A girls' football team from a North East school have been crowned national champions ahead of the start of the Women’s World Cup.

The Under-15s Girls’ Football Team from Hurworth School, near Darlington, emerged triumphant in the final of the English School’s Football Association Small Schools’ National Cup.

The Hurworth girls beat Bournemouth’s LeAF Studio school in a tense 1-0 victory at St George’s Park, the English Football Association’s national football centre at Burton upon Trent.

And days later, they backed up their national triumph by also winning the Darlington Town Cup.

Their double success came shortly before the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks-off on Thursday this week, with matches taking place in Australia and New Zealand until the final on August 20.

Tony Liddle, Hurworth’s Head of PE and team coach, said: “The girls have had an amazing season and I am immensely proud of each and every one of them.

“To win a National Cup at St George's Park is a memory that will stay with me and the girls forever. It has been made more special for me as my daughter, Daisy, is part of the team, playing alongside some girls out of my form class that I have cared for over the last four years.

“We are all looking forward to next season already, and who knows? Perhaps we have a couple of future England Lionesses in the making.”

The winning team were: Freya Sinclair (C), Abi Foxon, Esme Torrison, Hannah Billingham, Daisy Liddle, Grace Dobson, Kirsty Warwick, Neve Griffiths, Isabel Keely, Isobel Dryden, Ruby Summersgill, and Olivia Curbeson.

The team went on to record a decisive 10-0 win over Polam Hall School in the Darlington Town Cup final, played at Middlesbrough Football Club’s Training Ground, in Hurworth.

Team captain, Freya Sinclair, said: “It’s great to be national champions, and now town champions too. The team was class in both tournaments, and Mr Liddle’s tactical genius has been very helpful. We’re very proud.”