Ashe Athletic are ‘smiles’ ahead of the rest after winning the Ken Banham Trophy: (from left) Adam Forrester, Billy Sommerville, Coach Everett Jervis, Jack Tyrimos and Dillon White.

Magnificent Six fire their way to Gunners’ greeting

Top youth side set to meet Arsenal heroes after cup triumph

A TOP team of talented young footballers are set to meet their Arsenal heroes after winning a prestigious tournament held at the club’s Hale End Youth Academy in east London.
Players from under-12s Ashe Athletic side were jumping for joy after being crowned champions of the Gunners’ Ken Banham Trophy.
The Camden and Islington based side have now been invited to join the Arsenal first team in a special celebration at the annual Junior Gunner Awards, which will be held at the Emirates Stadium in August.
The tournament, named after lifelong Arsenal supported Ken Banham who donated the cup to the club back in 1986, has become an established fixture in the Junior Gunners’ calendar.
This time around, the tourney proved bigger than ever as scores of teams from across the country turned out to compete for the coveted prize.
After a day of intense competition, the all-conquering Athletic side proved unstoppable as they powered their way into the final - despite only having the bare minimum six players needed to take part in the tournament.
In a nail-biting finale, the boys looked to be heading for the runners-up spot when they fell a goal behind against Tunbridge Wells.
But in the final minute of the match, leading scorer Jacob Jervis-Bond, who lives in Archway, scored a stunning equaliser when he controlled the ball on his chest before unleashing a stunning volley into the back of the net.
With the game remaining all square after extra-time, the game went to the dreaded penalty shootout.
But Athletic came prepared, having spent countless hours on the training pitch practicing penalties.
Jervis-Bond, Jack Tyrimos, Dillon White and Adam Forrester all kept their cool to net from the spot.
But the hero of the hour was 11-year-old goalkeeper Harry Nash, who lives in Highbury Corner, after he made two tremendous saves to seal a thrilling 4-2 win.
As an added bonus at the end, Jacob, who scored in every round of the competition and won the Top Scorer Award with 10 goals, was named as the Player of the Tournament.
There were double celebrations when his dad and manager Everett Jervis was voted Coach of the Tournament.
Everett couldn’t hide his delight after the game: “The boys really proved to be the magnificent six. They’ve all made me so proud. I had six captains our there who led their team to victory.”