PUPILS from York schools have won a national football competition.

The under 13s York and District team of the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) beat Southampton 2-0 at the finals in Milton Keynes yesterday.

It was the first time the team had made it to the finals, let alone win it, said proud goalscorer, Joey McCormick, 13, from All Saints’ RC School.

He said: “It highlights that York may be a small place, but it has a range of very good footballers. I feel great. It was an achievement for York.”

Joey said to play at the Milton Keynes Dons’ football stadium was a fantastic experience. “It’s just a small ground and that for me was actually huge.”

But the scale of the match has not put him off being a professional footballer. He said: “It’s a dream for me to be a footballer and it’s an ambition that I will hopefully achieve.”

Ben Hirst, Joey’s classmate at All Saints’, scored the first goal, before Joey scored a penalty in the second half of the match.

Head of PE at All Saints’, Eddie Popple, said another player from All Saints’, Richard Degroot, a defender, is another one he has his eye on as a potential professional player.

All Saints’ School put its own team together for the under 13s ESFA Cup and got through to the last 16 teams.

The York and District team also includes pupils from Archbishop Holgate’s CE, Canon Lee and Millthorpe schools.

Ian Hutchinson, secretary of the York Schools Football Association, said he did not believe York had been to the schools football association finals during the 100 years it has been in existence.

He said: “It’s a first for the city and that puts into perspective how well they have done.

“It’s great for York, for the kids and for York schools. It’s going to raise our profile nationally.”

The under 13s team is now on track to win the league, as well as the Yorkshire Cup at the beginning of June, he said.

York Press: The Press - Comment

Our Cup winners

YORK’S schoolboys have done something not even Manchester United could manage this year.

They’ve won the Cup. The English Schools FA Inter-Association Trophy, to be precise.

It is a brilliant achievement, and points to the real football talent emerging in this city.

Let’s hope that some of these under-13 stars might one day pull on a York City shirt – and perhaps even help the city’s senior team climb back into the Football League.

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