Premier League Schools Tournament winners

Newcastle United and Aston Villa won the Premier League Schools Tournament finals.



Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in the final of the Under 11 Mixed section at Old Trafford.

In the Under 13s girls event, Newcastle saw off Middlesbrough 3-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

Each of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs had staged their own competition to select a school to represent them in the regional finals, with more than 8,000 pupils from over 1,000 schools taking part.

From there, eight teams in each section made it through to the national finals at the home of the champions.

There they received the red carpet treatment from Manchester United who gave the excited youngsters a day they will never forget.

They got ready in the dressing rooms used by Sir Alex Ferguson's superstars before walking down the players' tunnel into the Theatre of Dreams.

passionate atmosphere

The matches were refereed by Premier League officials Mark Clattenburg, Phil Dowd, Mark Halsey and Howard Webb who were impressed by the levels of sportsmanship as well as skill.

United's matchday announcer did a fine job building up the passionate atmosphere among the 1,000-strong crowd of parents and pupils.

The youngsters were treated like Premier League players for the day with the highlight coming at the end as every player received a medal.

And as the winning teams received their trophies, Queen's "We are the Champions" blared out over the speakers.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "We can have a website and brochures full of the schemes we run but it is only when you see them happening that they really come alive.

"This has been a fantastic day for all the youngsters involved. They have been treated like Premier League players and just playing at Old Trafford is something which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

"More than 8,000 kids took part and this is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the clubs and it is wonderful to see so many excited faces. The enthusiasm has been brilliant."

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe added: "It is wonderful to see this sort of competition with schools representing clubs. It reinforces the power of the Premier League and its ability to touch people.

"These youngsters will never forget this event which has been played in the right spirit."

John Shields, chief executive of the Manchester United Foundation, told the youngsters: "Some of the biggest names in world football have played here - and now you can say you have joined them.

"Win, lose or draw, you have played at Old Trafford and that is something nobody can ever take away from you."

good omen

Each team got to play three matches on the hallowed turf with the group winners meeting in the final.

Newcastle will be hoping it is a good omen for Sunday's final Barclays Premier League fixtures as they won the Girls Under 13 event.

However Sunday's opponents are Aston Villa who won the Under 11's Mixed.

Newcastle were represented by Durham Johnston Lower School whose coach John Sinclair missed their big day after cracking a disc in his back.

He stayed in touch with the team by phone and said: "I am really disappointed not to have been there but I am very proud of the girls.

"Even on the morning of the final, I was hoping to be able to travel down but the pain got worse and worse and there was no way I could be there.

"They lost the national schools semi-finals on penalties last week so I am delighted that they won this one."

The team were taken in his absence by assistant coach Lil Tighe who said: "If we had won the national schools semi, it would have given us a big problem as the two finals were on the same day.

"This has made up for that disappointment and I am delighted for the girls and for John who has dedicated his life to girls' football. He is devastated not to be here.

"He kept in touch by phone and just said to let the girls decide between them who should take the penalties and he was thrilled when little Alex Meakin scored the winner.

"We are so proud of the girls. We are due to move to new premises in September but for now they have to train in a tiny hall, it is not even a gym.

"They have gone from that to playing at one of the biggest grounds in the country and it has been the most wonderful day for them, one they will never forget."

immensely proud

Villa were represented by Dorridge Junior School of Solihull. After seeing John Palmer score the only goal of the final, coach Michael Jones said: "I am immensely proud of them.

"All the kids have been fantastic. They were behind twice in their early group games but came back to win which is not easy when the matches are so short.

"That shows the character and spirit in the team and I am delighted their hard work has been rewarded.

"It has been a fantastic event and a wonderful day for all the competitors. It is great that the Premier League provides opportunities like this for school children.

"There has been a lot of talk about overseas players in the game but events like this will help to encourage and develop young English players."

