A team of Singapore under-13s played 10 matches against regional opposition and never lost one. The under-13 (U13) boys of Brighton College (Singapore) were crowned unbeaten champions at the Straits Football 7s 2026, held across 31 October and 1 November. The U13 girls finished runners-up, and one of the boys won the Golden Boot.
Now in its sixth edition, the seven-a-side tournament, which uses seven players per team instead of the usual 11, brought together 60 teams from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand across its age groups. The boys’ U13 category had 11 teams in it, and the boys finished top of that field.
Eight Wins, Two Draws, Zero Losses
The boys scored 28 goals and conceded four, which made them the highest-scoring side in their category.
The opening day was the eye-catching part. The squad won all five of its first-day matches, scoring 20 goals without conceding once, which works out to four goals a game. Few junior teams anywhere manage that kind of start.
The second day tells a more interesting story, though. The boys scored eight and let in all four of their goals conceded. Opponents had clearly adjusted, and staying unbeaten once a field has seen what you can do is the harder test. That’s where tournaments get won.
The school says the squad had been formed two months before the competition. That’s a short time for a group of kids to gel into a team that doesn’t lose. It makes the result worth taking seriously.
A 13-Goal Golden Boot
The Golden Boot, the award for the tournament’s top scorer, went to James Verinder-Morgan, who scored 13 goals. That’s nearly half of his team’s 28. Thirteen goals is the kind of tally the group chat will mention for years!
His teammate Jonjo summed up the weekend from a player’s point of view. “We had loads of fun playing new teams from different countries including Malaysia and Thailand,” he said. “Our team performed superbly, giving their all and eventually finishing first place and champions.”
There’s no grand speech there, only a kid who enjoyed meeting new opponents and winning. That’s how a good junior tournament should feel.
From 8-0 Down to a Penalty Shootout
The school’s U13 girls competed in an eight-team category and won six of their nine matches to reach the championship final. The result that should stick with readers is how they got there.
Earlier in the tournament, the girls lost 8-0 to the side they would later face in the final. When the two teams met again for the title, Brighton’s girls held them to a draw. The final went to a penalty shootout, and the girls lost it narrowly.
Going from an eight-goal loss to a draw in a final against the same team, within one tournament, is the best comeback of the weekend. A trophy would have been nice, but that turnaround says more about a team than most wins do.
Girls’ coach Mrs Alison Grice-Glover put it this way: “Throughout the competition, the girls demonstrated exceptional teamwork, resilience and determination, combining quality football with a fantastic sense of camaraderie and support for one another. To reach the final and push an unbeaten side all the way was a tremendous achievement.”
What the Coach Was Proudest Of
Boys’ coach Mr Dane Crush talked about more than the scoreline. “Weekends like this remind me exactly why I love what I do,” he said. “Seeing our pupils enjoy their football, compete with such passion and achieve success together makes me incredibly proud to be part of Brighton College (Singapore).”
He added: “Beyond the results, it was the way our pupils represented the College, both on and off the pitch, that made me proudest. The future of football at the College certainly looks bright!”
The school links the results to its Sport for All approach, which it describes as giving every pupil a chance to find a passion and build resilience. Strip away the school framing and the lesson works for any kid who plays: a team formed in September can be lifting a trophy by November.
Why It’s Worth Lacing Up
If you play football, or once did in a school CCA (co-curricular activity), this result should feel familiar in the best way. These are kids from Singapore travelling to play sides from Malaysia and Thailand and coming home with a trophy, a silver medal and the top scorer’s award. For young players here, that’s a reminder that regional competition is within reach long before the senior game.
For readers curious about where local football goes after school level, see our explainer on the Singapore Premier League. For regional football drama, there is our report on PSG and Atletico at ICC Singapore.
🗓️ Date: Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November 2026
⚽ Tournament: Straits Football 7s 2026, sixth edition
🌏 Field: 60 teams from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
🏆 U13 boys: Champions, unbeaten (8 wins, 2 draws, 28 goals scored, 4 conceded) in an 11-team category
🥈 U13 girls: Runners-up after a penalty shootout in an eight-team category
👟 Golden Boot: James Verinder-Morgan, 13 goals
The Straits Football 7s has now run six times, and a seventh edition would be the obvious next chance for this boys’ squad to defend its title and for the girls to finish what they started in that final. Keep an eye on Brighton College (Singapore)’s announcements for news of the next run. A team that went from formation to trophy in two months will be one to watch!
Photos and Visuals courtesy of Brighton College (Singapore).
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