YOUNGSTERS from Bolton will head to Manchester on Saturday to play in the national finals of the LEGO Cup, the Brazilian Soccer Schools UK and Ireland Futebol de Sal£o Championships.

The six members of Bolton's Brazilian Soccer School play at George Tomlinson High School, Kearsley and have been together for two years. Now they are set to take on teams from across the UK at Trafford's JJB Stadium.

The event is in its third year, with the Leeds team hoping to retain the title won at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, last year. But the players from Bolton, aged between 13 and 15, are set to pose a threat to the defending champions and the other eight teams involved.

The game of Futebol de Sal£o uses a smaller, weighted and specially designed ball, and is played on a pitch similar in size to a basketball court. Head coach of Brazilian Soccer Schools Bolton, Brian Leech, said: "We are delighted to be playing in the finals of the UK championships and feel as though we have a real chance of bringing home the trophy.

"At the finals will be some of the best young footballers in Britain, all of whom play with flair and a high level of technical ability, and our team will be strong contenders."