Youth club reverses losing streak

Goalie Charlie Wake was kept on his toes in the match

A youth football team from Northamptonshire are celebrating their first win after notching up 29 defeats in a row.

Northampton-based Spinney Scorpions had conceded nearly 250 goals in their first two seasons.

The team turned to top Premiership coaches for advice - and received letters from Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.

They won their latest game - against Daventry United - six goals to two.

Goalkeeper Charlie Wake, 11, said: "I've had loads of shots come at me. I wasn't really bothered as long as they got saved.

"We were too soft really, we needed to be more angry throughout the matches."

Club manager Martin Johnson said: "He's a bubbly character and he lifts the players around him.

"You can't help but feel sorry for him when he lets in so many goals, because there's no way he's to blame, it's the whole team."

Before the club changed its tactics, it turned to the Premiership for advice and received letters from some of the sport's top managers - with Arsene Wenger writing: "I am sure you will soon turn the corner."

Mr Johnson said when that advice failed, he took a tough line on sloppy playing and disciplined players by making them do press-ups, if they performed poorly.