Rochdale's Asia FC are the North West 11-a-side football champions after winning this year's Asian Image cup.

Director of Asia FC and coorganiser of the tournament, Sajid Maqbool was thrilled with the outcome and praised the application and efforts of the whole squad in winning this prestigious prize and competing in the UK Championships against the best seven teams from around the country.

They will now go on to represent the North West at the National Asian Football championships in Scotland in September with the UK Final being played at Celtic Park. This year participants were; Canaries FC, Preston; Paak Utd, Nelson; Blackburn Utd, Bradford; Coppice Fc (Oldham); Fishwick Rangers, Preston; Glasgow Ansaar and Asia FC from Rochdale. Asia FC have now been crowned champions twice in four years and did it again by going all the way unbeaten.

Asia FC disposed of Fishwick Rangers with ease, Khaser Ahmed pulling all the strings from midfield with Muzzy and Yasser giving the fallbacks a hard time with some dazzling runs down the flanks. Adam Karim and Shez looked very comfortable at the back, closing down any rare attacks very quickly. Asia FC ran out 3-0 winners, Sabri, Khaser and Yasser amongst the goalscorers.

In their final group game Asia just needed a draw to qualify for the final and trailed by two goals to Nelson's Paak United at half-time. It remained this way with only fifteen minutes remaining. Paak United had their thoughts on the final to be played at Nelson FC’s ground the day after but Asia had other ideas and never gave up, they grew stronger as the game progressed and continued to play some excellent football.

They were rewarded with a stunning strike from Salim Khamisa from just over 25 yards. Asia continued to put Paak under immense pressure, launching attack after attack and were awarded a penalty five minutes before the final whistle. Khaser coolly slotted the ball past Saqib to send Asia into ecstasy, but Asia were still not finished and went looking for the winner and came with an excellent break with Zaighem Khan making a run, the full length of the pitch to finish off an excellent move that buried Paak Utd and secured Asia’s passage to the Final against Blackburn United.

The Final played at Nelson football ground on Sunday began as a nervous and cagey affair with both sides failing to create any clear-cut chances.

Asia had their chances but failed to create any clear opportunites and kept Blackburn at bay for the first half. The second half, Asia stepped up a gear and hit the bar, the post and two wonder saves by the Blackburn keeper Anjum to deny Asia.

Blackburn were pinned to their own half in the second half of the game, and Asia even had a goal disallowed. Manager Saeed Ahmed then sent on substitute Abid Uddin who completely turned the game in their favour. As soon as he took to the pitch he had an impact creating a sense of panic in the United back-four. As the game headed towards extratime a penalty gave Asia the opportunity to settle the fixure.

Uddin stepped forward and slotted the ball home, past the despairing keeper Anjum and the celebrations could begin. Asia FC – Rochdale once again have become North-West champions!