AS the 2010/11 Tesco Cup football tournament gets under way, West Ham’s Under 16 girls are preparing to defend their national title, which they won in May 2010 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

Having progressed through the regional rounds, the girls became England champions before going on to lift the UK national trophy beating Hibernian girls FC in the final.

Their title defence begins this weekend when they will face Writtle Minors Girls FC from Essex in round one of the 2010/11 nationwide football competition.

Head coach Jim Maycock said: “Firstly I’d like to congratulate the team from last year on their great achievement. If we could get close to replicating that we’d be very proud. Success in the Tesco Cup is great for everyone involved in the club. The club really enjoys taking part in the Tesco Cup; it is a great opportunity for young footballers to represent not just their county but their country and to play at a Premiership football ground.”

The Tesco Cup, run in conjunction with the FA and local communities, is the largest home nation’s grassroots football competition, bringing together over 60,000 players and 3,600 teams from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This season over 40 counties have entered the competition across each of the three age groups, U13 boys, U14 girls and U16 girls.

Teams will compete initially at county level, before progressing to the regional and national rounds, with the aim of representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the Tesco Cup UK final, to be held at a Premiership football ground in May 2011.

Following the county stages, results can be accessed through a dedicated website www.tesco.com/football