A PIONEERING soccer school designed to encourage deaf and hearing impaired children to become more involved in football has scored a winner with young children in Preston.

A total of 26 pupils at Royal Cross Primary School for the Deaf in Preston will graduate from the first ever Hear the Cheer soccer school following ten weeks of specialist football coaching.

The specially devised course is designed to teach pupils basic skills including dribbling, passing and shooting. As well as presenting 'graduation' certificates to the budding Beckhams, the ceremony will include awards for the Most Improved Player, Best Player and the Hear the Cheer Sports Personality.

Coaches have been specially trained in teaching disabled players and have completed deaf awareness courses hosted by Phonak. They are also attending sign language classes to ensure hearing impaired children receive the maximum in football education.