A quarter-century’s commitment to football was recognised by organisers of the world’s leading youth football tournament.

The RN is the only side to have appeared in the prestigious Dallas Cup in Texas since it began in 1979 – and this year’s U19 side which flew out to the USA saw competition director Gordon Jago present RNFA Youth Chairman Cdr Martin Doolan with an award in front of a packed stadium to celebrate the Senior Service’s support.

The Navy has won the Dallas Cup in the past and reached the semi-finals in 2003, so hopes were high for this year’s squad – despite competition from 148 teams from as far afield as Brazil, New Zealand and Israel.

Unfortunately RN commitments meant there was little time to acclimatise to the Texan heat or get used to playing together as a side before the sailors were thrown into their first matches against squads which had been playing and training together for years.

That meant the youth side didn’t progress beyond the initial group stages, but it didn’t mean any less commitment from the young sailors, according to Cdr Doolan.

It wasn’t all football for the team, who were shown around the sights of Dallas, including a visit to legendary Southfork Ranch – not that any of the players were old enough to remember the hit soap Dallas in its prime.