Darlington Allstars reduced the opposition to tears at a Blackpool football tournament.

They were awarded the fair play honour and promptly handed it to another side who had been battered in the Under-14 competition.

The little Liverpool lads from Walter Raleigh Club were a younger than all the other teams - victims of an administrative error.

Out of their depth, Walter Raleigh lost their four games 7-1, 17-0, 15-2, and 17-7.

At the presentation evening, Allstars, who were beaten 2-1 in the final of the Under-14 section, were awarded the fair play award by organisers.

But when team captain Lewis Moses went up on stage to accept the trophy, he told organisers of his team's wish to hand back the accolade, and give it to Walter Raleigh.

The gesture reduced members of the scouse side to tears, something Allstars coach Dave Hardisty found humbling.

"I'm a big fella' but even I'd say it was a bit emotional in the presentation evening. There were quite a few people moved by it."

Dave explained their sympathetic move, saying: "We'd made our minds up the night before. We've won a few fair play awards over the years.

"We teach the lads to play fair, not to argue with the referee and to conduct themselves properly because that's the important thing. That's more important than the winning."

"Personally I think the organisers could have done something about it. I know it would have caused a bit of confusion, but this team from Liverpool were getting beat with 10s, 11s and 12s."

"They kept their heads held high all the time."

Manager of Walter Raleigh, Steve Jones, was delighted with the Allstars.

"They all had a great time but the icing on the cake was when Dave Hardisty turned round and gave us the fair play award.

"In front of 400 people in a big hall they turned round and said to the organisers that he wanted to hand the trophy back and give it to us. That was excellent.

"We'd turned up on the Monday and everything was already sorted. The fixtures and kick-off time were arranged.

"They came away with their heads held high."

On the back of the friendship forged in Blackpool, plans are already afoot for one of the teams to visit the other in order to play some friendly matches.