PRIESTLEY College’s footballers won their league after a nail-biting end to their season.

They finished joint top of the North West Colleges Premier Division edging out Winstanley and Sir John Deane’s with a superior goal difference.

Captain Jordan Edge pinpointed a match against Bury as the turning point for Priestley’s season, which also saw them reach the final of the John Sleigh Cup.

“It was 2-2 at half time and we needed to win to go top of the league,” said Edge, who is studying PE, psychology, citizenship and the ‘extended project’ at Priestley.

“We ended up winning 8-2 and that was when we realised it could be our season.”

During the half-time talk in that match, both Edge and sports tutor Dan Jordan told the players to calm their nerves and to stop rushing in pressure moments.

These small improvements to their mental approach in matches made all the difference and Priestley went undefeated for the rest of the league season.

Their improved approach was highlighted in the semifinal of the English Schoolboys FA Cup where they trailed 4-0 at half time, but ended up losing 4-3.

“As a team we were there to win every match and not just make up the numbers,” said Edge, a former Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil who also plays international Futsal for England.

“Whenever we were behind in a match we just worked harder for each other and showed a lot of character.”

Priestley hopes to build on this season’s success when it launches a football academy in September.

Dan Jordan said: “We already attract plenty of top class footballers from the local area so the goal is to build on that over the next year and produce the best student footballers possible.”