Guiseley Academy under-18s and under-16s reached the finals of their respective sections of the New Balance International Tournament after going through the group stages unbeaten.

In the the final of the u-18s Guiseley had a convincing 3-0 victory over Sunderland AFC Development Squad to lift the trophy.

The u-16s, despite dominating the whole match, lost their final to a late penalty from Nottingham FC.

The head of Guiseley Academy Dave Currie said: “There is no doubt that the long-term progress of the players who join our Academy as scholars is possibly second to no other non-league club or private football academy in the north of England.

“Five players who joined our scholarship programme at 16 years of age have gone on to play first team football for clubs from National League to Premiership football in the last three seasons.

“To quantify this, a number of Championship clubs, who have huge budgets for running their Academy have only produced one or two players who have played first team pro football in the same period.

“Any aspiring young players should look at that facts and decide what is the best option for them and if they have aspirations to progress into the pro game then Guiseley AFC Academy is a more than valid option.

“Just ask Ben Whitfield who partnered a certain Mr Defoe for AFC Bournemouth against Valencia last week!”