Mickleburgh magic takes U18's Kickz squad to the national semi finals

Norwich City FC/ U18 Kickz Team 2, Derby County/ U18 Kickz team 1 

A Ryan Mickleburgh goal condemned the representative Derby County B/ U18 Kickz team to defeat at the Football Development Centre, Bowthorpe in the U18's northern regional qualifier Kickz tournament.  The Norwich City FC/ Kickz squad made the more confident start and in short succession found the back of the net twice.  In the closing minutes of the game Derby started to claw their they way back into match and managed to pull one goal back through a fortuitous deflection to ensure tense moments amongst the partisan crowd before the final whistle was blown, the Norwich side emerged as eventual 2 - 1 winners.

Commenting on the victory FITC Coach and manager of the U18 team Ali Colman said: "The boys saved their best performance for the final.  After losing to Derby in the first game the team displayed great character and heart to win in the final"

 The Norwich City FC/ Kickz U14 and U16's squads all narrowly missed out on their respective finals by one point.  The U14 age group was won by Sheffield United A with the U16 age group being won by Derby County B

The Kickz tournament saw over 200 players from representative teams from Norwich City FC, Derby County, Nottingham Forest/ Notts County (Joint squad) and Sheffield United compete and try to win a coveted place at the national semi-finals scheduled to be held at Sheffield United at the end of Apri.

FITC Social Inclusion Manager Dan Crouch said: "It was incredible to see so many teams playing such a high standard of football, the teams were a credit to the Kickz programme.  Special thanks to Norfolk Constabulary for their close support at the tournament and to all our partners who gave up their time to support the event". 

The Norwich City FC/ FITC Kickz squad was selected from over 700 participants of the Norfolk scheme.  The Kickz initiative is a national project run by 42 clubs and works with over 30,000 young people across England.   

If you would like further information on the Kickz initiative then click here or call the FITC office on 01603 761122

Photographs of the tournament can be viewed by clicking here.