Young footballing stars dazzle Wembley

Hundreds of young footballers descended on Wembley Park for the annual Wanganui Athletic junior football tournament on Sunday.

And there may have been a Lionel Messi or Carli Lloyd among them.

The tournament attracted almost double the numbers than it did last year, a growth rate which may force organisers into running a two-day tournament next year.

Thirty-nine club and school teams from as far as Taupo, Kapiti and Dannevirke entered the tournament across under-10, under-12 and under-14 grades.

About 400 children took part in Wanganui Athletic's junior tournament on Sunday. Photo/ Stuart Munro

It is the third year Athletic have hosted the tournament as a way to expose young Whanganui footballers to wider competition.

"There was nothing like this for Whanganui kids," club junior administrator Katrina McClelland said.

"It's quite a popular day for them and it's really about just getting out there and having fun.

"It is way bigger than last year. It's got to the point where next year it'll probably have to be over two days."

Players huddle in a team talk during the annual Wanganui Athletic junior football tournament at Wembley Park. Photo/ Stuart Munro

The club kept it affordable with an entry fee of just $10.

"It's not really a fundraiser, to be fair.

"We don't do it to make money. We just do it to get our kids to play the better teams around the region and to get them that experience.

"We are such a small area so it's to give them that experience as to what's out there."

The region's young stars showed off their football skills at the Wanganui Athletic junior tournament on Sunday. Photo/ Stuart Munro