A DURHAM deputy head teacher is hoping to cap off his career by leading his side to glory in a national football competition.

After 40 years in the classroom Tom Baker retires in July and hopes to lead Chester-le-Street Under-11 District Schoolboys to victory in the prestigious tournament for only the second time in the district's history.

They are through to the finals of the English Schools National InterAssociation seven-a-side cup after completing an impressive triumph on the regional stage.

And now Baker takes his young charges to compete in the seven-aside finals, at Keele University, next month after taking the ESFA Northern Regional Inter-Association crown at Sunderland's Academy of Light last weekend.

The Durham side faced Preston in the final but neither side could make a breakthrough and after extra-time both parties agreed to share the trophy.

The format featured two leagues of six teams with the top two from each facing one another in a semi-final knockout stage with the winners competing in the final.

"We played district teams from as far a field as Cheshire, Lancershire and south Yorkshire, " said Tim Maddison who assisted Baker.

"Although there was six teams in each league the competition rules meant we only played against four. We didn't play Preston who we faced in the final and drew 0-0.

"Because both teams go through to the national final we decided just to share the trophy.

"To be honest we performed really well against the better teams and we were appalling against the weaker sides "In the first game we beat North Lonsdale 1-0, then we drew 0-0 with Wigan, who were a very weak side. In the third game we beaten 2-1 by Wallsend, who we should have beaten in that one, and in the final game we beat Barnsley 5-0.

"We then beat Huyton from Liverpool in the semi-final 3-1 before meeting Preston in the final.

"It was a real team effort but Cameron Nichol was the hero of the semi-final with a hat-trick. Two of the goals came directly from the throws of keeper Jonathan Maddison."

Chester-le-Street are now looking to secure the treble when they make the trip to Keele University on June 17 and add the title to the two already won, the ESFA Northern Regional InterAssociation and Durham County Schools FA seven-a-side crown.

"We're feeling confident, " added Maddison.

"Everyone involved with the team is proud and the lads were a credit to themselves and everyone."

"We were joint winners of the tournament, under a different name, with a team from Oxford when we first entered the competition back in 2000.

"We then reached the finals the following year and in 2004, although we never got to the later stages of the tournament.

"We're not a massive association.

We have 24 schools to choose from whereas the likes of Leeds have in excess of 100 schools."

Baker revealed the class of 2000 was something special but believes his current protegees aren't too far behind.

"The team we had in 2000 was probably the best one the area has ever had because they won everything at 11-a-side, never mind seven-a-side.

But this team is quite comparable too, " said the deputy head at Red Rose Primary School, Chester-le-Street.

"We're quietly confident and it'll be a good weekend. I would like to think our name is on the trophy.

"I retire in July after 40 years of teaching and if we win it will be nice way to finish."