IT is the end of an era for schoolboys representative football in Warrington – in more ways than one!

Justin Singleton, reflecting on three successful campaigns as manager of Warrington Schools under 15s, revealed there will be no town teams next season.

“This is the last season (school year) that there will be a Warrington Schools representative team,” he said.

“No teachers have come forward to help form a committee, which is needed.”

His team have bowed out on a high though.

With schoolboys football finishing at under 15s level in every district, Singleton’s boys always knew this would be their last campaign together and have capped it with silverware success.

“The team finished off in style by winning the Cheshire Senior Cup,” he said.

Warrington defeated Chester 5-1 in a final staged at Middlewich Town Football Club, with Jacob Rowe helping himself to a hat-trick of goals.

“They also finished runners up in the Greater Manchester League from eight teams, including the likes of Manchester, Bolton, and Salford,” he added.

“This was the second time the team have finished runners up, as they did it also at under 14s.

“They also won the Inter Associations Cup at under 13s, so overall it has been a great three seasons.”

Five of the squad members have been selected to play for the Cheshire team during the next school year.

They are Rowe, Luke Monaghan, Reece Gaskell, Fraser Stewart and Sam Bernard.

And a further mark of the standards achieved and the progress made is the number of players from the squad who have joined football’s paid ranks.

“In the three seasons together we have had five players sign for professional clubs,” said Singleton.

“We only had one player at a professional club in the first season.”

Gaskell joined Oldham Athletic, Rowe signed for Preston North End, Monaghan and Lea Roberts were recruited by Bury, while Alfie Davies was taken on by Port Vale.

“Overall it’s been a great three seasons for the lads,” said Singleton.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from them.

“They gave me 110 per cent in every game for three years.”

“The main objective when we started this journey together was to hopefully maybe win something, players to get signed professional and players to make the county squad, which have all been achieved through their hard work.”