TEKKERS: Llansamlet and Briton Ferry pupils chase first Cwpan Cymru crown in S4C football knockout

Young footballers from Llansamlet are heading for the national spotlight as S4C football gameshow Tekkers returns with a knockout twist. They are joined by a team from Briton Ferry for the show’s third series.

Pupils from Ysgol Lôn Las and Ysgol Tyle’r Ynn are two of the 16 primary school teams competing in Tekkers: Cwpan Cymru, which kicks off on Friday 4 September at 5.15pm.

The series airs on Stwnsh, S4C‘s service for children.

The full box set of episodes drops the same day on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer, with English subtitles available.

For the first time the show has a knockout element, with teams from Prestatyn to Penarth and Aberaeron to Cross Keys battling for a place in the latter stages.

The four teams with the highest scores from the opening round advance to the semi-finals, and the winning semi-finalists meet in a grand final to be crowned the first ever Tekkers: Cwpan Cymru champions.

Presenters Heledd Anna, Lloyd Lewis and Huw Owen return to lead the teams through football-themed games testing the young players’ skills, from passing and dribbling to shooting and goalkeeping.

Lloyd Lewis said the new series was the show’s very own World Cup competition format. “Which school will be the ultimate champion at the end of the series? It’s all to play for as teams from all over Wales descend on the Tekkers stadium,” he said.

“Before crowning the champions, the teams will need to tackle new games including a goalkeeping challenge whilst wearing zorbs, the colourful crossbar challenge and a penalty shoot-out against a giant darts board.”

Ysgol Tyle’r Ynn and their Llansamlet rivals will need to finish among the top four scorers in the opening round to keep their hopes of the trophy alive.

Swansea schools have form on the show. In the second series last winter, Ysgol Bryn y Môr was among the teams competing for the Tekkers Trophy.

Ysgol Tan y Lan from Morriston also featured. So did Ysgol Gymraeg Pontardawe.

The semi-finals kick off on Friday 30 October, before the grand final is broadcast on Friday 13 November.

A festive special will also feature in S4C’s Christmas schedule, with Caernarfon school Ysgol Maesincla taking on Ysgol Y Castell from Caerphilly for the Tekkers Christmas Trophy.

The show is a Boom Cymru production, and Irish-language broadcaster TG4 has bought the format for viewers in Ireland.

Tekkers: Cwpan Cymru starts on Stwnsh on Friday 4 September at 5.15pm, with all episodes available from the same day on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.