A JUNIOR school football team is 'dreaming' of playing at Wembley after being crowned area champions in the Utilita EFL Cup 2023/24.

Newlaithes Junior School emerged victorious from the local tournament which took place at Harraby 3G on Friday, November 17.

24 teams from schools in the area took part in the tournament, with Newlaithes topping their six-team group before defeating Plumpton, Brampton, and St Michaels in the latter stages of the competition to claim their championship, all without conceding a single goal.

Newlaithes Junior School class teacher and coach Jose Sanchez reflected on his team's success at the local tournament.

"It is always a very competitive one, so it was great to see a great atmosphere, obviously, different schools with good values about teamwork, team effort and I always promote in our school a number of non-negotiables.

"Wherever we go we give respect to the team, respect to the refs, respect to the other players, and we appreciate the chance we have been given to actually play so it was great to see that across the other teams as well.

Jose also put on record his sincerest thanks to Carlisle United for organising the tournament.

Newlaithes Junior School's victory at the local tournament moves them one step closer to representing Carlisle United at Wembley Stadium in the Utilita Kids Cup, but before stepping out on the hallowed English turf they must win the Northern regional stage of the competition, which is expected to be played in March.

If they win this regional leg of the cup they will face the southern champions at the League One play-off final in May. 

However, Jose is no stranger to the latter stages of the Utilita Kids Cup after steering his Newlatithes side to victory at Wembley in 2017, becoming the first Cumbrian school to win the competition, and he hopes this experience will help turn his student's dreams into reality.

He said: "What I need to do now is be very wise. They are dreaming, I like dreaming and it is good to dream... but we need to dream on solid foundations now.

"These kids now are thinking about Wembley and because we have won it before, they know it is achievable and they can actually do it. So it will be about picking the right balance between being excited and realistic about the fact that we will now play 10 to 12 teams who also won their local leagues as well."