YOUNGSTERS at Easingwold Primary School have been kicking out to raise money for new PE equipment.

All 315 children at the school - and the teachers - yesterday took part in a Speedmark Challenge to score the hardest and fastest penalty, while raising valuable sponsor money at the same time.

The event was organised by PE co-ordinator and reception teacher Lisa Flude.

She said: "It's been a really good atmosphere and the kids have all joined in and had fun. It's looking like we might have raised quite a bit as well."

Ex-professional footballers Gary Parkinson, who used to play for Middlesbrough, and ex-Burnley striker Graham Lancashire, were on hand to keep things moving and record all the times.

Each pupil had three shots at the Speedmark goal, which has an in-built radar to measure speed, and the pupils with the hardest effort in each age group were given prizes.

The money raised is expected to be in the hundreds of pounds mark and will be used to fund footballs, gym equipment and other vital games' resources.

Woodthorpe Primary footballers wore their York City colours with pride at the North-East regional finals of the national Football in the Community competition.

Nerves played a big part in the opening encounters but York made the most of a penalty caused by a defensive mistake against Middlesbrough and went 1-0 up with Alex Dale scoring from the spot before Boro made it 1-1.

Sleepy defending cost York dear as Halifax went 2-0 up with a goal from Charlie Clamp only reducing the deficit to 2-1. Next, two goals from Clamp and Luke Howlett secured York's best result of the day with a 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United.

The York boys bounced back from a 3-0 defeat to Hull City in a thrilling game with Leeds United. A Clamp wonder-goal from within his own half that was hailed by a number of opposition coaches as the goal of the tournament put them in front but Leeds hit back to deny them a place in the knockout stages.

Michael Ellis, Russell Parker, Matthew Allan, Luke Campsall and captain Ryan Buck also played.

PE co-ordinator Matt Cusden said: "We had a wonderful day and who knows, perhaps the first taste of the big time for some of our young footballers."

Five alive

FIVE York City Boys' teams are in action this Saturday.

The Under-11s are at Hull, the U12s head to Bradford, the U13s entertain Derby, the U14s host Sheffield and the U15s are at home to Sheffield.

York U12s (at Bradford): Aled Griffiths, Ryan Qualter, Alex Fowler, Ryan O'Reilly, Tom Chelin, Dean Lisles, Sam Linguard, Gareth Fisher, Mike Byram, Tom Hope, Adam McMahon, Oliver Box, Joe Breedon, Nick Thompson and Joe Dale. Meet at Macdonads on A64 at 9am. Contact Chris Dale on 01904 339759 to confirm availability.

York U11s (at Hull): J Gore, S Byram, W Pepper, R Buck, J Forbes-Walker, S Leach, M Dale, D Fisher, J Maud, N Kilby, T Derbyshire, C Qualter, T Richardson, G Middleton, O Bird, W Bailey, C Bilton, A Thornton, J Edmond, A Stelmach, C Maloney. Meet at B&Q, Hull Road, at 8.30am. Ko 10.15am.

The second round ties in the Primary Cup football competition are due to be played by this Friday.

The fixtures are: Poppleton Road v St George's/Our Lady, Hempland v English Martyrs, Woodthorpe v Ralph Butterfield, New Earswick v Fishergate, Knavesmire v Robert Wilkinson, Bishopthorpe v Lakeside, Dunnington v Westfield, Haxby Road/Osbaldwick v St Mary's/Poppleton Road.

Lakeside progressed to the quarter-finals beating Bishopthorpe 2-0.

Updated: 09:58 Wednesday, February 25, 2004