YOUNG footballers from Consett and Stanley just missed out on international football glory in a mini Euro 2000 - but still managed to outperform their professional counterparts.

The 13 and 14-year-olds represented their country in Tubingen, Germany, as part of a cultural trip organised by the YMCA. They reached the final and were beaten 2-0 by a Russian team.

And another team from the Chester-le-Street area made it to the semi-final before being defeated 4-1.

The finalists were coached by two Consett policemen, Kevin Kilkenny and Kevin Alder. Mr Kilkenny hailed the event a success with the English and German youngsters even swopping jokes during the England v Germany match in the tournament proper.

He said: "It was a very well-organised event. The youngsters conducted themselves brilliantly both on and off the pitch and their attitude made us all very proud."

Other members of the group of 41 youngsters from across north-west Durham took part in cultural activities including making a video of the whole trip. The £4,800 cost of the five-day trip was met by fundraising from the group and the County Durham Key Fund administered by the European Commission.

Consett YMCA co-ordinator Billy Robson said: "The trip was to help alleviate disaffection of youths on the street. Everyone was impeccably behaved and they got an awful lot out of it.