A WEEK of football action featuring hundreds of young players from across the country kicks-off in the North-East today.
The second Sage Soccer Festival sees scores of teams, male and female, compete in age groups from under-eights to under-19s.
Over the weekend, younger boys and the girls will battle it out, while the focus switches to youths, including under-19 academy teams from Newcastle United, Celtic, Hartle pool, Darlington, Scunthorpe and Cambridge, on Monday.
Games will be played at the agricultural site of East Durham and Houghall Community College, on the outskirts of Durham. Overspill games will be played at Durham University's Graham Sports Centre, at Maiden Castle.
The inaugural tournament, last year, attracted more than 50 teams, but the entry has doubled for this week's festival. Organised by GB Sports Tours, of Washington, it is sponsored by Newcastle computer company, Sage.
Games kick-off at 9.30am. Former Newcastle United player Warren Barton will present trophies from the weekend tournament, tomorrow.
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