Excited footballers at Clifton Without Junior School, York, are to play at Old Trafford, home of Treble winners Manchester United.

CHAMPIONS: Clifton Without Under-11s football team, who are set to play at Old Trafford. Back (from left) Liam Spencer, Matt Pallister, Scott McCrorie and Tim Bolt. Front row: Adam Cooper (coach) Mark Knott, James Ellerby, Mike Warriner, Mike Eddom, Andy Nicholson (assistant coach) Picture by Steven Bradshaw

They will line up at one of the most famous grounds in football in front of about 60,000 fans before Sir Alex Ferguson's team take on Sunderland in the Premiership on Saturday, April 15.

Clifton Without will be representing North Yorkshire as the North of England champions after winning the English Schools FA Adidas Predator Six-a-Side North Region finals held at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn.

Teams from 11 counties gathered for the North Region finals, splitting into two groups for the first stage. Clifton were grouped with Northumberland, Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire.

They made it through that group and into the final, in which they snatched a last-gasp winner against St Stephen's RC School, the Greater Manchester representatives.

Scott McCrorie made two fine saves to keep St Stephen's out and the goalless game looked to be heading for extra time when Mike Warriner intercepted a pass and his through ball sent Matthew Pallister on his way towards goal. His left foot shot nestled in the bottom corner and 30 seconds later the referee blew the full-time whistle.

It was a sweet moment for the Clifton Without players, staff, supporters, manager Adam Cooper and assistant manager Andy Nicholson.

The semi-final against the West Yorkshire representatives, Winifred's RC School, was equally as tense.

Warriner gave Clifton a flying start with a goal after just ten seconds but St Winifred's equalised on the stroke of half time. Both sides came close in the second half but neither scored, and neither could find the golden goal in extra time, so it went to penalties.

St Winifred's missed their first penalty; James Ellerby scored Clifton's first. Pallister had his penalty saved by the keeper so it was back to all square. St Winifred's missed one and scored one of their next two and with Tim Bolt and Warriner scoring it stood at 3-2.

St Winifred's last penalty was tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper McCrorie to see Clifton Without into the final.

In the earlier stages, two goals by James Heslop gave Clifton a great start with a 2-0 victory over Northumberland.

A 1-0 win in the second group game came courtesy of a last-minute winner from Ellerby after Lancashire had hit the post and Scott McCrorie had made a fine save from the rebound.

A superb strike from Warriner in the first minute of the second half along with some resolute defending from Tim Bolt and Liam Spencer ensured a place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Cumbria.

Warriner scored his second goal of the tournament to give Clifton the lead in their final group game. Cheshire equalised only 15 seconds after the break but the 1-1 draw was enough to guarantee Clifton Without top place in the group.

From there it was nothing but excitement and success for the York squad of eight.

Manager Adam Cooper said: "It's the first time North Yorkshire has had a team go this far in the competition, so it's pretty big stuff.

"I can't believe it, it's amazing. But nobody touched us on the pitch. The lads were brilliant and the only game they did not win was drawn, and we won on penalties."

He said Clifton Without had seen off schools with bigger footballing reputations, adding: "It's a bit like the Faroe Islands making the World Cup finals. It's a major achievement."

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