Longlevens Junior School completed a magnificent seven when they won a football competition for primary schools, at the fast developing and increasingly impressive Oxstalls Sports Centre.

They breezed through all five of their group matches in the English Football League Trust Kids Cup – Rob Cruse Cup, scoring 20 goals in the process, to reach the last four and they scored another 11 in the semi-final and final. They conceded just three goals in those seven games.

But while Longlevens were clearly the team of the day, the five other teams involved more than played their part, in a competition that showcased all that is best about the beautiful game at grassroots level.

Matches consisted of two seven-minute halves and the other five teams – Naunton Park Primary School, Bishop’s Cleeve Primary Academy, St James’ Primary School, St Gregory The Great and Churchown Village Primary – all won at least one game.

Naunton Park, Bishop’s Cleeve and St Gregory qualified for the last four with three points being awarded for a win, two for a draw and one for a defeat.

In many ways the highlight of the day was the semi-final between Bishop’s Cleeve and St Gregory. It’s not often that a 0-0 gets tagged in such a way, of course, but it was the penalty shootout that captured the sizeable crowd’s imagination.

The boys from both teams embraced the pressure situation remarkably well – it seemed to go on for longer than it took Everton to name their new manager earlier in the season! – with Bishop’s Cleeve eventually pulling through 13-12.

And just like some Everton fans may be regretting the appointment of Sam Allardyce given their club’s recent run of results, Bishop’s Cleeve may have regretted getting through to the final, as they soon found they had little left to give after their shootout heroics, against a rampant Longlevens side who passed the ball around with aplomb and were clinical in front of goal.

But while Longlevens were the winners on the pitch, football was the real winner on the day, and that was very fitting as the tournament is played in memory of Rob Cruse, who “loved football and was a very talented footballer”.

Former Balcarras School pupil Rob, who played for Cheltenham Saracens, sadly passed away nine years ago at the age of 24 after being involved in a car crash.

English Football League Trust Kids Cup – Rob Cruse Cup results, group games: St Gregory 1 Longlevens 6, St James’ 1 Churchdown 0, Bishop’s Cleeve 2 St James’ 3, Churchdown 1 Naunton Park 2, Naunton Park 1 Bishop’s Cleeve 1, Longlevens 3 Naunton Park 0, St Gregory 3 Churchdown 1, Bishop’s Cleeve 1 Longlevens 4, St Gregory 2 St James’ 0, St Gregory 3 Naunton Park 3, Bishop’s Cleeve 1 St Gregory 0, Churchdown 2 Bishop’s Cleeve 1, St James’ 0 Longlevens 4, Churchdown 0 Longlevens 3, St James’ 0 Naunton Park 0.

Semi-finals: Longlevens 3 Naunton Park 1, Bishop’s Cleeve 0 St Gregory 0 (Bishop’s Cleeve won on penalties).

Final: Longlevens 8 Bishop’s Cleeve 0.