A RECORD number of teams turned out for one of the oldest primary schools football competitions in Lancashire.

A total of 32 primary schools from across Blackburn and Darwen took part in the Jubilee Shield - a competition that was first contested 80 years ago.

The Jubilee Shield was presented to the Blackburn Primary Schools Sports Association by J.W. Turner ESQ in 1934 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.

St Bartholomew’s were the inaugural winners of the trophy beating Park Road School at Griffin Park.

And it was Salesbury Primary School who were the latest team to get their name engraved on the prestigious trophy after beating St Peter's 4-0 in the final.

Schools took part in two nights of qualifying rounds with the top four teams winning through to finals night at St Bede's High School.

The competition, which was a 7-a-side format, saw teams split into two groups of four. Group One consisted of The Redeemer, Westholme, QEGS and Salesbury.

Salesbury ran away with the group winning all of their games and finishing with a goal difference of +9. The Redeemer also progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a win and a draw.

Group Two included Lower Darwen, Roe Lee, St Gabriel’s and St Peter’s. This turned out to be much tighter with St Peter’s coming out on top thanks to two wins. Both St Gabriel’s and Lower Darwen finished with identical records but it was the Saints who progressed thanks to a superior goal difference.

The first semi final saw Salesbury take on St Gabriel's and it was Salesbury who took that fine league form in to knockout stages as they ran out 2-0 winners to book their place in the final.

The second semi-final between The Redeemer and St Peters was far less straight forward.

Neither team could be separated during normal time or extra time so it was on to the dread penalty shoot-out. And it was St Peter’s who held their nerve to progress, winning the shoot-out 2-1.

In the third and fourth place play-off, St Gabriel's scored the only goal of the game to beat The Redeemer to take the 'bronze' medals.

In the final Salesbury’s showed just why they were the tournament's stand-out team and that superiority soon became evident when they raced into an early two goal lead thanks to some excellent play from their Blackburn Rovers academy player Adam Wharton.

St Peter’s showed great character and fight but try as they may Salesbury proved too strong and ended up 4-0 victors and captain, Connor Eccleston, had the honour lifting the famous trophy.

"St Peter’s can be proud of their achievements and there was no disgrace in finishing second to an outstanding Salesbury team," said School Games Organiser Andrew Mercer.

From a total of 10 games Salesbury played in the competition, they did not concede a single goal and finished with an amazing goal difference of +31.

"They will now represent Blackburn in the Lancashire Schools FA finals in Blackpool in the New Year.

"I would like to congratulate all of the teams involved in this year’s competition and thank the teachers and coaches involved for their hard work," added Mercer.

"It is great that this competition continues to thrive some 80 years after its introduction.

" I would like to thank St Bede’s for allowing us to use their superb facilities and to Young Volunteers from St Bede’s who gave up their time to referee all of the games."