The RN Under 19 football squad produced their best result in over 20 years by reaching the semi-final of the prestigious Dallas Cup international youth soccer tournament.

With 148 teams from 20 countries across six age groups, including Premiership clubs Newcastle United and Manchester United, the U-19s competed with 19 other teams in their age group.

The squad was led by Cdr Martin Doolan and WO Paul Spinks and coached by GPO Arnie Ormiston and GPO George Barclay.

Initially placed in a group of four it was imperative to get a good start. The first game against ‘Texas Lightning Black’ proved a very tight affair with both sides capable of winning the game.

With five minutes left on the clock and no score the Navy squad would have been reasonably content with a draw when, from a late corner, Mne Jamie Walmsley headed home from the last chance of the match to clinch an important victory.

In the second game against ‘Capital Soccer Club’ the RN confidence and capability overwhelmed the opposition. First-half goals from Mne Jamie Walmsley and a 30-yard cracker from OM Matthew Parrott gave them a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead, and a third in the second half from WEA Aaron Ripley sealed a comfortable victory.

With results in the other games favouring the Navy they had secured sufficient points to finish top of the group after the first two games, so with each of the back four carrying one yellow card apiece it was decided to rest the back line.

As a result the RN were always on the back foot in the final group match against ‘Team USA’ but with a fine individual goal from OM Khaled Khan were hanging on for a very credible 1-1 draw with five minutes to go. Sadly they were caught out by pace in the closing stages and eventually went down 4-1.

The quarter-final against IMG Soccer Academy was an incredibly tense affair with goal scoring opportunities falling to both sides in the first half, but at half-time the scoreline remained 0-0.

Shortly after half-time a lapse in concentration allowed IMG to head home easily from a corner, leading to some bizarre celebrations in the American camp.

A few moments later disaster struck as IMG were awarded a penalty that could have sealed the RN fate.

However, goalkeeper Mne Alex Bibby stood his ground well and saved easily, an event which proved to be the turning point of the match.

Shortly afterwards the Navy were awarded their own penalty and this time MEM Lee Foxhall made no mistake from the spot to level the scores at 1-1 and take the game into extra-time for the golden goal.

Having won the toss the RN took the decision to play with the wind at their backs and throw everything forward. With ten minutes of extra-time played STD Louis Green found himself deep in the opposition’s half, and following a poor throw from the IMG goalkeeper he dispossessed the full-back before rifling the ball into the top corner, sparking jubilant scenes from the Navy bench and supporters.

However the rigours of playing five games in six days and the extreme temperatures and hard pitches were starting to take their toll.

Although the RN team competed and fought all the way, in the end they were defeated 4-0 by superior pace from an excellent team in ‘Dallas Texans Red’ who went on to win the final the following day.

But it was a superb overall performance from the RN squad, who proved exceptionally capable on the pitch and excellent ambassadors for the Navy, and were justifiably proud of reaching the semi-final of the largest amateur football competition in the USA.