ST BEDE’S High School have been crowned the English Schools FA U13s champions – the first East Lancashire school to win the age group.

The super Saints beat Brimshaw Green High School 1-0 in the final held at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Ground.

It completed a mamouth eight month cup campaign for the tal-ented Blackburn school that took in nine rounds of football across the country.

“We have been here, there and everyone,” said coach John Turner. “The girls have been ab-solutely magnificent. This is a great achievement for the team and the school. We are all very proud of them.”

St Bede’s follow fellow Blackburn school St Wilfrid’s to national glory who won the under 16s girls title two years ago.

A campaign that started back in September has seen St Bede’s take on teams from Manchester, Liverpool, Telford, Derbyshire and Yorkshire on a march through eight rounds to the final.

The free-scoring Saints – which includes players from Blackburn Rovers and Burn-ley FC academies, as well as players from Mill Hill Girls – bagged 47 goals and conceded just eight.

Gabby Taylor finished as leading scorer with 12 goals, including the all important one in the final against their Bristol opponents.

“They are a very attack-minded bunch,” added Turner. “Their way of thinking is that we are going to score more than them.

“Despite the occasion, they all took it all in their stride. I think I was more nervous than them!”

St Bede’s go for more glory this week when they play in the County Cup final at Nelson FC on Friday before repre-senting Blackburn Rovers in a Premier League competition at the Reebok next week.

The winning team, captained by Neeve Hulton, included Abbie Culshaw, Freya Knowles, Amber Kenyon, Tayla Hoyle, Tamara Hitchin, Katie Jacques (keeper), Charlotte Simms, Megan Hester, Lauren Toole, Alicia Johnson, Gabrielle Taylor and Katie Dudgeon.