The Unrivalled Success of the Second XI

By Archie Hurst

It was undoubtedly a once in a generation season, with a true sense of ambition, team mentality and “twogetherness”, ultimately guiding the team to the treble. But where did it all start? How did the team that beat Ayelstone
Park, on that fateful day of pre-season, blossom into the attacking powerhouse that saw them crowned ESFA (English Schools’ Football
Association) Champions?

September brought a new year and new hope, with early wins over Glyn and Bede’s sparking life into the engine that was the Second XI. This also saw the phrase “twogether” brought to life by Manager Mr Leafe, highlighting the
Second XI’s togetherness and unity as a team, ultimately becoming one of the core values of their success.

Hampton kicked off their Elgin League campaign with a strong 5-1 win against Ibstock Place School. The structure of the competition was such: teams separated into two leagues, with the team that finishes first in one league playing the team that finishes second in the other, and vice versa. Two consecutive – unfortunate – losses to Gordon’s School and Bradfield College gave the team a friendly reminder not to succumb to complacency. City of London School away in the Elgin League saw a nice leap in progress as the
team confidently saw off the opposition in a 4-0 win.

A blistering 10-1 win over Reading School saw Hampton move into round three of their ESFA campaign, and two more wins against Latymer School and Highgate School in the Elgin League saw further progress.

ESFA round three brought The Windsor Boys’ School, resulting in another staggering win of 12-0 for the Second XI. This, however, unveiled
a new challenge. The round four draw saw Hampton travel away to Millfield.
The previous year had seen the Second XI fall short of ESFA glory, as they were beaten by Millfield in the semi-final. This round four draw was to be a true test of Hampton’s courage and ability.

The coach left early that morning, the squad buzzing with anticipation and steely determination for what was to come. The tactics were laid out before the game; the team knew the plan. At half-time, the score, 0-0. Neither team were budging; however it was Hampton that had the edge over Millfield, stunning them with their speed and precision both in attack and defence.

Free kick given. The ball was swung in from centre-back Louis Basing, a flick on from Ben Wallace falling to Vice-Captain Gabriel Fouché, who squared the ball across the box, hoping for someone to tap it in…and it was Alex Ashton, who, in a rather unbothered manner, calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Nothing could stop Hampton, who, after two more goals from Basing and Fouché respectively, saw out the game to progress into the quarter-final of their ESFA campaign.

This, as defined by Mr Leafe in his infamous end of season poem, was when the feeling in the group shifted: they realised what they – twogether – were truly capable of. The momentum began and they never looked back.
An incredible goal from Rohan Kripalani at the death against Bede’s School saw out a spectacular 5-4 comeback as the Second XI emerged victorious in the London Independent Schools Cup round of 16, progressing the team to the quarter-finals.

A week later saw Hampton host Regis School in the ESFA quarter-final. As asserted by Mr Knibbs in assembly, although the comparison to Arsenal seemed a bit far-fetched, “with blistering pace and attacking flair football – such has become the style of Mr Leafe’s side”, the Second XI saw off their opponent with a 3-0 win – with all three goals coming in the opening 22 minutes.

A pair of friendly wins against ACS International School Cobham and St John’s Leatherhead kept that all-important momentum going before they faced Dulwich College in the quarter-final of the London Independent Schools Cup.
This again brought out the best of the team, as they progressed with an 8-0 win to the semi-finals.

A familiar face greeted Hampton in the semi-final of the Elgin League in the form of Whitgift, a strong opponent that the team had drawn 3-3 with earlier in the season. A physically tough and mentally challenging game saw great competition between the two sides, with who else than Basing making the difference, as he scored both his and Mr Leafe’s favourite type of goal – a commanding header from a set piece. This saw Hampton progress with a 3-2 win to their first final of the season, with the draw seeing them meet another familiar face in the final…Brentwood School.

Then, it was time. Hampton hosted Bede’s School in the ESFA Cup semi-final. The sun was shining and a roar erupted from the team huddle as Hampton prepared to take on the opposition. A slower start than usual saw the game all square for the first 20 minutes…and then Vice-Captain Fouché, with a lovely little move to beat the defender, drilled the ball past the keeper to scorch the back of the net.

Five minutes later it was Ollie Spray who increased Hampton’s lead, connecting nicely with a looping ball into the box from Sam Moylan-Jones. Hampton went into the break with a 2-0 lead. At half-time, the team were reminded that a 2-0 lead can be one of the most dangerous in football, and that warning nearly came to fruition early in the second half. Bede’s came close to halving the deficit, rattling the crossbar from close range after a wonderful fingertip save by Theo Lloyd.

It was, however, meant to be for the Second XI, and a final goal from Oliver Lacey secured their place in the ESFA Final. As the celebrations, as well as preparations, kicked into gear, the team looked forward to meeting Northampton School for Boys in the ultimatum of the season.

Preceding the Elgin Final, the Second XI met St Paul’s First XI in a friendly fixture, that saw the team go 3-0 down after thirty minutes. A quick tactical do-over saw Hampton comeback in splendid fashion, with the score level at 3-3 at full-time, further demonstrating the resilience and mental fortitude of the team.

You couldn’t write the Second XI’s season. But somehow, Mr Leafe and Mr (Andy) Ritchie did. The Elgin Final saw the Second XI travel to Whyteleafe Stadium, in the postcode AR. You can’t write this stuff.

The sun beat down as Hampton tackled familiar opponents, and it seemed to be written in the stars (was it?) as Hampton beat Brentwood 5-0 to lift their first trophy of the season, the Elgin League Cup! One down…two to go.

Unbeaten in 2025, this winning streak was unfortunately cut short with a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Old Hamptonians side in the Walter Bailey memorial game: an important event that wasn’t necessarily about winning. The London Independent Schools Cup semi-final saw the team face University College School. The Second XI progressed to the final after a 2-1 victory, where they would meet the familiar face of Whitgift.

Three goals, 80 minutes, and many bottles of water later, the team lifted their second trophy of the season, the London Independent Schools Cup! Two down…one more to go.

And then there was one.

A day out to a prestigious football league ground is what every member of the team had been dreaming about over the course of the year, and what a day out it was. The team departed early that morning for the bet365 Stadium, home of Stoke City FC, with fire in their bellies and arrow-sharp determination in
their minds. Stops at St George’s Park to refuel and re-inspire saw the team pumped up to the gallons as they arrived to warm up before kickoff.

A few more inspirational words from former Assistant to Gareth Southgate, Paul Nevin, saw the team into the stadium, and it was the lion’s roar from the huddle that truly kicked off the ESFA Final for the Second XI. As was so typical of the team throughout the season, it was a blistering start to the game, and six minutes in saw Wallace pick the ball up on the right-hand side, and float a beautiful cross into the box, meeting the head of Spray as he guided it past the Northampton ‘keeper and into the net.

Hampton. Went. Wild.

As the Hampton fans sang, “Ain’t nobody, likeBen Wallace…” who else but the Hamptonright-back swung yet another cross into the Northampton penalty area, and a scramble saw the ball fall to Savan Soni…and the Northampton
net bulged for the second time that day. Alex Ashton, rightly named player of the match, picked up the ball on the left-hand side and drove at the Northampton defence. And they couldn’t handle him, as he swept past one, two
defenders, shot…and saved by the ‘keeper, right into the path of Spray…and the Northampton net rippled for the third time that day. It was three
goals in 22 minutes.

It was then relentless from the Second XI, as a corner swung in from Moylan-Jones was met sweetly with a first time volley from Captain Joe Murray, as fate would have it an almost identical goal to his first of the season against Glynn,
and he raced away in celebration to greet the Hampton fans, who had also been unrelenting in their support for the team. It was then Moylan-Jones again who drilled the ball into the box, a scramble seeing it fall to the feet of Ashton, who calmy slotted it into the Northampton net, as it strained for the final time
that afternoon.

The Second XI were ESFA CHAMPIONS.

It was a season of ups and downs – but mainly ups! It was the season of the high press; it was the season of the goose flock. It was a season of unrelenting team spirit, and “I love the way they cheer the tackles and the blocks as much as the goals”, as said by the commentator in the ESFA Final. It was a season that couldn’t be written. Except the Hampton Second XI wrote it. Perfectly.
It was a season of Twogether. Forever.