IT started with more than 250 teams from primary schools across the region - and finished in some style on Monday at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium.

Even the wet weather couldn't spoil the finals of the 13th Hampshire Primary Schools Soccer Challenge as 28 teams took part in a memorable afternoon feast of football.

The soccer challenge is organised by Saints in association with the Daily Echo and Hampshire County Council.

Football development officer Ian Juryeff said: "It was just a fantastic day. There was a discussion over whether we should call it off because of the rain, but we made a late decision to go with it and it came out brilliant.

"It was a great day, there was a great atmosphere with lots of singing and chanting for the final, and there was also some excellent football."

A former Saints player, Juryeff admitted he even felt a little envious as the youngsters got the chance to play on the magnificent St Mary's pitch!

He said: "I just wished I was 11 years old again. We were setting up all the goals and I was just wishing I was that age again and that I could be out there.

"I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who took part and everyone who helped out. The football club, the people at the stadium, the Daily Echo, Hampshire County Council and the Army cadets all helped to make it a day to remember."

RESULTS

BOYS' FIXTURES:

Rucstall 0 Oakley 0, Bordon 0 St Johns 2, Kingsworthy 0 Tadley 3, St Annes 1 Talavera 2, Ashley 2 Poulner 0, Meon 2 Townhill 0, Mayfield 0 Shamblehurst 1, Bosmere 0 Penington 1, Rucstall 2 Ashley 1, Bordon 0 Meon 3, Kingsworth 1 Mayfield 2, St Annes 1 Bosmere 0, Oakley 0 Poulner 3, St Johns 1 Townhill 1, Tadley 0 Shamblehurst 1, Talavera 1 Pennington 0, Rucstall 2 Poulner 0, Bordon 4 Townhill 3, Kingsworthy 0 Shamblehurst 3, St Annes 1 Pennington 1, Ashley 2 Oakley 0, St Johns 2 Meon 1, Tadley 0 Mayfield 0, Talavera 1 Bosmere 0.

GIRLS' FIXTURES:

Heatherside 2 Hook 0, Lee-on-the-Solent 0 Siskin 0, Rucstall 2 Overton 2, Oakmeadow 1 Purbrook 1, Heathfield 0 Orchard 6, Hook 0 Lee on Solent 1, St Francis 4 St Monica 1, Overton 0 Oakmeadow 3, Heathfield 1 Siskin 0, Orchard 1 Heatherside 2, St Francis 3 Purbrook 0, St Monica 0 Rucstall 1, Hook 1 Siskin 1, Heatherside 4 Lee-on-the-Solent 1, Overton 0 Purbrook 1, Rucstall 2 Oakmeadow 1, Hook 1 Heathfield 0, Lee-on-the-Solent 0 Orchard 3, Overton 0 St Francis 2, Oakmeadow 2 St Monica 1, Heathfield 0 Heatherside 2, Orchard 5 Siskin 0, St Francis 2 Rucstall 1, St Monica 2 Purbrook 0, Heathfield 0 Lee-on-the- Solent 0, Orchard 2 Hook 0, St Francis 1 Oakmeadow 2, St Monica 5 Overton 0, Heatherside 1 Siskin 0, Rucstall 2 Purbrook 1.

QUARTER-FINALS

Rucstall 0 Meon 1, Ashley 0 St John's 1, Shamblehurst 2 St Anne's 1, Tadley 2 Talavera 3.

SEMI-FINALS

Heatherside 2 Oakmeadow 1, Orchard 2 St Francis 1, Meon 1 Shamblehurst 2, St John's 2 Talavera 0.

GIRLS' FINAL

Heatherside 1 Orchard 1 (Orchard won on corners).

BOYS' FINAL

Shamblehurst 1 St John's 0.

SEE TODAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR 4-PAGES PACKED WITH PICTURES FEATURING THE FINALS OF THE SCHOOLS' SIX-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT.