Last week, 35 local schools descended on the Soccer Factory hoping for a chance to represent Dale in the regional finals of the EFL Trust Primary Schools Kids Cup.
Over five days, the schools were whittled down to four finalists – Bamford, Castleton, Heybrook and St Vincent’s - and they competed in a mini-tournament on Saturday to determine the winner.
Heybrook Primary School were the eventual winners and they have earned the right to represent Rochdale Football Club at Bradford City on March 8th.
The EFL Trust Primary Schools Kids Cup is a national competition. It gives schools the chance to proceed via the regional finals to the National Final, which takes place before the League One play-off final in May at Wembley.
Pupils from Heybrook Primary School were invited to Saturday's League One fixture v Bristol Rovers and they were presented with their trophy on the pitch during half-time, as pictured below.