IT was a day to remember for many of the youngsters as they competed in the Southend & District Junior Sunday Football League finals day.

The Under-13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 finals were held at Roots Hall, the home of Southend United, with Hullbridge Sports White, Great Wakering Colts Red, Wickford Town Lions, Forest Glade Blue and Catholic United Minors East lifting their respective trophies.

And more than a thousand supporters cheered the teams on, on what league chairman Peter Harris said was a hugely successful day.

“We had four excellent matches this year and some eye-catching individual performances,” said Harris. “We would like to thank Southend United again for making their ground available to young players, their families and friends.

“The possibility of playing at such a great venue is a powerful incentive as the cup progresses, and the reality of playing at Roots Hall on the day is something they will never forget.

“You couldn’t have a finer example of a club supporting its community.”

In the U13 showpiece, Hullbridge beat Leigh Ramblers Blue 2-0, as first-half goals from Will Harris and Brandon Ndokay ensured a fine victory.

However, it was an end-to-end match in which there were clear-cut opportunities for both sides, with Hullbridge captain Ted Turnham named man of the match.

In the U14 Premier Final, Great Wakering Colts Red beat Berry Boys White 2-1, as Colts came from behind to snatch a late win.

Charlie Davis scored the winner after Jack Lyons had levelled the match, with Berry Boys leading at the half-time break thanks to man of the match James Marsh’s strike.

Elsewhere, the U14 League Cup was played at Basildon United’s Longman Motors Stadium on Sunday, May 15.

Berry won the cup after a very close match with Orsett Park Royals. With the scores level at 2-2 after extra time, Berry won the cup 3-2 on penalties.

The U15 final saw Wickford Town Lions beat Hawkwell Athletic Eagles 2-1, as they too came from a losing position to triumph late on.

A brace from man of the match Jack Polley overturned Toby Coker’s goal in what was the best game of the day, with both of Polley’s goals coming in the final six minutes to snatch the cup from Hawkwell.

There was just one goal in the U16 final, as Jack Beal struck for Forest Glade to see off Fairfax Rangers, with Glade’s Mitchell Sweeney named man of the match.

In the U18 final Catholic United Minors beat Benfleet Youth 3-1, with man of the match Jared Lunn netting twice for the winners.

Tom Leigh scored the other goal for Catholic United, with the Benfleet goal coming from Ellis Berry

The Graham Palmer Memorial Shield for the Referee of the Year was awarded to Robert Collins.