February 21st 2026. u10's in Kings Cup & Kings Vase action.

Football… but not as we know it. This was a tactical adventure and before every game, captains stepped forward to draw a mysterious “Game Changer” card. This meant in an instant, the rules could flip and we could expect extra players, double-value goals, sudden 1v1 duels and even goalkeeper-versus-goalkeeper facing each other in a showdown. And if scores were level we would go straight into 3v3 extra time. No time to think with everything so fast, frantic and unforgiving. No draws, no comfort. Only drama and our u10’s were in the thick of it! Our opening game against Harborne was therefore a tense, cagey opener with chances rare, and space even rarer. Wolverhampton battled hard, but midway through the match we failed to clear a long-range effort and in the midst of chaos the ball was bundled over the line from close range to decide the match.

The lads began to find their rhythm in their next match against Erdington and Jaxon went so close when he unleashed a powerful strike that crashed against the post with a sharp metallic thud but football can be cruel and Erdington took their chances, scoring twice to seal a 2-0 victory. Indeed things didn’t improve in the next two encounters of the morning either with Erdington snatching victory after Cairan had been denied by the crossbar, and North Shropshire taking us into extra time with the last kick of the match. Jaxxon had given us the lead after his initial shot had been brilliantly tipped over and with the clock ticking down our first win looked inevitable before that last second drama took us into 3x3 extra time and an eventual 2-1 defeat. Bertie, Jaxxon and Stefan gave everything but yet another heartbreaker.

Wolverhampton literally played their card when facing East Birmingham in their fifth game of the tournament. 1v1 with goalkeeper facing goalkeeper. Alfie kept his cool and was calm and composed as he rounded his opposite number and rolled the ball home with ice-cool confidence but East Birmingham responded by turning in a cross to level the game and extra time again proved to be our undoing. Alfie, Ethan and Aaron pushed forward as both teams went for the winner in yet another frantic end to a game but it was not to be. Despite the setbacks and still without a win all morning it was incredible to think that a semi-final place was still within our reach should we discover a way to defeat Erdington in the quarter final. We found an Erdington striker in unstoppable form, however, and whilst our team battled bravely, our tournament journey ended there.

A well- earned rest for a squad who had given everything and a moment when our goal-keepers could at last collect their thoughts because they had been constantly amongst the action. Ethan, apart from guarding Wolverhampton’s goal, had also turned out for Erdington (and even scored earlier in the day!), whilst Stefan had also guested in goal. Two keepers. Double duty. Non-stop action. Results may not have gone Wolverhampton’s way… but this was a morning of learning, adapting, and facing football’s unexpected twists but one player stood tall across all the games. Well done to Bertie who was voted today’s standout performer.

Squad : Stefan, Ethan, Leo, Lucas, Jaxxon, Aaron, Cairan, Bertie, Alfie, Rocco.