A YOUTH soccer team is seeking legal advice after a prestigious trip to Sweden ended in controversy.

Blackburn Celtic were among scores of teams to compete in the week-long Gothia World Youth Cup in Gothenburg.

But the trip was soured, first by a row after the team missed their ferry and then by accusations of damage to a terminal building - which the club adamantly denies.

After missing the ferry from Newcastle because of a misunderstanding over times, around 40 youngsters were forced to sleep in the terminal building opened specially for them.

However, a spokesman for the Port of Tyne Authority said staff had to mount a major clean-up operation the following morning and claimed there had been damage and "unruly behaviour" by some members of the team.

The authority sent a letter of complaint to club secretary Danny Riley and added that it would forward a bill for repairs. However, Blackburn Celtic was adamant its youngsters had not caused the damage.

Mr Riley said: "It is nonsense. The security guards were round all night and I never left the building. We did not sail until 1pm the next day and by then no-one had said anything about it.

"I am seeking legal advice. This has put a totally unjustified slur on the club's good name."

The trip got off to a bad start when the club's coach arrived at the port to see the Scandinavian Seaways ferry already at sea

Mr Riley claimed they had been given the wrong departure time but Scandinavian Seaways said it clearly showed the right time on the booking form.

The company also denied that Mr Riley had been told the wrong time over the phone.

A spokesman added: "Scandinavian Seaways did as much as it could for the party."

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