IN ONE of the many close season tournaments, two Blackburn Boys Under-10s teams were entered into one hosted by FC Parma of Parbold.

This was a five-a-side format, each playing five league games, the winner and runners-up going on to the knockout stages. The team, made up of L Murphy, C O'Keefe, C Hepple, L Smith, M Wiggans and A Malone were unlucky not to progress any further, the team of B McDermott, M Alston, M Andrew, C Smalley, N Cross and J Regan went on to win the competition beating FC Parma, and Akzo Nobel before beating Town Green 2-0 in the final.

This was an excellent team effort considering many of the top teams featured boys from Football League Schools of Excellence, and that the winning Blackburn Boys team never conceded a single goal throughout the tournament.

If you are aged under 11 on August 1, 1999 and would like to join a winning team, Blackburn Boys are always looking for players to join the squad, especially good strong defenders. Ring Mark Cross on 01254 720972. For all other ages ring Tony Hartley on 01254 600573.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.