YOUTH FOOTBALL: WILTSHIRE schools have been taking part in the Coca-Cola National Schools Cup. Although some have fallen by the wayside in the south west knockout stage, Dorcan College girls from Swindon are through to the quarter-finals.

The competition is the country's biggest football tournament for girls and boys and prides itself on giving school children from all across the country the chance to compete in their very own FA Cup.

Run jointly with the English Schools Football Association, the Coca-Cola National Schools Cup for U13 boys and girls is now entering its second year with over 2,200 school teams and 37,500 children taking part.

The tournament follows a similar knockout format to that of the FA Cup and youngsters are given the opportunity to play on premiership pitches in the finals.

The girls' Year 8 football team from Dorcan Technology College are one step closer to playing at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton.

They were recently awarded a walk over in the prestigious South West schools cup after Somerset school Ladymead were unable to get organised.

Now the Dorcan girls go through to the quarter-finals to play the winners between Backwell School, Somerset, and Speedwell, Gloucestershire.

Team manager Tony Williams said: "The girls are really excited about playing in this tournament. It is a great opportunity and the chance to play at the home of Premiership clubs is an amazing target."

The Wiltshire girls are just two victories away from the opportunity to play at the home of Southampton Football Club in the South West Schools Cup finals at St Mary's Stadium.

A win will put the teams into the national finals, which this year will be played at Chelsea Football Club's Stamford Bridge.

Other Wiltshire schools taking part were Sheldon Comprehensive School, Chippenham, who lost 3-1 to Broadlands School, Somerset, in the first round and St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon, who also lost the first round. St. Joseph's Catholic School, Swindon, are due to play Gloucestershire side Kingsfield School in their first round.