School sport and sports leaders news

Year 9 healthy lifestyles champs programme

Highfields found out on Thursday that our athlete mentor for the year 9 healthy lifestyles champs programme is Alistair Patrick-Heselton.

Alistair represented Team GB at the Paralympic Games and his story is one of perseverance and determination.

Starting out at Wycombe Wanderers as a schoolboy, Alistair showed great potential from an early age, and was soon snapped up by Queen’s Park Rangers. The forward was prolific at Under-17 level, and featured a number of times of the reserve side before suffering a severe cruciate ligament injury.

After stints at a number of different clubs, Alistair opted to combine playing semi-professional football with studying for a career in quantity surveying, turning out for Isthmian League outfit Wingate & Finchley. However, in 2006, the striker was involved in a car accident which claimed the life of his best friend, fracturing his skull and spending two months in a coma.

He later resumed consciousness but was informed that he may never walk again, seemingly ending his football career. Four years on, Alistair was contacted by then-England and Team GB Paralympic coach Lyndon Lynch, who convinced the former prospect of trying out for the CP team, consisting of players with cerebral palsy and other brain injuries.

Since making his Team GB debut at the 2011 CPISRA Championships alongside Hall of Fame inductees Martin Sinclair and Matthew Dimbylow, Alistair became a shining star for his country, playing a crucial role in the lead-up to the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup final. He led the fightback in the final against Brazil, pulling back England’s second goal in a courageous 4-2 defeat.

He went on to represent Team GB at the Paralympic Games four months later, laying on three assists and finding the back of the net against Argentina.

Alistair now acts as a mentor and speaker for the next generation of footballers, working with the PFA, Premier League and regional FAs to guide and inspire children across the country.

Alistair Patrick-Heselton was chosen by The FA to be inducted to the National Football Museum Hall of Fame 'Football For All' category in 2017.

( Ima g e via th e FA)

Y7/8 Orienteering

Our Y7 and Y8 girls have been taking part in orienteering over the last four weeks, building up to the final sessions this week.

Year 7 winners were group H – Tia and Alicia (9 minutes) Year 8 winners were group S - Jacey, Roxy, Bethany and Poppy (9 minutes)

Many thanks to Derwent Valley orienteers and Judith Holt for kindly bringing us the dibbers and electronic kit to make the final sessions as realistic as possible to an orienteering competition.

This was all part of modelling what an orienteering event would be like and using language and thinking like an expert.

Match reports

Under 15 girls football

Mr Shirtcliffe

On Monday afternoon our under 15 girls football team travelled to Arnold Hill Academy in Nottingham for the 4th round of the National Cup.

The girls were in good spirits and we had a real team ethos on the bus before we arrived. Once there, this solidarity flowed onto the pitch. The girls faced their toughest challenge yet and were met with a very strong and physical side who had some excellent players.

We defended solidly and Maddie the goalkeeper made some outstanding saves. We made several openings before converting one just before half time to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Again just after half time we had to be on our guard and defend well for a good 10 minutes, once we weathered the storm we were able to break out at speed and score 2 more goals to win the game 3-0.

An outstanding team performance and a special mention to the players that came and didn't get on because we took a large squad, they were outstanding. Highfields go through to the 5th round, making it to the last 32 from 256 schools who entered.

We are Highfields!