TAKE your average Saturday morning football team, take away the swearing and 'attitude' and you've got Jorvik Blades - York's champion Christian football team.

Formed about eight years ago, the Blades secured promotion to the premier division of the Yorkshire Christian Football League with a 4-1 defeat of St Peter's last Saturday.

Jamie Horner, a Ben Spedding double and a goal for top scorer James White earned them that win - and with it the division one title.

The FA-affiliated Saturday morning league operates like most others but has some features that stand it out - a fair play league with teams ranked out of five after every match for their attitude and sportsmanship, a list of aims that include sharing the gospel and beliefs through football and a Bible verse of the day on its website.

Despite its religious edge, co-manager Dan Finn said it's not that different to a standard team.

"It's welcome to absolutely anybody," he said. "We want to build friendships and where appropriate we might share something of what we believe but never in a forced way.

"We've got a great atmosphere amongst the lads and just under half of them are committed Christians.

"We're not about kicking each other around but we are still competitive and really go for it."

Goal-a-game hotshot White fired in 18 over the course of the season, and it was a blushing Finn that picked up the player of the season award at their end-of-season do last night.

And the fact the Blades include prayers in the pre-match team talk doesn't get in the way of a good celebration. Said Finn: "We were out Saturday night drinking - it's not about getting wasted and going crazy but it's about celebrating and just enjoying being together. I think we were celebrating a bit loudly though because the bouncers in Judges Lodgings asked us to quieten down!"

Unlike most teams in the league, the Blades - who play home games at Burnholme Community College - are not connected to any one church, but they have a loose link-up with York Community Church in Tang Hall.

As for next season, they know it won't be a walk in the park. Added Finn: "We've had some good games with teams from that division in the cup - and we made the quarter-finals. But we know it's going to be tough.

"I want to thank all the lads for a fantastic season because everybody has worked so hard and there's been such a good team spirit."

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, May 13, 2006