Thomas Telford School are on the ball

A staggering 13 national finals have been chalked up this season with the battle for silverware reaching fever pitch next week.

Students and family members will descend on Reading's Madejski Stadium.

The school will dominate the line-up for the English Schools' FA (ESFA) Playstation Schools' Cup Festival, which runs from Monday to Wednesday.

Director of football Des Lyttle will watch on with immense pride as Thomas Telford sides contest eight finals – a record which makes them the most successful school in the country.

The school has already tasted success with the under-18 boys beating Shenfield High School to lift the ESFA Cup.

The under-16 boys side claimed a league and cup double after winning the ESFA Premier League and triumphing in the ESFA Open Schools competition – both at Manchester City's Etihad training complex.

And there was joy at English football's most prestigious venue as the under-13 girls won Football League Girls Cup at Wembley.

The under-18s girls also reached a national final where they missed out on glory to a strong Madejski Academy side.

Former West Brom defender Lyttle has been left stunned by the success having taken on the director of football role at the start of the season following Steve Wilderspin's departure.

Lyttle said: "The school has been successful over the years but there has never been a year like this one in terms of national finals.

"In the past we have had one, two or three teams getting to finals, but never been in 13 finals.

"There isn't another school in the country that has that many sides in finals. I think the next best is three. It's been a good team effort by everybody from the head down.

"Sport does play a big part at the school but I know it is a bit of a headache for the other members of staff at times.

"We ask to take the kids out of lessons, especially at this time of year when there are a lot of exams going on.

"A massive thanks has to go to the other members of staff to put up with us in the PE department."

As part of his remit, 44-year-old Lyttle runs the school's football academy.

It caters for youngsters who have been knocked back by professional clubs, but who still harbour hopes of making a living in the game.

The academy offers the chance to study the BTEC Extended Diploma, as well as training opportunities throughout the weekly timetable.

Students will also have the opportunity to gain a range of nationally recognised National Governing Body (NGB) coaching awards, that will link into the units they will study as part of the BTEC programme.

Lyttle, who enjoyed spells with Nottingham Forest, Watford, Swansea and Northampton as well as West Bromwich Albion, is quick to sing the praises of the school's senior side.

Wolverhampton-born Lyttle, who has worked at the school for three years, said: "We have got the sixth form lads who are doing the triple BTEC and they train every day.

"We play in category one of the British Colleges every Wednesday and also in the national cup, which had 600 teams in it this year.

"These are the lads that didn't quite make it at pro level but still have aspirations to go on and be professional footballers.

"The under-18s is the one I take great pride in because I have worked with them day in day out. It's men's football and you come up against some great schools.

"The lads have worked really hard and to go 10 rounds to win a national cup is a good achievement.

"It's a credit to them, how much work they have put in and the way they have listened."

Not surprisingly the school has built up a considerable reputation on the football field and that has been recognised by England – with one of the call-ups close to Lyttle's heart.

He said: "We had two England Schools internationals this year in Zak Lilly and Joe Thomas.

"We have only had three lads who have represented England from Thomas Telford. The other lad was my son Tyler a couple of years ago.

"We do school lads from Wolves academy, Stoke, Walsall and Shrewsbury. We have got the quality of academy players, but our other players are a really good standard as well.

"But it's not just about football. We are massive on all sports. We have England representatives at swimming and hockey. It's just a really good sporting and performing arts school.

"And we are still one of the best academically in the country as well."

In total, the school boasts 24 sides that are well trained and managed by a committed PE staff.

Lyttle said: "I oversee everything along with Paul Bullock, who joined us at Christmas. Every PE member of staff has a team and we have good knowledge at the school.

"From year seven right through to year 11 they run three teams in each age group. Each age group have a training night. At 4pm, when school finishes, two teams train each night.

Lyttle is hopeful some of his charges can follow his son Tyler into the professional ranks.

He said: "Tyler is at Bristol Rovers as a first year pro. They got promoted from League Two with last kick of the game on Saturday. He has played a couple of games for the first-team.

"He came through Thomas Telford as a sixth former and got spotted playing for England Schools by Bristol Rovers. The school has got massive pedigree in terms of football.

"There are over 30 ex-pupils who have played in the Premier League and Football League.

"Elliott Bennett (Blackburn), Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth), Danny Guthrie (Blackburn) and Sammy Morsy (Wigan) to name a few. It's a good footballing school.

"When the under-18s come in in September, I ask them who wants to get back and who is good enough to get back.

"The last two years we have got lads back in the game. That's one of my aims to get players back in the pro game."

Judging by this season's stunning success, there could be a few more Thomas Telford starlets gracing the professional game in years to come.