KIDDERMINSTER Harriers’ youth academy boss Steve Guinan says winning a silver medal with Great Britain at the World University Games was a huge achievement.

The 37-year-old former striker, also assistant coach of the national student team, watched on as his players were edged out 3-2 after extra-time by France in the final in Russia.

In the semi-final, they defeated the host nation 5-3 on penalties, having drawn 1-1, to ensure they went one better than their GB counterparts of two years ago who won bronze.

Team GB also beat Ukraine 1-0 in the quarter-finals, as well as defeating Malaysia 2-0 and losing 1-0 to Italy in the group stages.

Around 10,000 were in Kazan to see the final and Guinan believes the experience will be invaluable.

“The tournament is something that will stick with me forever, it was a great life experience,” he said.

“The scale of it was enormous, even the food hall was the size of an aircraft hanger and packed with different nations.”

Guinan added: “It was like nothing I had experienced before.”

Guinan, also part of Steve Burr’s first team coaching staff at Aggborough, continued: “Playing Russia in the semi-finals was our final really.

“They had a guy playing who was worth about £3million and had played up front for Rubin Kazan.

“The Italian side was packed full of guys who ply their trade in Serie ‘B’ while our squad was made up of players from non-league, so it was a huge achievement to win a silver medal.”