Bacon's College win Ford Team Challenge

After eight months and a host of sensational skills, the first edition of the Ford Team Challenge has come to a close with Bacon's College from England emerging as the winners.

Top skills
The school from south east London submitted eleven entries into the competition on the UEFA Training Ground and their effort titled 'Precision skills with a forward roll' was selected as the winner, its superb combination play and great technical skills earning them a Ford Minibus. The team, who are coached by former Soviet Union international Sergei Baltacha, narrowly pipped fellow English school Moorlands and F.Y.R. Macedonia's C.S. Roma to the big prize.

Great response
The competition, which began on 1 April, required each team, consisting of a minimum of three players, to produce their best minute of skills. Entries were received from all over Europe from countries ranging from Albania to Azerbaijan and included some outstanding skills and innovative ideas, proving how much largely untapped young talent exists.

Roxburgh praise
UEFA's Technical Director Andy Roxburgh said: "The Team Challenge has been a great way of encouraging young players to practice with a football and develop their skills in their own back garden. The fact that every player had to contribute also helped to instil a teamwork ethic, which is essential for any footballer.

Big incentive
"In addition, they also had the incentive of being on the website alongside big stars like Kaká and Robinho, which has to inspire any young player," added the former Scotland manager, Director of UEFA's Football Development Division which is funding the UEFA Training Ground grassroots project.