AN Accrington community organisation has launched its own football club.

Community Solutions North West (CSNW) is hoping to ‘create a positive atmosphere’, and focus on ‘the benefits of football to the local community’.

The club will field two teams, which will play in a Manchester-based league, and play their home games in Burnley.

CSNW director, and manager of one of the teams, Mark Hirst, said: “Football brings people together on so many levels, and we are looking forward to developing these opportunities to engage with more local people. ”

CSNW runs Street Soccer Academy, which works with vulnerable men, using football as an introduction to wrap around support services, to meet their individual needs.

Local company Citrus Training Solutions has agreed to sponsor the club’s new kits.

Centre manager John Pickup said: “Citrus Training Solutions is a forward thinking company that offers a wide range of apprenticeships, training programmes, short courses and back-to-work schemes.

“Links with partners, such as Community Solutions, will help us to maximise our outreach, and also support groups that are vulnerable within society to progress in their chosen career,” he added.