AFTER a long-awaited return, one of the town’s schoolboy representative teams has been resurrected, writes Ryan Booth.

The St Helens under 11s schoolboys football team has been revived, after a three-stage trial process was held to determine which youngsters would make the final cut.

More than 70 boys from 27 of the borough’s primary schools attended the selection event, where a final squad of 24 was chosen ahead of the upcoming campaign.

They will face numerous teams from across Merseyside as the campaign unfolds.

Pre-season preparations are well underway with several friendlies to come, including one against a Manchester United academy side.

St Helens has produced numerous successful professional footballers, from Manchester United legend Bill Foulkes to Conor Coady currently at Wolverhampton Wanderers meaning the current crop of youngsters have plenty of trailblazers to emulate.

St Helens Association for PE & Sport have teamed up with David Campbell Soccer to give schoolboys in the town this opportunity.

Former Northern Ireland international Campbell said: “There is tremendous talent among this group of youngsters, I am sure St Helens Borough will have a representative team that they can be proud of.”

As well as arranging the trial selection events, Campbell assisted his coaches, Dylan Thompson and Mike Aspinall, in recruiting suitable players for the squad’s make-up.

St Helens Council sports development officer Danny Bacon has also played a role in reviving the set-up and said: “It is fantastic that the schoolboys team has been brought back.

“To represent your borough in sport is an honour and something to aspire to.”

A celebratory event was arranged for the children to attend Goodison Park, the home of Premier League side Everton. The boys received a guided stadium tour and gained an insight into the lives of professional footballers.

The 2017-18 St Helens under 11s schoolboys squad: Keith Champan (Allanson Street Primary), Haydn Bydne (Birchley St Marys), Joseph Collier (Corpus Christi), Kyle Kay (Garswood), Jake Lynan (Garswood), Jude Bond (Grange Valley), Stanley Halsall (Legh Vale), Will Forber (Legh Vale) , Alex Craine (Legh Vale), Lewis Addison (Legh Vale), Mason Kelly (Legh Vale), Kobe Seville (Newton Le-Willows), Joseph Weild (Oakdene), Charlie Keech (Rainford Brook Lodge), Jamie Rutherford (Rectory Farm), Ethan Parr (St Austins), Thomas Wright (St Barts), Luke Burns (St Barts), Harry Leigh (St Julie’s), Aidan O’Hanlon (St Peters & Pauls), William Collins (St Peters CE), Kian Power (St Teresa Catholic Primary), Oscar Thomas (St Thomas of Canterbury), Louis Barton (Thatto Heath).