Great Sankey High School is incredibly proud to celebrate a remarkable footballing achievement with strong connections to our school community, after the Cheshire Football League made history by becoming the first English team ever to qualify for the UEFA Regions’ Cup finals.

 

The team is managed by Great Sankey High School Assistant Headteacher Andy McCann, who has led the Cheshire Football League representative side on an extraordinary journey over the past year.

 

Their route into Europe began with success in the 2025/26 FA Inter-League Cup. Cheshire reached the final at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, where they defeated the Herts Senior County League 3–1 to lift the trophy. That victory earned Cheshire the honour of representing England in the UEFA Regions’ Cup.

 

The achievement attracted national attention, with Andy speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the tournament about the unique experience of combining his role as an Assistant Headteacher at Great Sankey with managing a team representing England on the European stage.

 

In September, the squad travelled to Sweden for the UEFA Regions’ Cup intermediate round, competing in Group 3 against regional representatives from Finland, Portugal and Sweden.

 

Cheshire began with a 2–2 draw against Finland’s Järvenpää United before securing a superb 3–2 victory over Portuguese representatives AF Algarve. That set up a dramatic final group game against hosts Gothenburg.

 

With qualification on the line, Cheshire secured another 3–2 victory in extraordinary fashion, with Robert Payne scoring with the final kick of the game. The result saw Cheshire finish as Group 3 winners and make history as the first English representatives to reach the UEFA Regions’ Cup final tournament.

 

Great Sankey’s connection to this historic achievement goes well beyond the dugout.

 

Former Great Sankey students Arron Woodward and Amir Hajri were both part of the Cheshire squad competing in Sweden, representing England on the European stage. Both featured during the tournament as Cheshire secured their historic qualification.

 

The school connection extends even further, with two members of the assistant management team also parents of children currently at Great Sankey High School.

 

To see a current member of staff, two former students and members of our wider parent community all involved in such an incredible achievement is something everyone at Great Sankey can take enormous pride in.

 

The UEFA Regions’ Cup is UEFA’s leading competition for amateur regional representative teams, with the eight intermediate-round group winners progressing to the final tournament. Cheshire will now represent England at the 2027 UEFA Regions’ Cup finals, where they will compete alongside the other qualifying regional teams from across Europe.

 

This is a fantastic achievement for Andy, Arron, Amir and everyone involved with the Cheshire Football League squad. We are extremely proud to see members of the Great Sankey community playing their part in a genuine piece of English football history.

 

Congratulations to everyone involved – and good luck for the UEFA Regions’ Cup finals in 2027!