Results

Under 13's Girls

Group A
Middlesbrough 1-0 Arsenal
Liverpool 3-1 Fulham
Middlesbrough 1-0 Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Middlesbrough 1-0 Fulham
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

Group B
Newcastle United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa 4-2 Wigan Athletic
Newcastle United 1-0 Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Wigan Athletic
Newcastle United 8-0 Wigan Athletic
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Aston Villa

Final
Newcastle United 0-0 Middlesbrough (Newcastle win 3-2 on penalties)

Under 11's Mixed

Group A
Hull City 0-0 Stoke City
Manchester City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Hull City 1-0 Manchester City
Stoke City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Hull City 0-3 Bolton Wanderers
Stoke City 1-4 Manchester City

Group B
Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Chelsea 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
Fulham 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Aston Villa 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea

Final
Aston Villa 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Under 13's Girls Finalists

Arsenal (Parliament Hill School): Paige Blackender, Louise Bennett, Maria Luna, Hannah McWilliams, Ardita Zeka, Maryam Behrozigarai, Loretta Glazebrook, Tyler Felix.

Aston Villa (St Peters Catholic School): Aoife Mannion, Sian Kelly, Marie Kelly, Chloe Mullen, Sally Greener, Jessica Chew, Alice Sumner, Siobhan Ruhan.

Blackburn Rovers (Longridge High): Abigail Wignall, Eleanore Holden, Charlotte Smith, Ellie Higham, Grace Newby, Beth Hargreaves, Shakira Allen, Hannah Crook.

Fulham (Raynes Park High School): Lauren Horsford, Ciara Hunter, Ciara Sauvage, Jess Owen, Paige Vella, Kelsey Aldred, Alex Jel-Lye, Laura Cole.

Liverpool (St Julies Catholic High School): Lisa Hampson, Faye Fitzsimmons, Nicola Burness, Shannon Beckwith, Faye Bryson, Megan Harrison, Paige Lindsey, Ellie O'Connor.

Middlesbrough (Laurence Jackson Girls): Lucy Stephenson, Anna Coates, Rebecca Coates, Charlotte Poole, Jessica Simon, Sophie Wanres, Mollie Hart, Jessica Quayle.

Newcastle United (Durham Johnston Lower School): Hannah Adamson, Paige Roxby, Selene Heslington, Zoe Ness, Jessica White, Hannah Sturdy, Alex Meakin, Katie Roberts.

Wigan Athletic (St John Fisher): Katie Greenhalgh, Lauren O'Brien, Sophie Marsden, Rebecca Derbyshire, Beth Heaton, Danielle Brookwell, Chloe Jordan, Eve Worthington.

Under 11 Mixed Finalists

Aston Villa (Dorridge School): Charlie McNulty, George Beard, Ben Fowles, John Palmer, Charlie Kingsley, Calum O'Hare, Tom Burke, Harry Street.

Bolton Wanderers (St Peters Smithills Dean Primary School): Jamie Welsby, Sam Rigby, Zak Weit, Tashan Morris, Joshua Hyams-Ssekasi, Hayden Taylor, Robert Greenhalgh, Ryan Hamer.

Chelsea (Honeywell Primary School): Robbie Whyte, Will Gueterbock, Kieran Merchant, Will Hawkes, Tane Caubo, Ollie Archard, Matty Jelliffe, Charlie White.

Fulham (St Bernadette Catholic Junior School): Mason Croker-Towsend, Daniel Opoku, Chris Bilwala, Luke Honess, William Efambe, Larenze Osuagwu, Emmanuel Mensah, Razzaq Coleman de Graft.

Hull City (Appleton Primary School): Liam Platten, Ben Hinchliffe, Mathew Hinchliffe, George Stafford, Bradley Turner, Adam Legard, Josef Carroll, Sam Jessney.

Manchester City (Christ the King Primary School) Kai Painter, Brandon Holmes, Luke Pennington, Marshall Roberts, Callum Stanley, Kane Turner, Lynden Parker, Cameron McDonald.

Stoke City (Langdale Primary School): Matthew Smith, Jack Eagles, Oliver Dooley, Jack Van Der Laan, Connor Devine, Adam Hussain, Charlie Scott, Lloyd Astley.

Wigan Athletic (RL Hughes): Joe McAbe, Scott Grice, James Ormshaw, Jamie Charnock, Jack Hayes, Romal Palmer, Michael Roberts, Connor Calland.