HISTORY was made by the Devon Schools FA Under 16 Girls on Sunday, May 10 as they came from behind to be crowned national champions, after they beat Durham 2-1 at Stoke City FC’s Bet365 Stadium in the ESFA Inter-County Cup final.

Player of the match, Maisie White’s astonishing brace, including a 30-yard free kick, saw the team snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, with just minutes remaining in front of the jubilant Devon fans who had made the journey to the Midlands.

It left Chloe Curtis and Molly Stroud to lift the trophy with the celebrations capping off a remarkable journey for a squad which has largely been together for the past five seasons.

The victory finally gave Devon their crowning moment, having missed out to Lancashire in the previous two seasons on penalties and to a last-minute winner respectively.

Trailing at the break when Durham went in front after a strike from 25 yards, it seemed like maybe the same old story was playing on repeat, with Devon frustrated and nerves amongst the supporters in the stands obvious.

However, if the first half followed the frustrating script of previous seasons, the second 40 was a different tale with White, so often the squad's flare, once again the protagonist.

With 15 minutes remaining, she combined with Madison Williams-King to send an outside-of-the-boot effort high into the net, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck to start a memorable comeback.

With four minutes left on the clock and the game ticking towards extra-time, White stepped up to deliver two moments of sheer brilliance.

First, she unleashed a 40-yard free kick which rattled off the crossbar, and whilst it didn’t go in the audacity to even attempt the effort defied belief.

Then, two minutes later, she stepped up again, wide on the left, she curled a right-footed free kick inside the far post from 25 yards out, sending the Devon support into raptures.

There was still time for a Durham penalty appeal, but when the full-time whistle went, the celebrations of sheer joy commenced, bringing the curtain down on a journey which finally got its happy ending after two years of heartbreak.

Whilst Maisie White scored the goals to set up the turnaround, she pointed to the team’s togetherness and never-say-die attitude as a huge factor for their win.

“It means the world to score two at a stadium like this and deliver on the biggest stage, but it’s a collective effort that means we’re now national champions,” White said.

“Without everyone’s contributions across the 80 minutes and the season, there’s no way I get those opportunities.

“As soon as the ball left my foot [for the second goal] I just knew it was in and you could see by the celebrations just how much it means to finally get over the line, I really just can’t believe it.”

Head Coach Dave Leonard highlighted the journey this group of players has been on over the last three years. He said: “After the heartbreak of the previous two seasons, the courage and character this group have shown is truly remarkable.

“They’ve stuck together, through the highs and the lows, they’ve trained week in week out, knowing eventually they would get their rewards.

“This is a testament to this group’s spirit and character, to win it in the way that they did, I am over the moon for them, and the whole County can be extremely proud.”

Matt Hodgson, Programme Lead for the Devon Schools FA Representative Teams, paid tribute to the coaching staff, parents and partners of the team, adding: “Without the support of all those involved in our Devon Schools representative teams, days like this simply wouldn’t be possible.

“The coaches are all volunteers, dedicating countless hours to help these players become the best versions of themselves. The parents and carers’ unwavering support, travelling hundreds of miles across the country, rain or shine, and our commercial partners who buy into and believe in what we’re trying to deliver, all of their support is just remarkable, and we’re incredibly grateful.

“Knowing it has been a full team effort makes days like this not only possible but even more of an achievement.”

The victory in the showpiece final marked a moment of history, with it being Devon CSFA’s first Inter-County Cup success in the girl’s category and a first title for 18 years, when the Under 16 Boys claimed the crown in 2008.