A FOOTBALL team that took three seasons to score a goal has just won its first league championship.

Amazons, based in Chester-le-Street, beat Darlington Spraire Ladies 1-0 yesterday to become champions in the Durham County FA Women’s Development Division.

The team was founded 12 years ago by chairwoman Julie Scurfield as a girls’ side at St Cuthbert’s Primary School.

Captain Beth Ward, 22, who was on the original side and has just played her 195th game, said: “It’s been a long time coming. It’s unreal for a team that’s so determined to keep the right spirit.

“It’s all about maintaining the correct support and attitude and at the end of the day we deserve it.”

Ms Scurfield said: “It took us three seasons to score a goal, and four seasons to win a game. A 20 or 15-0 loss for us was commonplace - in fact we celebrated like winners if we managed to keep the score line against us in single figures.

“Some might find that funny - I just found it completely inspirational that these little girls who I have seen grow into amazing young women stick it out with total dedication and always, always a smile on their faces.”

Speaking after the match, she said: “It’s absolutely amazing. It’s been a lifetime of work and ambition and we got there.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. I think you have to have been on our journey to understand how much this does mean to us.”

The team, coached by Phil Powell and Shaun Ward, had about 100 supporters cheering them on as they won their final match of the season at their home ground in Houghton-le-Spring.