U16 Football Season 2025/26

The 2025–2026 season for the Bangor Grammar U16s has been impressive and agonizing at the same time.  The team finished the season having lost only three matches—one on penalties and the other two by a single goal.  This in itself is a testament to the consistency and character of this group of boys.

The Cup Runs

Our journey through the knockout stages showed exactly what this squad is made of. In the Belfast Cup, we put together a clinical run to the Quarter-Finals, eventually falling 1–0 to Boys' Model in a match that really could have gone either way.

However, it was the NI Cup that provided the drama of the season. In a field of approximately 90 teams, we were handed the toughest possible opening draw against the defending champions, St. Malachy’s. It was a performance that drew praise even from the opposition support; our boys pushed the holders all the way through Extra-Time, only to be eliminated in the cruelest fashion via a penalty shootout.

Regrouping for the NI Plate, the boys showed great mental strength. They navigated five undefeated rounds against stiff competition to book their place in the final at Bluebell Stadium.

The Final: Bangor Grammar vs. OLSPCK | 29th April 2026

The final was played on a warm April afternoon in Lisburn. Our opponents, OLSPCK, were coming off a Belfast Cup win just a week prior, so we knew we were in for a battle.

The first half was a tactical stalemate. Both sides had quality players and they largely cancelling each other out. Our back four—Adam Fisher, Caleb Swann, Ben Singleton, and captain Andrew Wright—were superb, reading the game well to keep OLSPCK at bay.  Behind them, Max Sykes was a composed presence in goal, claiming high balls and pulling off a string of vital saves to keep the score level.

The stalemate was broken just before the half-time break, with a scrappy goal when a corner kick from OLSPCK hit the crossbar and then deflected off a defender, agonizingly spinning over the line. It was a harsh way to go behind after such a disciplined half.

The second half, however, belonged to Bangor. After a quick reshuffle at the interval, the boys came out with a point to prove. The midfield trio of Charlie Heron, Ryley Sloan, and Jackson Best began to dictate play, finding pockets of space and feeding Toby Emerson, Eli Turnbull, and Sol Black on the break.

We dominated the closing 40 minutes. Toby and Eli were relentless on the wings, and we came inches from an equalizer when a strike hit the post. The OLSPCK keeper was forced into several good saves to keep the Bangor Grammar boys from scoring. As the clock ticked down, we made substitute changes to see if we could get an equalising goal.  Che Bingham came on in the midfield, allowing Charlie Heron to push further forward, while Oscar Broad provided fresh legs and energy on the flank.

Despite wave after wave of pressure, that final clinical touch eluded us and the game finished with a 1:0 victory to OLSPCK.

While the result in the Final wasn’t the fairy-tale ending the boys deserved, the manner in which they represented the school was exemplary. To lose so few games across a long season is a massive achievement and they should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished.

Squad: M. Sykes, A. Fisher, C. Swann, B. Singleton, A. Wright (C), C. Heron, R. Sloan, Jackson Best, T. Emerson, E. Turnbull, S. Black, C. Bingham, O. Broad, Dylan Kennedy, Ollie Reid, Isaac Finlay.

Martyn Nesbitt Teacher in Charge of Football