ROYAL Wootton Bassett Academy’s Year 8 football team have the chance to get their hands on national silverware after qualifying for the final of the Under 13s Playstation Schools Cup.

Bassett have battled through nine gruelling rounds to book their place in the final, where they will take on Summerhill School from Dudley, Birmingham at Reading’s Madejski Stadium on Wednesday, May 20.

Academy head of PE David Thatcher said: “I’m really proud of the boys. It’s been a long journey since we set out in September. When we started we just wanted to get as far as we could but nine rounds or so is a long way.

“They’ve got stronger and stronger as they’ve gone on. There have been a few close calls along the way but the players have been fantastic and a real credit to the school.

“As soon as we started to get to the latter rounds it was the carrot of playing at a ground like the Madejski which gave us an added incentive.

“To make the final is massive but to have that to look forward to is amazing for the players.

“We will take the whole of Year 8 there to support the team so hopefully the atmosphere will be amazing for the boys.”

The Playstation Cup is a grassroots partnership between PlayStation and the English Schools’ Football Association. The competition began back in September, with 700 schools entering the Under-13s event.

Bassett were given a bye in the first round and kicked off their campaign in round two on September, 23, where they beat Brislington Enterprise College 2-1 away from home.

They then saw off Isambard Community School 3-1, St Birinus School 7-4, King Alfred’s Academy 2-1, Mangotsfield School 4-2 and Gordano School 5-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

There they were 3-1 winners over Shenley Brook End School and Bassett then bagged a 2-1 extra time success over Whitgift School in the semi-finals.

Rhys Murray has captained the team excellently throughout the season, while Owen Windsor has led the scoring charts with nine goals, just ahead of Jordan Murray on eight.

In total, 15 finals will be held at the Madejski, all of which will be broadcast free of charge live online at www.playstationschoolscup.com and on YouTube.

Bassett squad: Prav Chahal, Ben Evans, Zac Skinner, Rhys Wells, Joe Price, Max Sockett, Connor Butler, Jordan Murray, Jude Collins, Owen Windsor, James Young, Kyle Scott, Dylan Grother, Will Kendrick, Luke Godwin.