A GROUP of young footballers have ensured that one Braintree Town team will be at this year's Vanarama National League play-off finals as they make history at Wembley Stadium in May.

The youngsters from Lyons Hall Primary School will be flying the flag for the Iron after winning their way through to the national finals of the National League Trust Under-11s Cup on May 14.

Having earned the right to represent Braintree Town at the regional finals after beating school sides from all over Braintree and Witham earlier this month, the Lyons Hall team have now booked their place on the biggest stage of all.

The finals will be played on the day of the National League play-off final, making the youngsters the first side to represent the Iron on the hallowed turf of Wembley.

Danny Hunt, sports coach at the Deerleap Way school, said: "It was an achievement just getting to (the regional finals at) Woking, but to win that and get to Wembley has been amazing.

"To get there and represent Braintree Town is great, but doing it as a school is the biggest thing.

"We only have a limited time to work with the players, but what a team they are.

"We have been receiving messages of congratulations from other schools and it's lovely that this has brought the school and the football club closer together.

"Braintree Town have been amazing to us, with staff helping out with coaching and at the event and their support has been phenomenal.

"It has been an amazing experience.

"The boys are just overwhelmed that they have got to Wembley."

At the regional event, dressed in full Iron kit thanks to backing from main club sponsors Ironmongery Direct, they kept a remarkable unbeaten run going.

At the end of a gruelling day at Woking, the Lyons Hall team beat Valance Primary School, who were representing Dagenham and Redbridge 3-0 in the final, before receiving their winners' medals from England C manager Paul Fairclough.

And they will now continue working with coaches from the Community Iron programme - that ran the local round of the competition - as they prepare for their big day at Wembley.

Mark Sanson, Braintree Town Academy and Community Iron manager, said: "It's great news for everyone and they'll be the first Braintree Town team to play at Wembley Stadium.

"What they have done has been phenomenal.

"They are still unbeaten after seven games of the original Braintree and Witham tournament and then another ten games at the regional finals at Woking.

"Seventeen games unbeaten - that's amazing.

"I'll be working with the team now after Easter leading up to the finals and fingers crossed, they can keep the unbeaten run going.

"We will work to get them as prepared as they can possibly be, to make sure they are not too nervous on the day and so they can continue this brilliant run.

"The players' faces when they knew they were going to Wembley was incredible.

"All the way through, we have tried to play it down to keep them calm and say that they are playing just another school and they've been brilliant.

"I think the parents are probably more excited than the kids as they probably understand better the magnitude of what is about to happen.

"The pride of those parents to watch their children step out on to the pitch at the national stadium will be immense.

"It's been an absolute pleasure to work with these children and you couldn't wish for a nicer team for this to happen to.

"They deserve their success.

"It's great for Lyons Hall, but also great for Braintree Town and the Community Iron programme.

"It's bigger than it's ever been before and it shows people what we are all about.

"My ultimate aim is to see kids like these joining our Academy programme and maybe one day going on to represent Braintree Town in the first team."