BISHOP Kirk School’s greatest sporting achievement was an appearance by its football team at Wembley.

It was one of four schools to qualify for the finals of a national six-a-side cup competition sponsored by Smith’s Crisps in 1986.

Reaching the last four was an amazing feat as 8,500 junior schools from across the country had taken part.

And Bishop Kirk from Summertown, Oxford, came within a whisker of a glorious cup triumph.

The middle school in Summertown earned their place at Wembley after becoming the Oxfordshire champions in the competition and beating nine other county champions in the regional finals at Kidderminster.

It was a stroke of bad luck that saw them eliminated in the semi-final by Castle Hill School from Haverhill, Suffolk, the south-east area champions.

The Oxford Mail reported: “Bishop Kirk’s dreams were shattered when they were knocked out by virtue of having conceded the only corner of a game which stood at 1-1 at full time.

“Never a satisfactory way to bow out of a tournament, particularly one of this importance, it was even more disappointing for the spirited little Oxford team as there was an element of doubt over whether or not the corner should have been awarded.

“A challenge on the halfway line between two opposing players resulted in the ball cannoning away over the Oxfordshire school’s goal line.

“It was unclear who had last made contact, but after a moment’s deliberation, the referee awarded the corner that was to prove Bishop Kirk’s downfall.”

Castle Hill had taken an early lead, but Bishop Kirk fought back with an equaliser just after half-time.

Oxford Mail:

June Hall, left, and Marlene Coulling, grandmother and mother of Bishop Kirk’s Wayne Coulling, who knitted 12 scarves and made 25 rosettes for the team’s big day at Wembley

The Mail reported: “Captain Paddy Orchard, who showed no nerves in the famous old stadium as the crowd swelled for the schoolboy international to follow, shot his team back on terms.

“He weaved his way past two defenders before placing his shot into the Castle Hill goal.”

The final between Castle Hill and Springfield School, Derby, the north-west area champions, ended in a goalless draw, so the two teams shared the trophy for six months.

There was consolation for Bishop Kirk when they beat Ravenhurst School, Leicester, the north-east area champions, in the third/fourth playoff game 2-0 to claim third spot in the competition.