A girls’ football team selected from Leeds schools has reached a national final two years after forming.
The Leeds Schools Girls U14s is made up of players selected from across the city after more than 70 youngsters took part in trials for one of the 18 places.
The girls, who compete at elite national level, will face Knowsley in the English Schools Football Association Champions Cup Plate national final on Sunday.
One of the girls said: “I think we can do it because we’re a really good team and we all work together and we’re all really close.”
While the Leeds Schools boys’ programme has long produced top talent including the likes of Kalvin Phillips and David Batty, the female side was only formed recently to meet growing demand and create a similar pathway for young players.
It is the girls’ second final of the season after losing to Rotherham in the county-level tournament, the Yorkshire Schools Cup.
Head coach Matt Wainwright said the girls had a “real chance” of winning this time.
“When we played Rotherham we lost to a really late goal and the devastation was there across the players, parents and coaches.
“But we’ve had an extra spring in our step since then and they’re ready to compete and I’m really optimistic.”
The final will be played at the Sixways Stadium in Worcester and streamed live on YouTube with commentary.
The girls’ team is made of youngsters from 11 schools across Leeds and nearly all of them play in the West Riding Girls Football – one of the largest female grassroots football leagues in the country.
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