a hard fought but deserved 2-1 win. 

The 'Development Team' contained players who were all making their debut for the school and they all did themselves proud on their first outing. 

They started brilliantly and continued to pressure Lowwood throughout. The match was closely contested with Charlie M having to make a number of excellent saves but King's Park's clinical attack proved decisive. Edward D, Joss M, Harry G, Carson B and 2 goals from Zac M gave King's Park an impressive 6-1 victory. 

The staff are very proud of the attitude, passion and competitive edge the boys showed today. They did themselves and the school proud!

School Teams vs Lowwood PS

 

Newtownabbey Primary Schools’ League Tournament 2019: School A Team - 09/10/18

Congratulations to the King's Park Primary School Football Team who won the Newtownabbey Schools' Football League today. The team played fantastically well and thoroughly deserved their victory.

King's Park entered the day with a young side and knew they would have to work hard if they were going to make a mark in the tournament. Their first match was against Mossley and the game developed into an tense and cagey affair. With the scores tied at 0-0 going into the last minute, King's Park's keeper Zac B played a speculative ball forward and Frankie K latched onto it to give King's Park a dramatic victory.

Game 2 was against a much fancied St Bernard's team who tested King's Park's defence from the start. The boys rallied however and finished the game the stronger team with St Bernard's happy to see the game end 0-0.

The boys' next game was against Carnmoney and again finished in a 0-0 draw. Although it was a tight game, King's Park were disappointed not to get the win but kept a positive attitude for the next game.

King's Park's next game against Whiteabbey turned out to be a thriller. The team conceded 2 early goals and looked to be about to lose their unbeaten record. Some great team work and passion however saw the boys overturn the deficit with Jay L pulling a goal back and Harvey L scoring a dramatic last minute equaliser. 

Next up for King's Park was a very strong Templepatrick team who piled the pressure on with an early goal. Again King's Park were required to come from behind and they did just that with brilliant goals from Frankie K and Jack B, securing the win. 

The boys' last group game was against Fairview and King's Park showed signs of fatigue going down to a good side in a 2-0 defeat.

After a brilliant group campaign King's Park snuck into the final on goals scored and they were required to lift themselves for one last performance in the final against Whiteabbey. It was a tense game and both teams had very good chances to take the lead. Jack B managed to do just that for King's Park and gave the team hope that it could be their day. Whiteabbey piled on the pressure but some brilliant defence and a fantastic save onto the post by Zac B saw King's Park complete a fabulous victory.

We are incredibly proud of our young team, they were a real credit to their families, their school and themselves. Thank you to all the parents who came to support, they really helped keep the boys motivated. We will be taking a photograph of the team in their kits with their medals tomorrow so please make sure they have their kits and their medals in with them. 

Well done, boys! Well done, King's Park!

 

Newtownabbey Primary School Girls Football Cup: Girls’ Football Team - 11/05/17

Well done to the Kings Park Primary School Girls Football Team who played in the Newtownabbey Primary School Girls Football Cup at the Valley Leisure Centre today. 

The girls in Team 2 played really well in a very difficult group and managed to get a draw out of a series of tricky games. 

Team 1 battled hard in their group and managed to get 2 wins and two draws out of their 6 fixtures. 

Both teams narrowly missed of on making the Quarter Finals but they did their school proud on a great day on football. Matches were played in a great spirit and the girls worked well together in all of their games.

Thank you to all parents who came to support and to Mr Campbell for refereeing throughout the day. Well done girls!!

 
I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.
— Ronaldinho