By Sam Macdonald

Published at 11:23, Thursday, 21 January 2010

THE Sands Centre Junior School’s five-a-side competitions, sponsored by the News and Star kicks off this weekend with the larger primary schools starting the event.

Trophy treble: Clive Beck, centre, event co-ordinator of the Sands Centre five-a-side football events with representatives of the News & Star sponsors, Cumbrian Newspapers’ Events and Promotions manager David McNeill, left, and sports editor Phil Rostron

Sands Centre Events co-ordinator Clive Beck is delighted to be running the competition which is now in its 23rd year and is the biggest indoor schools football tournament in the north west.

"It has been pretty much fully subscribed since it's first year which shows how popular it is with local schools," he said.

Mr Beck also talked about the organisers desire to highlight the importance of sportsmanship throughout the event.

"The referees get together at the end of the three weeks and decide on which team showed the most sporting attitude which klast year was won by Caldew Lea School,"

Cumbrian Newspapers Promotions Manager David McNeill is equally pleased to be part of the competition.

"We are thrilled to be supporting youth sport throughout the region especially in a world cup year," he said.

"It is important for local kids to show sportsmanship and we are going to have full coverage of the event in the News and Star," he added.

The larger Primary Schools tournament, featuring 39 teams takes place on Saturday. Carlisle school Kingmoor are the defending champions.

It is then the turn of the smaller schools who compete a week later with Scottish Raiders Cargenbridge the reigning champions.

And finally on February 6 it is the all girls tournament which will see Eaglesfield Paddle attempting to win the trophy for the second year running.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk