NEVER mind Russia, there was football action to be found closer to home today.

Education Enterprise staged its own World Cup at Staindrop Academy in Teesdale, with 240 primary schools from across County Durham taking part. The sports coaching company’s aims to promote a love of sport in young children, and there was certainly no shortage of enthusiasm at the tournament.

Each of the 24 seven-a-side teams represented a country, and were divided into four groups. The top two teams of each group went onto the quarter finals, which were followed by the semi-finals and the final itself. This was between Etherley Lane Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, representing Australia, and Oxclose Primary School in Spennymoor, representing Spain, with the latter coming out on top.

Lewis Marr, director of Education Enterprise, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. The feedback has been really good.”

Chris Hughes, head of PE at Staindrop Academy, said: “We were delighted to host the tournament. It’s a great opportunity for primary school children to get to know the school and to see what the facilities are like.”