WALKWOOD Middle School pupils have secured a dream trip to Wembley after winning the Utilita Kids Cup Northern Section representing West Bromwich Albion.
Walkwood beat pupils representing Blackburn Rovers 2-1 in the Northern Section final to set up a showdown with Southampton before this season’s Championship play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, May 26.
That came after Walkwood competed against 18 other schools and won eight games in a row to triumph in the first round of the competition held at the WBA Football Academy Indoor Dome.
The following day, Walkwood triumphed 4-0 against the winners from the other half of the draw to seal their place as West Brom’s representatives in the Northern Section finals.
Following their victory in the Area final, West Brom provided Walkwood players with complementary tickets to their home game against Blackburn Rovers.
The Northern Section finals took place in Leeds with the host team, Preston, Blackburn, Stoke, Rotherham, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Huddersfield all represented.
Walkwood won four and drew one of their five group matches to qualify for the next round as group winners after securing victories against Stoke, Blackburn, Leicester and Hull.
And Walkwood then claimed a 2-1 win against hosts Leeds United in the quarter-finals before seeing off Preston 2-0 in the semi-finals.
Walkwood crowned a superb run to the final with a 2-1 victory against Blackburn, represented by Salesbury Primary School, in the showpiece to qualify for the National Finals at Wembley where they will play St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School representing Southampton.
The team conceded just three goals during the tournament and scored 14 at the other end while remaining unbeaten throughout.
Ahead of the play-off final at Wembley, Walkwood will be provided with overnight accommodation, complementary tickets, a guided stadium tour, access to the changing room pre-match and will have their names and photographs in the matchday programme.
