Whitworth Community High School footballers crowned county champions

County champions: Whitworth Community High School’s Year 7 and 8 PAN team who won at the Spar Lancashire School Games.

Footballers from Whitworth Community High School took on the best in Lancashire and won.

In the Spar Lancashire School Games held at Stanley Park, Blackpool, Whitworth’s Year 7 and 8 PAN team, played seven group games in very hot weather winning five and drawing two.

This earned them a place in the semi-final.

Benjamin Hayes, 13, said: “It was 1:1 at the final whistle and so it went to penalties. Two of our players missed but then two of the Pendle team also missed.

“Our team then scored from the penalty spot but the referee disallowed it because he said our player had taken three steps. However, we were allowed to take it again and scored again. We won a place by just one goal.”

Adam Whiteman, 13, said: “In the final it was really tense. We had lots of chances but we just kept on missing. Then the ball was crossed and I scored and we won 1:0.”

The team won medals and captain Ben Harrison got to pick up a trophy at the awards ceremony.

Jack Leigh, 11, said: “We were confident and I liked the experience of going to play in the games at Blackpool.”

More than 100 different schools took part and the Whitworth team said they enjoyed the opening ceremony and also got the chance to hear X-Factor finalist Jack Walton singing and watch an acrobatic group the Street Monkeys.