Students at a juniors school in Kingston have been celebrating an "extraordinary" sporting achievement.

Coombe Hill Juniors'Year 3 and Year 4 girls' football team was crowned London Youth Games champions for the first time in the school's history—earning them the nickname "The Invincibles" after going unbeaten throughout both the borough and London-wide tournaments.

Representing Kingston, the team progressed from borough winners to London champions, competing against 16 boroughs from across the capital, including Islington, Croydon and Barnet.

The London Youth Games is one of the capital's largest youth sporting events, bringing together young athletes from boroughs across London to compete in a wide range of sports. 

Some of England's biggest names began their journey at the London Youth Games, including Raheem Sterling (Brent), Rio Ferdinand (Southwark), Chloe Kelly (Ealing), Alex Scott (Tower Hamlets), Rachel Yankey (Brent), Ashley Cole (Tower Hamlets), Joe Gomez (Lewisham), Jadon Sancho (Southwark), Reiss Nelson (Southwark), Nathaniel Chalobah (Lambeth), and Fara Williams (Richmond).

"What makes this victory particularly special is the story behind the team," said a spokesperson from the school. 

This was the first competition the group had entered together, having come together at the last minute to represent the school in the borough tournament. 

Despite limited time playing as a team, they quickly built strong connections and went from strength to strength, carrying their momentum from the borough competition into the London Youth Games.

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The team was also notable for its mix of seven and eight year olds (Year 3 and Year 4 pupils), with a significant number of younger Year 3 players stepping up against older and often more physically developed opposition. 

Rather than selecting purely on size or age, the squad reflected inclusivity, determination and belief.

Competing as a state school, Coombe Hill Juniors faced strong opposition, including well-funded teams from both state and private schools. 

Despite not having the same level of resources, including nearly cancelling attendance at the first tournament due to no funding for transport, the team's success highlights the power of hard work, teamwork, commitment and opportunity.

Beyond the results, the tournament has also been a powerful story of friendship, with pupils from different year groups coming together, building new relationships and supporting one another throughout their journey.

A huge part of this success is credited to the team's coach, Mrs Epstein, who played a key role in bringing the group together. Her leadership helped the girls quickly bond, build real friendships and create a positive, supportive and fun environment that allowed them to thrive.

Special recognition is also given to Mrs Dale, who coached the team to victory at the Kingston borough stage and helped lay the foundations for their journey to success.

On the pitch, Coombe Hill delivered outstanding performances throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten across every match they played. 

A standout moment came in the semi-final, where the team overcame a strong Croydon side before going on to lift the trophy by beating Barnet in the final and being crowned overall champions.

A spokesperson from the school said: "This is an incredible achievement for our pupils. The team came together at the last minute and had very little time to play together, yet they showed determination, teamwork and real belief in themselves. 

"They were such a joy to watch and enjoyed both competitions immensely. To go unbeaten across both tournaments is simply outstanding. We are especially proud of our younger players who stepped up so brilliantly against older opposition. 

"It's also been wonderful to see new friendships form across year groups through this experience."

A parent added: "It was an early start as we had to travel right across London from Kingston to Ilford, which took around two hours. 

"But the journey was thoroughly worth it. Once the girls found their rhythm, they went from strength to strength, winning game after game. To finish unbeaten makes it even more special—what an amazing achievement for them."

The school also highlighted the wider context of the achievement, noting that like many state schools, it must balance limited resources across a wide range of subjects and activities. 

This makes the team's success even more impressive and a testament to the players' commitment and passion.

This historic win marks the first time Coombe Hill Juniors has won the London Youth Games title and represents a proud moment for the school and the wider Kingston community.

The success also underlines the growing strength of girls' football at grassroots level and serves as an inspiration to young athletes across the borough.