YOUNG footballers achieved a perfect record in their first year together as a team at senior school level.

Houghton Kepier School's year seven boys' squad is yet to taste defeat, completing the season with a 100 per cent winning run in league and cup games.

The team won all three competitions it entered, bringing plenty of silverware back to the trophy cabinet at the school in Houghton-le-Spring with an enviable unbeaten record.

Winning all 26 games, the boys scored 142 goals in the process while conceding only 22.

Head of PE Eric Ferguson said it was almost unprecedented to win every game in a season.

"I'm sure it will have been done, but while I've heard of teams remaining unbeaten, I've never known any to actually win every game, without any draws. There are no stars, it's been very much a team effort and it would be unfair to highlight any one individual.

"Unusually, these days, none of the boys were actually signed to any of the big club's academy squads, but I expect quite a few will get a call up to the Sunderland Schools team next season," said Mr Ferguson.

The closest call to defeat came in the Crompton and Harrison Durham County Cup semi-final, when they overcame the handicap of conceding three penalties to beat Sunderland's Monkwearmouth School 4-3.

Another close encounter followed in the final, a 3-2 victory over Lanchester St Bede's at Durham Racecourse, while Southmoor School, from Sunderland, were beaten 3-1 in the final of the Bob Stokoe Cup.

The Houghton Kepier boys also sailed through the Sunderland Schools' Under-12 league without blemish.

News of the success has spread and it has helped to land sponsorship from Crown Electrics, at Herrington, in the form of a new set of strips in which the boys will defend their honours next season.