A SWINDON-BASED college soccer team will aim to follow in the footsteps of footballing royalty at the world’s biggest youth tournament on Monday.

A girls’ side from Dorcan Technology College is due to play in the Gothia World Youth Cup in Sweden, won in the past by the likes of Xabi Alonso, Emmanuel Adebayor and Andrea Pirlo.

The tournament has been held in Gothenburg every year since 1974, and more than 25,000 players are expected to take part.

The opening ceremony and the final are due to be held at the 43,000 capacity Ullevi Stadium, which hosted the final of Euro ‘92 and the 2006 European Championships in athletics.

Dorcan qualified for the 11-a-side tournament, which takes place from Monday until Saturday, after becoming national six-a-side champions at the Millennium Stadium two years ago.

The college was asked by Swindon Town Football in the Community if they could put a full under 16s team together, which they did with the aid of some outside players.

Managed by Wendy Craig, Dorcan will be the only English side in their category and have been sponsored by @futsal, the Wiltshire FA and WHSmith.