SOUTH Africa have won the World Cup!

Well, they've actually won the Primary Schools World Cup Six-a-side competition at Whitefoot Lane Playing Fields in Catford. A total of 36 teams from schools across Lewisham borough took part in the competition for 10 and 11-year-olds on June 13.

The eventual winners in the Year Six competition were Myatt Gardens from New Cross. They represented South Africa and beat Bulgaria (Gordon Brock) 3-2 in the final after successfully coming through their group.

In true World Cup tradition there was also a third-place play-off, Japan (Hither Green) beating Mexico (Brindishe) by two goals.

The Year Five tournament was won by Perrymount School from Forest Hill. Representing Holland, they won a tight contest against Nigeria (Holy Cross, Catford). Our Lady of Lourdes (France) lost 2-1 to Rangefield (Spain) in the battle for third place.

This Saturday it was the turn of the girls and the Year Four boys. "This Saturday was probably the best one because we had 120 girls playing mini-soccer - girls' football is on the up," said Lewisham's voluntary football development officer Mark Hunter, who organised both competitions. John Bull School from Blackheath beat Good Shepherd of Downham in the final of the competition for girls in Years Four to Six.

The boys' final was a repeat of 1966 with England (Merlin Primary) taking on Germany (Myatt Gardens). This time the Germans took their revenge. There were medals for all semi-finalists.

On the Sunday of each weekend there were mini-soccer festivals for U7s to U10s and Mark Hunter said the events were a great success. He would like to thank Swanley Standard FC, Hayden Youth, Greenwich Borough Council, London Athletic FC and Gary Badgett for his help in obtaining the referees.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.