Flood-ravaged Blakebrook Public School wins NSW PSSA Small Schools Football Knockout in Sydney

A motley crew of kids from a tiny northern NSW school of only 47 students – some who have never even played before – beat the odds to win a hotly-contested Sydney tournament.

Blakebrook Public School wins the NSW PSSA Small Schools Football Knockout.

A motley crew of year 6 footballers from a tiny Northern Rivers school of only 47 students – some who have never even played before – beat the odds to win this year’s Small School Football Knockout.

A convoy of Blakebrook Public School parents, players and coach and teacher Damian Cootes embarked on a three-day overnight trek to Glenwood, Sydney for the NSW PSSA contest.

The soccer trip starting September 24 came after the mixed boys and girls team progressed through qualifying at Attunga, six hours away, near Tamworth.

The Blakebrook Public School team.

Blakebrook Public School relieving principal Al Coulter said the team was resilient and keen to take part despite limited space and resources for training.

“They’re a great group of kids,” he said.

Mr Coulter said the kids were “very humbled, yet excited as it was the case that some of them hadn’t even been to Sydney”.

“The ‘big ticket’ item for them was to get to Sydney,” he said.

Mr Coulter said the team “made it to Sydney as fourth in the state” and “that was the dream”, but the kids realised they could go further.

“ … when they got there it was like, wait a second, we can actually win this,” he said.

Blakebrook beat Willow Tree Public School 7-2 in the first semi-final knockout game at Glenwood, then overcame Spring Hill 6-3 in the final.

The Blakebrook Public School team celebrates the Sydney win.

“Most of the parents were able to be on the sidelines which was fantastic and the P & C assisted with the costs getting everyone there, so that was nice,” Mr Coulter said.

He said the students were “excited” and naturally had some “nerves”, but exceeded when it came time to compete.

“The amount of energy they put into their semi-final was unreal,” Mr Coulter said.

The students were humble in their wins, he added.

“There was no trash-talking on the field, they were very polite and well mannered,” Mr Coulter said.

He said the Spring Hill school complimented visiting players, coaches and parents and said they brought a “respectful and beautiful energy” to the tournament.

“It was a good feeling because I know the coach, Damien was more nervous than the kids and by the end of it he was knackered,” Mr Coulter said.

“Some of the kids play on opposing teams on weekends, but here in this game they are all coming together and playing.”

Blakebrook Public School circa 2021.

The school’s win in Sydney comes after some setbacks in recovery following the devastating 2022 floods in northern NSW.

Demolition is set to continue through the September/October school holidays and construction on a more flood-resilient school is expected to take six to seven months.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully stepped in to use powers under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act to push the project forward.

An artist impressions of the new Blakebrook Public School, which will be raised to avoid flooding.

Mr Coulter said the school was “incredibly excited” about the new “elevated design” set to withstand future flooding.

“Our community has shown incredible resilience, and this new school will stand as a testament to that spirit,” he said.

“I look forward to welcoming our students back to a learning environment that is better equipped for the future.“

Got a news tip? email [e-mail]