A college’s female football team will represent the North West at a national football tournament after winning a regional competition.

Burnley College’s women’s seven a-side football team has returned from The North West England College Tournament undefeated.

Former Clarets striker, Andy Payton, coached the team and says he “couldn’t be prouder” of the women.

Captain Cara McCormick and her fellow team members Lou Lou Newton, Megan Jeffery, Nimra Shafqat, Iqra Shafqat, Jess Walker, Leah Tullock and Erin Johnson, beat teams from 15 other colleges around the region, winning every game.

The final game against Cardinal Newman went down to the wire before Burnley College finally secured their victory on penalties.

They will now represent the North West at a national competition that will take place in April 2023.

Andy said the girls were “outstanding” and said there may be some future Lionesses among them.

He said: “It was a superb achievement and our advancement to the nationals has made everyone at Burnley College very proud.

“We were underdogs going into the competition but they did unbelievably well on the day winning every game.

“It was a pleasure to coach the team and I am so proud of them. We stuck to a game plan and it worked for us.

“I have been there six years and it’s the first time the girls have ever won anything.”

The team are currently looking ahead to the game in April, with Andy adding: “We know the national competition is going to be tough but the girls were brilliant on the day of the regional games so who knows what will happen?”

Andy said every woman on the team played their part and did a fantastic job but highlighted two players who made a “real difference to the game”.

They are Cara, who also plays for Accrington Stanley’s women’s football club, and Lou Lou who is on Burnley FC’s women’s first team.

Andy said: “Both of them were absolutely outstanding and made a difference to the game.

“Cara even got the winning penalty in the final match.”