Hampstead Rocks wish England and Arsenal defender Mary Phillip (back ­centre) luck ahead of the World Cup

Women’s soccer fiesta has thrills of ‘World Cup’

England star kicks off tourney before jetting off for China

WOMEN and girls got stuck into the beautiful game this week in a string of competitions that were kicked off at Whittington Park by England and Arsenal defender Mary Phillip.
The defender, who starred in Arsenal’s 6-0 demolition of Wales on Thursday, jetted off to China at the weekend to prepare for England’s tilt at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But before the mother-of-two left for Asia, along with the 21-strong England squad including eight of her Arsenal colleagues, she blew the whistle on Islington’s version of the World Cup.
She said: “All over the country now there are more and more competitions being set up and it’s putting women’s football on the map.”
The six-a-side tournament, organised by the London Football Association and Aquaterra Leisure saw teams from across north London in action at Whittington Park.
But it was not just senior women’s teams that got a taste of football – the Winchester Project in Swiss Cottage brought Latin flavours in their Copa America girls’ tournaments.
Two Islington-based teams battled against sides from Hampstead, the Winchester Project, Cumberland Market and Fitzrovia in a bid to take the under-12 and under-15 trophies.
Hampstead dominated the day, their under-12s taking that title after a 1-0 victory over Islington in the final thanks to a goal from skipper Hannah McWilliams.
Cumberland Market’s Devon McLeod was named most sporting player in that tourney, while the Winch’s Katie Knell was player of the day and Islington’s Hollie Cox was goalkeeper of the day.
It took penalties to ­settle the under-15s final, with Hampstead (USA) taking the title ahead of Camden A (Mexico) after the two sides had seen off challenges from Islington (Brazil) and Fitzrovia (Colombia).
Over at Whittington Park, however, it was visiting East London side Clapton Orient who emerged victorious in a tournament that had seen Hampstead Rocks, Hackney Women, Alexandra Park, Heatwave and Joybabe all in action.