EXETER City’s St James Park was taken over by 15 female football teams from eight secondary schools, including Crediton’s QE, in a fun and fast-paced tournament.

It was the first time the Catherine Fraser Memorial Tournament, which is organised by Exeter City Community Trust to promote female football in Catherine’s memory, was held at the stadium.

The competing teams were made up of year seven girls from the following schools: St Lukes, Exeter; Queen Elizabeth’s, Crediton; Exmouth Community College; The Maynard School, Teignmouth Community School; Isca School, Exeter; Newton Abbot College and St James School, Exeter.

Winners of the competition, which is sponsored by Hunters Estate Agents, were Exmouth Community College. The runners up in the Championship were The Maynard School and the runners up in the Premiership were Isca School.

Catherine Fraser was a much-loved former member of the Exeter City Community Trust team, and her passion for engaging young people in sport continues to inspire the values behind the tournament.

Her mother, Glenda Riley, who generously supports the event, attended alongside Catherine’s daughter, Dulcie. Together, they presented medals to the winning teams, bringing a fitting and personal close to a special day.

Catherine worked at the Exeter City Community Trust following her career as a journalist at The Times in London and the Express and Echo locally. After she passed away from breast cancer in 2015, her mother Glenda donated funds to stage the annual tournament.

Exeter City Community Trust Women and Girls Football Development Officer Aaron Wakley said: “It was great to see so many teams of players showing great determination, skill, and sportsmanship throughout. It really did feature a high standard of competition, and we’d like to thank all of the schools for joining us.”

For more information about girls’ football, school tournaments and youth engagement programmes run by Exeter City Community Trust, visit exetercct.org.