Camden Elite’s Under-11s clinched the Player Network Summer Tournament

WHEN the silverware stakes get serious, there’s one youth football club that’s proving to be a real knockout.

Players from Camden Elite have lifted no fewer than three major trophies in the past five weeks.

On Saturday, the club’s talented Under-11s squad dominated the artificial pitches in Market Road, Islington, once again when they won the LDN Player Network Summer Tournament.

It adds to the Camden & Islington Youth League Development Cup that the same age group scooped last month.

But the celebrations didn’t stop there, with Elite’s Under-9s also recently getting their hands on the Camden & Islington Youth League Development Cup in their age group, too.

What pleased their coach, Jordan Lawal, the most was the players’ ability to add an extra competitive edge just when it’s needed most.

He explained: “These tournaments give the players the opportunity to really showcase their talents under pressure.

“The boys and girls play in leagues every week, but they are essentially friendly matches. There’s no league tables, and no results are recorded.

“So when it comes to then taking part in a knockout tournament that is results-driven, things suddenly become really competitive.

“You can see that it often takes some of our players a game or two to warm up to the challenge. But once they’ve done that, they are fantastic.”

On Saturday, Elite battled to a top-two finish in the group stages to earn a place in the final of the Under-11s LDN Player Network Summer Tournament, which was organised by another of the borough’s ambitious youth clubs, London Futsal Stars.

Camden went up against Escalate FC in the final, a team who had already beaten them 1-0 in the group stages. This time, however, a gripping encounter finished 0-0.

Elite Under-9s won the Camden & Islington Youth League Development Cup

But that didn’t signal a traditional penalty shootout. Instead, the game moved to a more Major League Soccer-styled shootout, with an attacking player running from the halfway line to take on the goalkeeper in a one-on-one.

Given just eight seconds to score, George Welton beat the clock, and the opposing keeper, to give Elite the advantage. Then debutant goalkeeper Rocco Becci, who only joined the club days earlier, managed to pull off a great save to seal a 1-0 victory and spark wild scenes of celebration.

Elite called upon the wealth of talent in their Under-11s age group to win two testing knockout competitions in the space of less than five weeks.

All the young stars called upon in their Under-9s squad also played their part as they won their Development Cup in the Camden & Islington Youth League.

Expressing how that strength in depth is critical when it comes to capturing silverware, Jordan said: “Winning trophies comes down to a togetherness; being willing to sacrifice minutes on the pitch for the good of the team.

“In knockout football the whole squad is important, and when we have had to rotate players I can honestly say that the quality hasn’t dropped. Each and every player called upon has played their part.”

Impressed by the quality on display more than the actual winning, Jordan added: “We really work hard to develop our players, and that has shown in all the success that we have enjoyed so far this summer.

“I would rather see the boys and girls play good football and lose 1-0, than play badly and win 5-0.

“For us as a club, winning really isn’t that important. The most important thing is that we continue to develop our players in the right way.”

Camden Elite founder and head coach Sebastian Eurico was quick to echo those sentiments as he praised all of the effort that’s gone on behind the scenes to bring about the run of cup wins.

He said: “I took a step back and watched our Under-8s and Under-9s in training this week and the development in both age groups over what has been a short space of time has been outstanding.

“There has been real progress every week. It’s a massive credit to our coaching team for the fantastic work that they are doing. I’m proud of them and all of our players. I’m very excited for what lies ahead.”

Camden Elite are currently holding trials for players aged 4 to 11. For more info follow the club on Instagram: @camdenelitefootball academy