Darlington Schools Shine at National League Trust North Finals

St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School celebrate their victory at the North Finals.

Darlington FC Foundation is proud to celebrate the fantastic achievements of two local primary school teams who represented the town at the National League Trust Under-11s North Finals on Wednesday 22nd April.

Back in November, the Foundation hosted a town-wide schools tournament, bringing together primary schools from across Darlington. After a competitive day of football, St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School (boys) and Abbey Junior School (girls) were crowned champions, earning the opportunity to represent Darlington in the next stage of the National League Trust competition.

Both teams travelled to Durham for the North East round, where they continued their excellent form. The boys were crowned winners of the tournament, while the girls finished as runners-up — meaning both teams secured their place at the North Finals.

A Strong Showing at the North Finals

At the North Finals, the girls’ team from Abbey Junior School faced strong opposition in the group stages, competing against Chester, Hartlepool, Leamington, Marine and Telford. After finishing third in their group, they progressed to the semi-finals where they faced Hartlepool United. Despite a determined performance, the girls were narrowly defeated, bringing their impressive run to an end.

The boys’ team from St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School also faced tough competition in their group, taking on Altrincham, Boston United, Halifax, Morecambe and Oxford City. Finishing second in the group secured their place in the semi-finals, where they faced Oxford City once again — this time coming out on top to book their place in the final.

Abbey Junior School represented Darlington with pride at the North Finals.

A Dramatic Final and a Historic Achievement

The final saw Darlington face Altrincham, a team they had already played earlier in the day. After a challenging group-stage defeat, the final was always going to be a tough contest.

A closely fought game ended 0–0, taking the match to a penalty shootout. Showing great composure under pressure, the Darlington boys scored three penalties, while a crucial save from goalkeeper Rory secured a memorable victory.

This incredible result means the team has qualified for the National League Trust Under-11s Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 10th May. The final will be played at Wembley Stadium ahead of the National League Play-Off Final, giving the players the incredible opportunity to play on the famous pitch in front of a large crowd on one of the biggest days in the non-league football calendar.

In doing so, they become the first ever primary school representatives from Darlington to reach a Wembley final — a remarkable achievement for the players, school, and community.

A Proud Moment for Darlington

Everyone at Darlington FC Foundation would like to congratulate both teams on their outstanding performances, commitment, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

We wish the boys the very best of luck as they prepare for their unforgettable trip to Wembley — a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives.