RIO might have gone to Manchester, but York Sunday League side Burton Stone FC enjoyed a carnival celebration in the city's Umbro International Cup.

The John Smith's division five side reached the International Plate final, narrowly finishing runners-up in a two-day event billed as the United Kingdom's biggest annual football tournament.

A total of 200 teams featured in the event at the University Complex in Manchester, where there were tournaments for men, women and children played on an 11-a-side 20 minutes each way basis.

A win over Sporting Bahia from Portugal propelled Burton Stone into the quarter-finals where they beat Clitheroe United 2-0.

Burton Stone's semi-final opponents were the much-fancied Nottingham Sports FC. The York ranks laid siege to the Nottingham goal and by-half-time led 3-1. Though Nottingham rallied, trimming the deficit to just one goal Burton Stone held on to reach the final.

However, due to a severe time schedule Burton Stone enjoyed only a brief rest before tackling the final, where they were lost narrowly to Andrew Watt AFC from Glasgow.

Among the Burton marksmen in the run to the final where John Lansbury, Dale Philips and Paul Bedingham leaving manager Paul Williams to enthuse: "We had a great time and it was an experience to play in such a prestigious competition.

"We did ourselves proud and reaching the final was a great bonus."

The manager also thanked Home Housing Association for sponsoring the team's kit and the Community Association for Recreation and Sports (Clifton) for providing the transport to the city where Rio Ferdinand is now the world's most expensive defender.

Updated: 13:14 Friday, July 26, 2002