Spanish fixtures Marshland High School team players

Sporting students at a West Norfolk school tested their skills against international competition when they visited Spain recently.

Alongside the basketball teams from Marshland High School, footballers joined the annual trip for the first time this year and all 35 students had a fantastic time when they stayed near Barcelona during the half-term break.

“It was the most successful trip ever in terms of sporting results, but more importantly, the students and staff absolutely loved every minute," said Dominic Stannard, head of character and culture, who took over leading the trips in 2015.

"Throughout, the students were brilliant, funny and a pleasure to take, we are so proud of them all."

The school, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust has been taking sports teams to Spain for fixtures for 25 years, but this was the first to include the football tour.

Previous trips have featured a hockey club fixture, but Mr Stannard said the decision was made as the school is currently having a ‘real push’ on football.

The group stayed at Santa Susanna which is around 40 minutes from Barcelona in the Catalonia region.

“Sporting trips like these are so important for our students for their progress within PE and sports, but more importantly their character development," said Mr Stannard.

"The week is an amazing experience for them all and they created so many wonderful memories. During the week they develop their independence, confidence, communication and adaptability. I am so proud of all of the students."

The team trained at the facilities of top club Espanyol, which plays in the La Liga league of professional teams in Spain. The students also had a tour of the stadium, which holds 40,000 fans on match day.

The boys’ first team footballers played well to beat the opposition Club Deportivo Palafolls 5 -1 and the mixed team lost 6-1 to a team from the same club.

The basketball teams had a tour of mixed fortunes with the boys’ first team winning 57 - 53 against CB Boet Mataro Boat. The Norfolk team got stronger as the match went on, said Mr Stannard.

The boys’ second team lost 47-7 to their hosts, and the score in the girls’ match was unclear, with the scoreboard reading 129 -128 at one point.

“The girls did brilliantly against a very experienced side, we actually scored eight legitimate points - they were giving us points every time we took a shot. When we did shoot, the whole venue celebrated, which was a lovely experience,” said Mr Stannard.

The trip also included excursions to the theme park, waterpark, Espanyol stadium tour, sightseeing in Barcelona, beach and a trip to the swimming pool.