A CHILDREN’S football team made up of 12-year-old boys from Northwich overcame the odds to win in a prestigious cup final – but have now been told they must give their medals back. 


Kingsmead Juniors FC u13s beat Sandbach 2-0 in the Mid Cheshire District FA Cup Final in what was described as a ‘David versus Goliath’ tie. 


The children were presented with the cup and medals for each player, including the hero of the day Kofi Landon who scored both goals, and celebrated the well-earned win. 


However, days later, the club received a call from the Mid Cheshire FA saying they must return the cup and medals and replay the game due to it being abandoned eight minutes early for torrential rain.


The children on the team are devastated at having the cup and their medals taken off them and the parents are so furious that they say they will refuse to replay the game. 


Paul Phipps, dad of Kyle who plays for Kingsmead, said: “The kids are devastated. My son Kyle was really upset by it because all of their effort and all what they did was for nothing. I just do not see the sense in it.


“How do I now tell my son that the medal, in pride of place on a shelf in his room, has to be given back? That he didn't earn it?


“This is a disgraceful decision, that cannot be in the best interests of protecting the welfare of children, by a sporting body that says children's welfare is paramount.


“It’s up to the kids at the end of the day but all the parents and the coaches are saying that we should refuse to play it so that may be what we do.”


The u13s Kingsmead side were also on course to win Division One of the Mid Cheshire Youth Football League going unbeaten throughout the season. 


But after being stripped of their cup-winning medals, the team fell apart in their league form and have now lost out on winning the league as well. 


Paul added: “The kids are just so upset and have been really hit by it. They were nine points clear in the league and unbeaten and since this they’ve lost three times and they’ve not won the league now either.”


The Mid Cheshire District FA refused to comment on the matter.