ALL-ROUND athlete Nicola Ferris leads Toynbee School into action in today's national schools under-14 football cup final at Swindon Town FC.

Ferris, who represents Hampshire at hockey, athletics, basketball and cross country, skippers her side against Shropshire's Bridgnorth School.

The Chandler's Ford-based school have already won through eight rounds, with Ferris booking Toynbee's place in the final with the only goal in a semi-final win against Norwich's Costessey.

More than 1,000 schools entered the under-14 cup and Toynbee have reached the final two despite having less than 95 girls to choose from year 9.

Team manager Justin Ennes admits he's delighted with his girls' performance, but also said he is not too surprised.

"I wouldn't say it's come out of the blue.

"Last year the same side reached the last 16 of the under-13 schools tournament and they won the Hampshire schools cup.

"In fact, this is the third season this squad has been together and they've only lost three times in over 100 matches in either five-a-side, six-a-side or 11-a-side."

The final was supposed to have been held at newly-promoted Colchester's Layer Road ground last Thursday, but was switched just a few days beforehand to Swindon instead.

Rachel Snow, Kayleigh Senter and Sian Lodge have represented Southampton's under-14 side in 2005/06 while Zoe Gittens is a county hockey player and Kelly-Anne Harrison has achieved county basketball and cross country honours.

Nicola Fulford, meanwhile, is a county swimmer.