In the First Completed Season since the Pandemic curtailed both the 19/20 and 20/21 Season’s the AFC Sudbury Academy has gone from Strength to Strength already creating history and building upon its undoubted reputation as a prime developer of young football talent.

With the next four weeks set to be a monumental effort from all players concerned it was nice to take a small easter break and reflect upon what we have achieved so far.

The Boys Academy playing in STEP 6 & 7 of the Non League Pyramid have finished with an impressive 45 points in the Essex And Suffolk Border League (Step 7) with a team full of 1st year U17 Scholars playing their first season in senior adult football. AFC Sudbury Reserves consisting entirely of 2nd & 3rd Year Scholars U18/19s had a really impressive first season in the south division of the Thurlow Nunn League amassing an impressive 44 Points.

It is in the Academy U19 Leagues that the academy has tasted success with both the girls and boys winning their respective Premier Category 1 England Colleges FA Divisions comfortably.

It is now the final push for an historic victory in a national final for both the boys and girls, something as of yet to escape our prestigious academy. First up will be the boys this Tuesday 26th April as they travel to Doncaster Rovers FC Eco-Power Stadium (formerly known as Keepmoat Stadium) for the Final of the ECFA KO Cup Vs Park View Academy from Chester-Le-Street Durham. Impressive Victories against Teams from all over the UK have seen this years exciting team progress to the final and hoping to go one better than the Class of 2018 who finished runners up in this same competition back in 2018 at the Banks's Stadium Walsall FC

Our Girls Academy also have a national final to look forward to when they take on (ironically) Park View Academy in the England Schools FA Super Cup Final at The bet365 Stadium the home of Stoke City Football Club.

But Before they can look forward to this match that will be streamed live on ESFA TV there is the small matter of The ECFA League Play-Off Semi Final vs the prestigious sporting College Hartpury and the quest for National Youth Football League Honours with four remaining league fixtures to complete.

With the national competitions all going on it is easy to forget local finals, AFC Sudbury Boys U18 will be competing in their sixth consecutive Suffolk FA U18 Final having previously won the competition for the last five times. AFC Sudbury Women’s first team consisting of at least 10 current players or graduates from the academy will be competing the following evening in the Suffolk FA Women's Cup Final.

When it’s time to draw a breath we will be heading off to Miami for our fifth tour of the USA! More of that to Follow…..!