A SCHOOL team was knocked out of a national competition in a penalty shoot-out.

Eastbourne year nine team, from Darlington, reached the quarter final of the Four Aces National Schools competition, and were tied at 1-1 with St Augustine's School, Lancaster, before being beaten 5-4 on penalties.

The match was played at the Blackburn Rovers football training academy, and the Eastbourne team travelled to the match on a coach used by Darlington FC.

The team's efforts were rewarded with a prize at the Eastbourne awards evening this week.

Meanwhile, students at the Stephenson Centre, Beaumont Hill School, Darlington, welcomed two former professional footballers.

Richard Ord, who played for Sunderland, and Jim Pearson who played for Newcastle United, visited the centre and donated a football signed by the Sunderland team for a fundraising raffle.

The centre caters for about 40 children with behavioural and emotional difficulties.

Recently they have been to the Soccarena in Durham.

Mark Scott, support assistant at the centre, said: "The students think it is brilliant at the Soccer Academy. They love the fact they can wear football boots indoors and they keep asking to go back."