CHILDREN from more than 60 schools showcased their football skills while playing in the prestigious Wilf Mannion Trophy.
Middlesbrough Football Community Project hosted the annual seven-a-side competition in Eston earlier this month.
The annual tournament saw 10 and 11-year-olds from 64 local primary schools battling it out over two days, with Middlesbrough’s St Edward’s School emerging as overall winners.
Teams from Middlesbrough, Stockton, Billingham and Redcar were split into eight leagues, with the winners and runners-up in each league progressing for the chance to make it to the cup final.
Last year’s winners, Ings Farm Primary School, Redcar, once again had a strong tournament and made it to the final for a second successive year.
After a tense and goalless first half, St Edward’s broke the deadlock straight from the second half kick-off.
A fierce strike from the halfway line from Ben Askins, pictured celebrating the goal with team mates above, nestled in the top corner of the net to give his team the advantage.
As Ings Farm pushed forward for an equaliser, Askins took advantage and hit his second of the game, securing the win for St Edward’s.
Named after the Boro legend from South Bank, the Wilf Mannion Trophy was presented to the winning side by Mannion’s daughter Anthea Walker, pictured above.
Neil Trainor, of Middlesbrough Football Community Project, said: “We would like to thank every school who attended and made the competition a huge success.�
Pictures courtesy of NORTH NEWS & PICTURES,
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