A fledgling Cumbrian football academy is going for cup glory today.

Cumbria Institute of Sport students are in quarter-final action in the National Football Youth League Trophy.

They are affiliated to Morecambe FC, and take on Crystal Palace in the last eight.

The game is being played at Penrith’s Frenchfield Park stadium.

The academy, based at Newton Rigg near Penrith, has been running for less than a year.

But the football students have impressed in the trophy, beating Bradford City 4-1 in the last 32 before seeing off Mansfield Town by the same scoreline in the last 16.

The Cumbrians also sit third in the North West Championship table.

The Cumbria Institute of Sport launched last year, headed by Penrith AFC manager and former Carlisle United player and coach and ex-Workington Reds boss Darren Edmondson.

It aims to offer young people aged 16-19 the chance to train professionally and play against clubs and academies in the region, whilst equipping themselves with skills and qualifications.

They train on the recently-laid new artificial pitch at Newton Rigg, and are partnered with Morecambe, which allows the League One club to cast an eye on the young players on the Cumbrian academy’s books, as well as training and games opportunities.

Kick-off at Frenchfield today is 2.30pm.