Hosted in partnership with the Lyonian Association, John Lyon School, Old Lyonians Football Club (OLFC), and school staff, this year’s friendly football tournament was even bigger – with double the turnout and even more energy on the pitch!

We were delighted to welcome back a mix of familiar and new faces: teams from the Smarties, Staff, Old Lyonian A, B and C squads, and former pupils from the Classes of 2018, 2020, and 2024 all took part. Each team brought their A-game, but it was the Smarties who defended their title and walked away with the trophy once again.

Beyond the goals and great plays, the real win was the over £500 raised for Brain Tumour Research, a cause that means so much to our community and especially those who knew Josh.

Matt, Joshua’s brother wrote:
“Firstly I would like to thank everyone involved in this years tournament raising money for such a fantastic cause and one that is very close to mine and my families' hearts. I would like to thank Mr Ling for helping me organise the tournament and Bharti for reaching out to the OL alumni. It was great to see so many old and new faces this year with the OL having three teams, Joshua’s year group being represented, the 2024 leavers coming down as well as having a staff team for the first time. A big congratulations to the Smarties for defending their title after beating the 2024 leavers in a final that was decided by a penalty shoutout. Joshua was someone who loved football and represented the school during his time at John Lyon. Being able to run a tournament in his memory for something he loved to do is very special for me and I could not do it without the support of everyone involved. Thank you for your support and I can’t wait to defend the title again next year!”

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who played, cheered, donated or helped make the event happen - your support made this a truly special evening. Here’s to next year’s tournament, and continuing to honour Josh’s memory through sport, friendships, and meaningful impact!