Published: 13 June, 2013

ARSENAL and England star Rachel Yankey gave budding players a boost when she made a surprise appearance at a Camden Schools Sports Association football tournament.

More than 300 Year 5 and 6 footballers showed off their silky skills in a two-day celebration of school soccer organised by the CSSA at Coram’s Fields in Bloomsbury on Thursday and Friday.

And the winning youngsters on the final day of action got a double treat when their match day culminated in a chance to meet former Hampstead School pupil and England Women’s most-capped player Yankey.

The competition came hot on the heels of a two-day CSSA tournament for Year 3 and 4 footballers from 20 schools at Parliament Hill which was decided by a grand finals day.

Primrose Hill School girls and Rosary School boys were eventually crowned Year 3 and 4 winners at Parliament Hill. At Coram’s Fields on Thursday, Fleet School girls and Carlton School boys won the Year 5 and 6 competition, and on Friday the honours went to Brookfield School girls and Rosary boys.