DUSTY Miller has the right attitude when it comes to football -- play with a smile on your face and keep your discipline.

Ever since Dusty formed Knuzden Youth Football Club back in 1990 those were the two key elements he has installed in to his players.

And it has served him well for more than a decade.

"Every pre-season I sit the new lads down and tell them what I expect at the club," explained Dusty. "It is not a case of me laying down the law. It is an open forum, a chance for the lads to have their say. But by the end of it they know exactly where they stand."

So proud is Dusty is getting his lads to play football 'the right way' that every Sportsmanship award is just as important as winning a league title or cup final.

"It is such a great feeling to go up on stage at the end of the season to pick up your winner's trophies then go up again later to receive the Sportman's award.

"That is what football is all about."

Dusty is first to admit that he has no magic wand to wave to turn tear aways in to saints overnight.

"I've had to sack my fair share of players in my time. Players who were not willing to conform but I don't rule with a rod of iron. The lads know how far they can push me and we can all have a laugh."

Dusty formed Knuden Youth back in April 1990 after seeing too many kids hanging around on street corners getting themselves in to trouble.

He said: "I went in to all of the local schools and got permission off the headteacher to talk to the lads. I asked all those who were already signed up with clubs to leave the room. I wasn't left with the best of players!"

But in the club's inaugural season, Dusty assembled a side good enough to win the Accrington Boys League Consolation Cup.

"What a great feeling that was," recalls Dusty. "I only started the team up as a bit of a tongue-in-cheek sort of thing to keep the lads out of trouble. But it was great to see those lads win a trophy in their first season." And it was in that first season that Dusty first started his fund-raising campaign to get the kids kitted out.

"I remember one lad getting a bit of stick because he wasn't wearing the right trainers and realised I had to do something about it -- that's when I decided to raise money to get the team tracksuits."

Dusty, being Dusty, came up with a cunning plan.

He said: "I needed new double glazing so I went around all the local businesses offering my business but only in exchange for a set of tracksuits. It ended up costing my £1,100 but it was worth it!

"It was a bit cheeky of me but if you don't ask you don't get."

Dusty's fund-raising abilities has matched his abilities on the pitch. For while he has managed teams to league and cup glory in the Accrington Boy's League, Warburton's Burnley and District League and the Blackburn Youth League -- Dusty has made sure he has raised enough money to keep his players kitted out and fund end of season football trips.

He's even bought a minibus.

"We've been to every Blackpool Spring Festival since the club formed," said Dusty proudly. "It's my way of saying thank-you to the lads for staying loyal to the club."

However, he makes sure his lads are on their best behaviour and dressed correctly.

"It's good to see the lads all in uniform, whether it is shirt and tie, tracksuits or training tops. It looks smart and it is good for the club."

And Dusty is quick to jump on anyone who doesn't toe the line.

"At one recent game one of the lads turned up and he wasn't wearing his training top so I told him he wasn't playing -- and he was bigger than me! But he didn't do it again."

Knuzden currently have six sides, including a senior team which has enable the club to get the conveyor belt system going -- something Dusty has always looked to achieve.

"I first started up with an under 11s team 12 years ago and now a lot of those lads are playing for the senior side. The conveyor belt is something I always wanted to see happen because I think it is great to see lads move up through the age groups and in to the senior side."

Dusty loves to see his sides win but knows there is more to life than football.

He said: "If you win, you win, if you lose, you lose. After all there is more important things in life isn't there."

Wise words Dusty. Wise words.