THE 50th anniversary of a national sporting achievement will be celebrated next month.

For some people of a certain age, July 1, 1969 might be remembered as the day when Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales in Caernarfon Castle.

However, to pupils of a certain vintage who attended Denbigh High School, July 1, 1969 will be a date never to be forgotten for a different reason.

On this day 50 years ago, the Denbigh High School football team won the final of the Ivor Tuck Cup by defeating Barry Comprehensive School for Boys.

The Ivor Tuck Cup was open to all schools in Wales and as such, Denbigh High School proved themselves to be the best U-19 school team throughout the nation.

What made the victory in the final even more notable was that the school from Barry had over five times the number of students from which to select their team.

It could be argued that the winning of the Ivor Tuck Cup is the outstanding performance in the history of team sport in Denbigh.

Under the leadership of the head of PE Charlie Hughes, it is testimony to the exceptional strength in depth of football in those days in Denbigh High School that during the following season, the 1970 team also reached the final of this all Wales competition before losing narrowly to Afon Taf High School from Merthyr Tydfil, another school with a much larger student population.

To mark the 50th anniversary of this victory, team captain John Phillips is arranging a reunion at Clwb Rygbi Dinbych on Friday, June 28 (7pm).

It must be stressed that this celebration is not restricted to players of the 1969 and 1970 teams.

Supporters, friends, families and former pupils are all warmly invited to attend.

It will be an opportunity to remember the excellence of both teams and tickets are priced at £10 per person, to include a hog roast (vegetarian options will be available on request).

Anyone interested in attending should contact John Phillips by e-mailing jedphillips@btinternet.com