Local schools ready for PL tournament

Both schools won the right to represent the club after beating off fierce competition from other local schools in the regional finals held at the Kirkby Academy.

Plantation Primary will enter in the U11 mixed competition while Cowley International College will compete in the U13 division for girls, which will be held at White Hart Lane on Thursday May 21.

Andrea Cooper, head of Liverpool FC Foundation, said: "I am absolutely delighted for both schools who have achieved this fantastic opportunity to represent LFC at the national finals.

"I wish them both luck in the tournament and the LFC Foundation will be cheering them on."

The Premier League Schools Tournament is all about increasing participation in football for boys and girls, and offers schools nationwide the chance to team up with their local Premier League club.

Each of the 20 Premier League clubs stage their own regional competition to select a school to represent them in the finals.

Over 12,000 young footballers from more than 1,500 schools will take part, with the teams aiming to reach the final at Tottenham Hotspur's ground.

An expected 1,000 spectators will fill the seats of the famous stadium to see the Premier League Schools Tournament champions crowned and presented with a replica Premier League trophy.

All the students participating on the day will receive an authentic Premier League experience.

Plantation Primary and Cowley International College will get to wear the Liverpool kit, use the White Hart Lane dressing rooms, walk out of the tunnel to the Premier League anthem, and even have their matches refereed by Premier League match officials.

The tournament will feature on a special episode of BBC Match of the Day Kickabout airing on May 23 at 7.40am BST and will then be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.

You can follow all the news from the Premier League Schools Tournament Final on twitter using the hashtag #plschools.