YORK City players Dave Winfield and Marvin McCoy were among the spectators at the Special School Sports Partnership Football Festival.

The Minstermen duo encouraged the young players and ran a short question-and-answer session.

A total of 30 children with special needs took part in the primary festival at Clifton Moor’s PlayFootball venue, as part of a joint venture between the SportsSpecial School Sports Partnership and the York City Football Club Foundation.

Coaches from the club’s community department ran fun games and activities for pupils from Hob Moor Oaks (York), Woodlands School (Scarborough) and Mowbray School (Bedale) before they took part in a series of mini games and were presented with certificates and stickers.

During the same festival, 107 young people with Special Needs and Disabilities (SEND) from eight special schools and four pupil support centres participated in four different levels of competition to suit their individual needs.

In the moderate learning disabilities section, Mowbray lifted the York City in the Community Trophy and received gold medals after finishing ahead of Springhill, Applefields, Woodlands, Welburn Hall and The Forest (Knaresborough).

The post-16 section was won by Springhead, from Scarborough, with Springwater second and The Dales third.

In the girls’ competition, goal difference saw Mowbray A pip Welburn Hall with Woodlands third and Mowbray B fourth.

The pupil support centres, meanwhile, had their own tournament with York’s Danesgate Community triumphant after winning all of their matches.

Foremost PRS were second, Hambleton & Richmondshire PRS third and Brompton Hall fourth.

On the success of the festival, SportsSpecial school games organiser Val French said “Thanks to the great partnership we continue to have with York City Football Club Foundation and PlayFootball, we are able to put on these great festivals and competitions to ensure that our young people with special needs are given the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts.

“We are also indebted to our young sports leaders from York St John’s University, All Saints sixth form and York High School who did a fantastic job as referees, timekeepers and scorers and made the day possible.”