WE MAY have been a penalty kick away from Euro 96 glory, but the three lions on three local teams' shirts are still roaring.

And football may still be coming home when the teams from Blackburn Celtic Club compete in the 1996 Youth World Cup in Sweden as the sole English entrants.

The club has competed in the junior version of the world cup since 1987 with their best result being a quarter-final appearance.

With players drawn from across Hyndburn and Blackburn, the club will field under 14s and 16s boys teams, and for the first time an under 19s girls team.

"It's a tremendous honour to be the only English club taking part," said club coach, Danny Riley. "We play against the likes of Benfica, Ajax and Steau Bucharest in front of crowds of up to 8,000. It's extra special this year because the girls' team is taking part."

In all 1,180 teams will take part in the two-week competition which ends on July 23.

"I'm sure we'll do well," added Mr Riley. "We should have a good chance of making the last eight again."

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