NORTON Fitzwarren Reserves boasted one of the youngest mascots around as they took on Bridgwater Sports Colts in the Seward Cup, this week in March 2011.

Not that little Alfie Follett was doing much cheering during the second round tie, as he was in a baby carrier!

There was not much between the sides on the day, with Lee Kirkpatrick getting Norton’s goal and Gary Howes replying for the Colts as it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

It remained 1-1 after extra time, which meant a penalty shoot-out was required.

The Bridgwater side held their nerve best from the spot, winning the shoot-out 3-1, with Dom Cavill the only Norton player to score his penalty.

Pictured above, the Norton Fitzwarren Reserves players, from left to right: back row - Ed Phillips, Liam Bleeks, Sean Conway, Mike Phillips, Dan Low, Karl Follett, Tom Blundell; front - Dave Bucks, Leo Salter, Stephen Garrad, Steve Low, Dom Cavill, Lee Kilpatrick - and mascot Alfie Follett.

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KING’S College student Maddie Hinch was starting to earn herself a reputation as a top hockey international 15 years ago, and this week in March 2006 saw her selected for the prestigious Four Nations Cup tournament.

The 17-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on her debut for England Under-18s, a 2-0 win over Ireland, and she now had the chance to show what she could do against Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

She earned her cap after a long series of county and regional trials.

Somerset County Gazette:

After the Ireland match, Hinch (pictured) said: “By the time we got to the last 20 minutes everyone was shattered.

“Both defences were struggling a bit as the game opened up, so I was kept pretty busy, with shots coming from all angles.

“Fortunately there were no penalty strokes to deal with, and I was able to make a few good saves.

“I’ve definitely got a taste for it now and I’m really looking forward to the next three games.”

Hinch has, of course, gone on to represent England and Great Britain with distinction, winning gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

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FORMER Somerset Senior League club British Rail battled back from 3-1 down to secure themselves a place in the Taunton Saturday Football League’s Seward Cup, this week in 1991.

Rail found themselves trailing by two goals in the second half against Spaxton, but they wrestled for control of the tie and won 4-3.

Captain Colin Reed, Andy Wood, Paul Dennison and an own goal saw them through.

Somerset County Gazette:

Pictured are, from left to right: back row - Darren Lake, Paul Trott, Colin Reed, Andy Wood, Gary Griffiths, Steve Elliott, Martyn Dalzell, David Cleverly, Ken Jarvis (secretary); front - Paul Dennison, Martin Ingram (player-manager), Colin Thomas, Matthew George, Neil Rogers, Darren Hacker, Ken Matthews; mascots - Gary Higgins, Simon Ingram.