York Schoolboys Under-11s coach Ian Hutchinson believes his newly-formed squad has the right mixture of players to challenge for the league title this season.

The final 15 players were picked at York Sixth-Form College this week after a series of trials which lasted a month.

Hutchinson said: "We started with 72 boys and then had to whittle it down to 32, then a final trial of 21.

"To be honest, it wasn't too hard to pick the final selection of 15.

"I believe we have the right mix of lads. We have tall and short boys with pace, and lads who are very skilful. I think we have the right balance."

The final squad was picked by a panel of York schoolboy coaches, including former York City full-back Andy McMillan, Matty Gore, Lee Poulter, Paul Burke, Paul Horsman, Graham Law and Hutchinson.

To begin with, local schools were asked to select three footballers for the initial trials.

Each of the coaches looked after a team of players and after each trial agreed who would progress to the next stage.

By the end of the process, all the coaches had to agree on who was to make the grade.

Hutchinson said: "I believe we have picked the right boys for the job. The standard of the lads was quality.

"I thought the passing in particular was excellent."

The 15 players, who are all ten years old, were then pitted against last year's Under-11s schoolboy side.

The new arrivals lost 15-4, but the coach remained hopeful.

He said: "You can't read much into that result. The new guys haven't really played together, while the team from last year have had a whole season together.

"I think it was a good experience for both sides."

The new season begins in September and Hutchinson believes it will be tough, but he is looking to win the league.

He said: "We are in a number of competitions, but we are first looking at the league.

"We face a hard start facing Hull and Leeds to begin with. Those games will give us a clear indication how well the team will do.

"The players have bags of potential and I am optimistic. If they perform as they did in the trials, then we should have a good season."