A three-day festival celebrating the beautiful game kicks off in Keighley on Monday, and is expected to attract 900 young soccer players from around the district.

The five-a-side football festival will involve 126 teams from Ilkley to South Bradford, making it one of the biggest footballing events involving schoolchildren in the country.

Held at Keighley’s Marley Activities and Coaching Centre, the three-day event has been organised by Bradford Council and sponsored by Leeds City College’s Keighley Campus.

The contest will involve both boys and girls, with teams split into several different age groups between eight and 14.

Under 9 boys and girls take to the field on Monday, with under 11 boys playing on Tuesday. Wednesday will see the girls’ teams competing for the top prize.

Up to seven games will be played at any one time, meaning spectators will have plenty of different contests to choose from.

Councillor Andrew Thornton, Executive Member for Sport and Leisure, said: “Primary and secondary school pupils from all over the district will be joining in this five-a-side festival and I hope friends and relatives will go along and give them some support.

“It is important that young people are provided with enjoyable opportunities to take part in physical activity and sport, which is the message we are championing through our B-active campaign – be active, be healthy and have fun.”

Mick Driver, one of the organisers, said: “It is in its 16th year, so it is a pretty successful event. We make it so we keep the pressure off the children. We call it a festival, and it is competitive, but the right sort of competitive. It’s good because children come from all around the authority, from South Bradford to Ilkley. Every school gets an invite, so it is a good day out for kids to meet other people.”

He added that organisers are prepared for bad weather, and the pitches should be fit to play on, rain or shine.

All members of the winning and runner-up squads in each of the six age groups will receive a leather football and B-active T-shirt respectively, and every participant will receive an attendance certificate. The tournament takes place from Monday to Wednesday between 4pm and 7pm.