CHELMER VALLEY High School are just 90 minutes away from their own version of FA Cup glory.
The school's U16 team will travel to Burton Albion to take on The Thomas Telford School today for the final of the English Schools' FA Cup.
They are the first Chelmsford-based school ever to reach this stage, and will be looking to become the first team from the county to win the cup since Shenfield in 2004.
Chelmer Valley booked their spot at the final with a 1-0 win at Hele's School of Plymouth, thanks to Tyler Brampton's volley early in the second half.
Head of PE Steve Wareham – who manages the team with Dave Morgan – said: "It is a truly magnificent achievement from a school of our size.
"We are extremely proud of what they have done in this competition and they have been rewarded with an opportunity that they may never experience again."
The trip to the south west was the sixth time in eight ties in the competition that Chelmer Valley had been drawn away from home, and it was a nervous start from both sides in the South West.
The early exchanges were littered with errors, but slowly the visitors settled and they had the first real chance when Joe Jones crossed but Brampton headed wide from five yards out.
But the home side then got on the front foot and had a number of chances before the interval, but goalkeeper Matt Turner and some last-ditch challenges from his back four kept them out.
And with 50 minutes on the clock Chelmer Valley grabbed the opener when good work from Max Turkentine on the right ended with an accurate cross for Brampton to volley home.
Hele's poured forward in search of an equaliser, but the excellent Chelmer Valley defence – which has been breached just four times in the eight rounds they have played – stood firm.
And it could have got even better for Chelmer Valley as Adam Fowles rattled the crossbar and Kieran Adams fired wide when well placed.
