SCHOOLBOY footballers who completed a unique treble have been celebrating a season to remember.
Flintshire Primary Schools won the Phil Staley Shield along with both the northern and national Tom Yeoman Shields this year to be crowned treble winners.
England goalscoring legend Michael Owen returned to his roots to honour the squad at Bryn Coch School in Mold.
Hawarden-born Owen presented the team, managed by Andy Jones, with trophies and also handed out this year’s end of season awards.
Gwynedd Primary’s Dylan Levitt and Jack Atkinson, who attends Leeswood Primary, shared the player of the year prize and Wepre Primary pupil Sam Reynolds took the Andrew Baines merit award.
Flintshire Primary Schools FA chairman Cledwyn Ashford said the 23 players and the team’s coaches deserved huge praise.
He said: “The boys have had a very, successful season and they all look to have bright futures.
“Our focus is on development rather than winning so the fact the team has done so well is a bonus. This team is most probably one of the best we have ever had.
“Many of the players will, hopefully, go on to represent Flintshire again in the future and some may even play their country.”
The team’s first success came in the Tom Yeoman Shield northern section after they finished top of the bandings ahead of Conwy, Wrexham, Bangor and others.
They then went on to win the Phil Staley Shield before travelling to Cardiff for the Tom Yeoman Shield national finals.
Cledwyn said: “The boys were undefeated and they shared the trophy after finishing joint top with Pembrokeshire. They did extremely well and most of these players will now go up to the county’s under 12s side.”
Former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Owen was the star guest at the team’s annual presentation evening.
Cledwyn said:“Michael played for the old Deeside Primary Schools team and he is always willing to come along and support us.
“He spoke extremely well and told the boys about the importance of having the right lifestyle and working hard.
“He is somebody they all look up to and he told the boys his time playing for Deeside Primary Schools was one of the happiest memories of his career. Every player who represented the county were given mementos to remind them of a fantastic season.”