The football team is seeking its fourth Utilita Girls Cup win in a decade.
Surbiton High School girls’ football team stands one match away from a return to Wembley in April.
A win in the Utilita Girls Cup final would add a fourth title to their cabinet after victory in 2017, 2023 and 2025.
The team has advanced to the Southern regional final, which takes place in March. A win there would see them through to Wembley in April for the National Cup final.
The competition, organised by the English Football League (EFL), pairs school teams with their local EFL clubs, in a bid to connect grassroots players with professionals. Surbiton High represents local professionals AFC Wimbledon in the competition.
“Across both stages they performed brilliantly, with their teamwork, commitment, and attitude really standing out,” said Orla McComb, AFC Wimbledon Project Officer (Women and Girls). “I’m really looking forward to watching the girls compete in the next stage of the Utilita Cup.”
The Utilita Kids and Girls Cup are two of the biggest football competitions in the UK for schools and children, with both giving young players the chance to play at Wembley Stadium.
Ahead of the regional finals, the team took part in an elite training session with WSL 2 team Charlton Athletic, a masterclass with Katie Bradley, a Charlton player and Youth Lioness, that focused on perfecting the standards required at this level.
“It was brilliant to have Katie attend the event,” said Bradley Marshall, Charlton Athletic Football Club’s sports development manager. “She spent time with the players answering their questions, as well as sharing insights from her own experiences in the game.”
The cup has long served as a prestigious proving ground for future icons, helping launch the careers of Lioness Ellie Roebuck and international stars like Jamal Musiala and Scott McTominay.
