A SCHOOL football team is set to represent England in an international tournament.

Pupils from Bradon Forest School in Purton were runners-up in the English Schools Football Association National Cup Finals and are now going forward to play for their country in a home international tournament.

They will be up against the best teams from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The year seven pupils beat off competition from 2,500 schools to reach the final of the five-a-side tournament at the JJB Soccerdome in Wigan in April.

With minutes to go in the final, the team were winning 3-2 but opponents St Ignatius School scored a late equaliser and won the game with a golden goal in extra time, bagging a new minibus for their school.

Bradon Forest striker Jo Mills was named Player of the Tournament, scoring 19 goals in just seven matches. Two of the side were invited for trials at Aston Villa.

Now both finalists are set to compete in the international tournament in Wigan on May 11.

Bradon Forest PE head Martin Bray said: "Everyone at the school is very proud of what the team has achieved. To get the final is brilliant. It is a great honour for them to represent their country.

"We are looking forward to playing a re-match against St Ignatius we want revenge for the narrow defeat in the final.

"The reason the players did so well is because they worked as a team."