Boy this was exciting! Having worked as hard as we have all season, it ended today - and what better place could that happen. We were going over to the home of the Premier League Champions to take on Pine Villa for the chance to be crowned the BBDFL Players Cup winners for 2023-2024 - and as expected, the coaches were more nervous than the kids. In fact, Chris hardly spelt as he wore a hole in his kitchen floor after pacing it since 5am! This meant something and you could tell...

The Breightmet fans were out in their numbers - as expected - and as the convoy set off into the heart of Manchester, the excitement levels began increasing. The players had gone on their own coach and as they saw the impressive dome of The Etihad Stadium open up in front of them, that's when it kicked in. This was for real. We had a job to do so it was game-time now...

The scene was superb. Not only had we made it all the way here to the Final - but so had our u7 Blacks and with them playing on the next pitch, the whole complex was awash with black and white - and it was excellent. There were bucket-hats, large flags and United's badge everywhere - and it felt good. But it was time to switch on now and with Ash and Chris putting the lads through their paces, the large crowd continued to bite their nails. The starting team was announced and it saw Rory in net - with Nik and skipper Louis tasked with being the wall in front of him. Carter was in front of them and providing the link to Harvey up top and with today's game-changers being Tommy Sharples, Jake Allen, Cooper Buckley and James Shields, we were good to go. The coaches last words were simple - relax and enjoy it. We had done so well to get here - so make sure we do not walk off with regrets. Give it our all and regardless of the result, who can say anything? The lads huddled together - and we were ready...

With both teams set, the referee blew his whistle - and within the first 27 seconds, it was the Breightmet fans jumping and dancing - as we took the lead! A great ball into the box saw Harvey nick it pas their last-man and all he could was take him out - and the referee had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot. Carter picked the ball up confidently and as he strode back, the Breightmet fans looked on with trepidation. No need because BANG! he slammed the ball into the top corner of their net! 1-0 United but there was still a long way to go...

This was a quality game from the outset with both teams playing some lovely football - but the next goal saw the team from Wigan peg us back and they moved quickly down their right and as the shot came in, there was nothing Rory could do really. 1-1 and it was all to play for again...

End-to-end, the football on display from both sets of players was first-class and with the attacking play providing lots of entertainment, it was a great watch. Their No.1 was keeping them in it at times with some fantastic saves - but he couldn't do anything to stop us re-taking the lead on 9 minutes when a great move saw the ball land at the feet of Louis and he smashed his shot past their keeper from about 15 yards out. Again, the Breightmet fans were up and bouncing and this was great stuff! 2-1...

Not for long though. Because another determined move from the team in blue saw them feed the ball in the central areas and before we could re-act, they had slammed it past Rory and into our net. 2-2 and if it kept going like this, we just needed to be the last team to score. It did - and it was that man Carter that got the goal again. He was played in by a great ball and his quick-feet left their defender dizzy before he looked up and dinked a glorious shot over their keeper and into the back of their net. Some great goals here already and we weren't even near half-time yet. 3-2 Breightmet...

Then the game changed. The opponents seemed to raise it a gear and although we were working hard and playing some good passes, they had the edge for a period. It saw them not only equalise - but as they got level this time, our shoulders seemed to drop a little - and before the half-time whistle went, they had grabbed another two goals. There was work to do now - and we had to do it...

Half-time: Pine Villa 5-3 BREIGHTMET UNITED u8 BLACKS

The coaches had to earn their corn now and as the lads got together and gulped their drinks, they were prepared to listen. We had to work a little harder and try to be a little more clinical in front of goal. Their keeper was having a blinder to be fair - so we just had to find a way past him a little more often. A tweak was made to the tactics as we went with three up top in an attempt to get back in it - and as the lads made their way back onto the arena, the Breightmet fans were right behind them - loudly...

The switch in shape seemed to pay dividends almost immediately as we were seeing more of the ball in the attacking third and with the large crowd behind them, the kids looked as though they meant this. Playing the ball into the feet of the top-three saw opportunities arise - and it wasn't long before we'd pulled it back a little. Some good movement saw the ball land just in front of Louis and as he side-stepped their man, he drilled a great just inside the post from about 10 yards out. A great strike - and we were back in this! 5-4!

But once again, the Pine Villa lads just wouldn't lie down and within minutes they had their two-goal cushion again. Sweeping it down their left, they swung it in - and there was their striker to tap it home from close-range. 4-6 but we still had enough out there to pull this back. The United fans were urging their heroes forward and as the minutes ticked away, it seemed that we were seeing most of the ball now. With 34 minutes gone, we won a good tackle in the middle and as the ball was clipped into Louis, he took his time as he positioned himself - and hammered a superb strike into the back of their net from distance. Wow! 6-5 and there was still time to do this...

We were all over them now and as we kept surging forward, so our hopes kept rising. We smashed the ball against the post from about 20 yards out and then hit the other one after a good move down our left - and if their keeper hadn't have played like Manuel Neuer, we'd have won this easily today. But it wasn't to be and when the whistle went to end the game, the Cup was going back to Wigan. The Breightmet lads were distraught - but they had no need to be - as each and every one of them did us proud from the moment they stepped off that coach this morning. So did the fans and apart from the result, it was an absolutely great day. Memories and experiences that not many children and young people get the opportunity to involve themselves in. That's what it's all about right?

Massive respect to the countless fans that came over to cheer the kids on this morning - it was greatly appreciated - and we're already looking forward to working hard to get back here again in 12 months' time. And with that, it was in the cars and back to Moss Park to talk about what could have been...

When UnitedTV caught up with Chris after, this is what he had to say:

'I think that as Ash and I awoke this morning, we were both pretty confident about how things would turn out here. We'd been playing really well, the lads were up for it and we thought we stood a good chance - but it just wasn't to be. Every player out there did their best and we cannot fault them - but on another day, we could have won this easily. We hit both posts, the bar and their keeper was outstanding - but it just wasn't our day and that's football sometimes. We'll learn from this experience - and what an experience it was!

A massive thanks to the Breightmet fans that came over to cheer us on and I'm sure you'll agree that they did us proud out there didn't they? And as they always say in football - there's always next season'

Great words from the coach and back to the Clubhouse we went..

We then caught up with Ash who had this to say: 'Since the turn of the year, this set of players have given their all and each to a man, I'm so proud of them. But on the day that it mattered - it really mattered - we just couldn't get it over the line and there's learning in that. We couldn't have done more though could we? Did you watch it? Their goal led a charmed life at times and with that cat between the sticks, it's a surprise we managed to get five! But I'm proud of them - and the Breightmet contingent that were loud and proud throughout - and we go again next year'

Done. 2023-2024 completed. See you soon!

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided