Must start with huge commiserations to the England football team for their sad exit from Euro 2004 last week.

Contentious refereeing decisions are a fact of life in football whatever the level but at the very highest level they can be very costly as we found out to our dismay against Portugal. Even professional referees make mistakes and I suppose we should remember they are only human - not that that helps at the moment!

Pre-season training starts again shortly for our professional football clubs, but one team of Under-11s is leading the way. St Mary's School in Barnard Castle attribute much of their success this season to a new training regime which incorporates the usual ball work with fitness work aimed at improving their speed and co-ordination.

The boys remain unbeaten in the Teesdale Mercury League and also lifted two cups so it must be working for them! They also won the Staindrop Schools' five-a-side tournament - a great idea where each team represented one of the sides taking part in Euro 2004. St Mary's were Italy but managed to do better than their international alter egos by scoring 14 goals without conceding on their way to victory. England fans must be saying - if only!!

Well done to Darlington Spraire Lads who have received Charter Standard from the Football Association. This acknowledges that the club is well organised, and safe, and offers opportunities for all and is a role model for other clubs across the region. This is a great selling point for potential members and sponsors and, in particular, parents. With UEFA qualified coach Mark Scott leading the way the club has run FA coaching courses and encourages its coaches to qualify to as high a level as possible. Next season the club will run 17 teams including 3 girls' teams.

Henmania took over from football fever on our screens this week and one budding local star has her sights firmly set on one day competing at Wimbledon. Stockton's Abi Curry won the 12 and Under National Championship title competing against the very best players from around the country.

Abi trains at Tennis World in Middlesbrough and is their first national champion. She will also represent Great Britain at an Under 12 tournament in Belgium.

We're on air on 96.6TFM with Soccer Saturday between 12pm and 2pm all through the summer as the transfer rumour mill hots up for our local teams. TFM will also have the latest news from Portugal as the Euro 2004 championships draw to a dramatic finale.