The report says the table was compiled from statistics submitted directly by schools into the competition database.
That makes the list useful. Returning goals are one of the clearest indicators of continuity, especially in school football, where squad turnover can reshape an attack from one autumn to the next.
A missing player is not automatically evidence of a bad list. The report says the most likely reasons are administrative rather than footballing.
That distinction is important. In school sport, public rankings are only as complete as the reporting process behind them. A scorer can be productive and still absent if the paperwork lags behind the performances.
Goals matter. They are tangible, easy to track and often decisive. But a goals chart is still only one lens.
It highlights finishing output, not overall influence. It does not fully capture chance creation, off-ball work, tactical role or the strength of the team around a player. So the names near the top deserve attention, but the list should be treated as a starting point, not a complete scouting report.
As the 2026 season approaches, the more interesting story is how those returning scorers carry their numbers into live competition. Once matches begin, the next thing to watch is which attacks turn preseason promise into real momentum.