MANY youngsters go to school dreaming of lifting the World Cup.

But for pupils of Ovingham Middle School, that dream became reality when their U13 boys’ team won the World Schools Football Cup in Spain.

The remarkable achievement was confirmed after goals from Will Kidman and Harry Marr earned the school a 2-0 victory in the final of the tournament, in Barcelona.

The global competition involved teams from as far afield as Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates.

Ovingham won the group stage of the seven-a-side competition, and their semi-final, before defeating Beths Grammar School, of Bexley in South-East London, in the final.

Head of PE Deborah Goodwin said: “It was an all-English final, but our youngsters met and made friends with children from across the world. Since we came home, we have received a lovely email from a school in Kenya.

“It was more than a football tournament. Children from home and abroad stayed at the same place, and it was a great experience for everyone. We are proud to be world champions.

“It was a great achievement against a really big London school. This was a different level to anything we’ve competed in, with some teams having football club academy players in their ranks. We didn’t expect to do so well.”

Mrs Goodwin also expressed her pride at the Ovingham Middle girls’ team, who finished fourth in the female competition, which took place at the Complex Esportiu Futbol Salou. She added: “A lot of parents travelled over to Barcelona with our teams and everyone had a fantastic time.

“We are over the moon with all of our pupils. They put everything into the tournament, and conducted themselves well and represented our school in such a positive way.”

Ovingham Middle School’s success at the World School Games competition comes just weeks after it was awarded the platinum School Games mark for the second successive year, in recognition of its commitment to physical activity across the curriculum, not just in PE.

Platinum is the highest award, followed by gold, silver and bronze.