Following the success of our U16 Boys' Football Team this season (read all about the season here), we have put together profiles of each student and coach who contributed to the team's success. 

Jim – The Wall Between the Sticks (And Occasional Penalty Shootout Therapist)
If Carisbrooke College had a security system, it would just be Jim. Season after season, he's made it his personal mission to prevent anything resembling a football from entering his net. Whether it’s flying saves, fingertip deflections, or giving the opposition nightmares, Jim has it covered.

But where he truly cemented his legendary status was in that penalty shootout – cool as ice, gloves on, destiny calling. One save to level it. Another to win it. Cue absolute chaos as 14 lads bundled on top of him like he was the winning lottery ticket.

If you’re looking for a keeper with reflexes quicker than your mate dodging the last round of fried chicken, look no further. Jim doesn’t just guard the goal. He owns it.

Jack – The Glide-Inator
You know that moment when a centre back picks up the ball and suddenly turns into a winger with pace to burn? That’s just a regular Tuesday for Jack. Defensively solid with a touch of elegance, he doesn’t just clear danger he glides past midfielders like they’re traffic cones. If football was a dance, Jack’s doing the cha-cha straight through your team.

 

 

 

Gabe – The Body-on-the-Line Brigade Leader
Gabe doesn’t believe in “50/50” – he makes them 100/0. You’d struggle to find someone more committed than Gabe at centre back, who seemed to genuinely enjoy putting his entire body on the line. Ball, boots, shin pads, face, ribs whatever it takes, Gabe’s getting there first. May not always walk off the pitch clean, but always walks off a hero.

 

 

 

Riley – The Utility King
Riley played so many positions this season that even he probably had to check the whiteboard before kickoff. Need a fullback? Done. Centre mid? Sure. Goalkeeper next? Wouldn’t surprise anyone. Calm, consistent and quietly brilliant, Riley was the human Swiss Army Knife of the team – and just as reliable.

 

 

 

Clyde – The Engine Room Warrior
Clyde doesn’t do rest. If there's a blade of grass that hasn’t been trampled on, he’ll find it. A midfield scrapper who brings full-throttle commitment, crunching tackles, and just the right amount of chaos to make the opposition uncomfortable. If you need someone to “put a shift in,” Clyde’s already done it. Twice.

 

 

 

Tyler – The Silent Assassin
Tyler doesn’t make a fuss, doesn’t shout, doesn’t dive into drama. He just shows up, quietly handles business, and leaves the pitch having made about 15 interceptions, 10 tackles, and zero mistakes. The kind of player you don’t notice until you realise nothing ever goes wrong on his side of the pitch.

 

 

 

Ackeem – The Enforcer
When Ackeem tackles you, you stay tackled. Football’s answer to a medieval battering ram, he made sure anyone daring to dribble past got a firm reminder of why that was a bad idea. Ball? Won. Man? Also flattened. No nonsense, no mercy, just pure old-school defensive brilliance.

 

 

 

Flynn – The Wing Wizard
You’d think defenders would learn not to give Flynn space. You’d be wrong. Whether crossing, cutting in, or causing pure mayhem out wide, Flynn made things happen. Agile, alert, and always attacking, he was the spark that turned defence into danger faster than you could say “mark him!”

 

 

 

Oakleigh – The Impact Man
Never one to shy away from the big moment, Oakleigh had a knack for showing up right when it mattered. Game on the line? Need something special? Oakleigh delivers. Whether opening the scoring or winning a last-minute penalty, his contributions came at clutch o’clock.  Real shame when he got injured in the last 16 game as he could have been the difference that we needed in the semi-final.

 

 

Oli – The Braveheart Baller
Some players put their foot in. Oli put his whole leg, soul, and a bit of elbow in too. Tireless in midfield, brave in the tackle, and never one to back down, he made every game a battlefield and left nothing behind. The kind of player who makes opponents wince just by warming up.  Shame to lose Oli halfway through the season but he will always be remembered for being the life and soul on the journeys.

Bobby – The Cult Hero Cameo
He didn’t play every minute, but when Bobby came on, the pitch got a little louder, the ball stuck up front a little longer, and defenders got a little more uncomfortable. The perfect target man who made those minutes count holding it up, linking play, and generally making a nuisance of himself in all the right ways. Unfortunately, another player who had his season cut short due to injury.

 

 

Lucas – The Rising Star
Called up from the younger squad, Lucas played like he’d been doing this for years. Calm under pressure, solid in the challenge, and full of promise, he stepped up when the team needed him most. A real team player with performances well beyond his age – the future's looking bright (and maybe slightly taller).

 

 

 

Soloman – The Silent Super Sub
Only played two games? Yes. Gave absolutely everything in those two games? Also yes. Soloman stepped up when injuries struck, bringing energy, determination, and a “leave-it-all-on-the-pitch” attitude that made you think he’d been playing all season. Short spell, big impact – the kind of teammate every squad needs and no one forgets.

 

 

 

Benji – The Warrior in Shinpads
You know that phrase “nothing stops him”? That was probably coined after watching Benji play. Coming back from a broken arm and then a serious knee injury would sideline most people. Not Benji. As soon as he could run, he was back, flying into tackles like the season had just begun. Heart of a lion, legs of steel (mostly rebuilt), and loyalty that never wavered – Mr. 100% Commitment himself.

 

 

Euan – The Midfield Maestro (With a Rocket Launcher)
Euan doesn’t pass the ball – he paints pictures. Dictating tempo like a footballing conductor, he ran games from midfield with style and swagger. Oh, and that goal from just inside the halfway line? Still rising. Officially declared "goal of the season" and possibly visible from space.

 

 

 

Owen – The Smiling Assassin
Covered every blade of grass with a grin on his face and a boot full of goals. Whether chasing lost causes, battling defenders twice his size, or scoring when no one else thought it was possible, Owen was relentless. He might look friendly, but defenders – beware. The assassin strikes when you least expect it.

 

 

 

Theo – The Captain, The Striker, The Legend
Started the season at full back. Finished it as the team’s star striker. In between? Just a little detour through "Superstardom Avenue." Theo led by example, covered every inch of the pitch, and casually reinvented himself mid-season as a goal machine. Think of him as the footballing equivalent of Bear Grylls but also top scorer. Captain? Yes. Hero? Definitely. Humble? Occasionally.  

 

 

Mr Westby – The Philosopher King of “Pass, Pass, Pass”
The brains behind the “pass, pass, pass” mantra (even when we’re stuck in our own box). Mr Westby served as coach, dodgy linesman, motivational speaker, and hydration technician all in one. His flag work may have been... let’s say “abstract,” but no one delivered a better half-time pep talk or celebrated harder when “WestbyBall” finally came to life.

Mr Phillips – The Flair Linesman & Kit Connoisseur
A man of many talents: assistant coach, kit man, occasional fashion critic, and a linesman who somehow always managed to be where the action wasn’t. Always found a way to make himself part of the moment – whether it was through a dramatic water bottle sprint or a casual chat with the fourth official (who didn’t exist).

Mr Fleming – The Calm Before the Storm
Cool, composed, and the picture of Zen… until the boys go 2-0 down. Then? It’s like an earthquake in a PE tracksuit. Mr Fleming’s half-time team talks are the stuff of legend – the kind that shake the dressing room walls and somehow convince the lads they’re about to win the Champions League. Sensitive soul, terrifying motivator.

Mr Peake – The Mysterious Mastermind
Coach. Chairman. Foreign investor, Missing in Action. Probably owns 51% of the squad. Mr Peake inherited a team struggling (thanks Mr Phillips) but managed to find form and quietly turned them into title contenders (think the boys did this by themselves). Think Ranieri (Leicester 2016).  Behind the scenes, always pulling strings and making gold out of grit – a man who never needed to raise his voice to raise the team’s game.