A SATURDAY morning soccer course for service family children at Fulwood Barracks is attracting top young talent from around the neighbourhood.

Many of the youngsters play for the top youth teams in the area and six from the senior age group have had trials at Preston North End.

Warrant officer Ged Starkey of the 1st Battalion, The King's Regiment, explained: "We started with just a handful of youngsters but it's grown.

"And what is even more pleasing is that we are attracting a number of youngsters from the local ethnic minority groups."

Ged, 39, is a licensed coach with the Football Association and UEFA and the barracks are registered with the FA as Fulwood Soccer Centre.

And Ged is in good company with fellow coaches Charlie Gorton and Laura Culrden -- the latter plays for Preston North End Ladies and helps several young girls who attend the sessions.

Ged added: "We don't organise teams of our own but many of the youngsters leave here and head for their own clubs ready for battle.

"I enjoy it. I'm already a youth coach on a part-time basis with PNE and I like to see the children enjoy themselves. It's a good environment for them to practice in."

Springfield and Preston Town are just two of the local sides with youngsters on their books who benefit from the course.

The coaching sessions are linked in with the FA Soccer Stars awards from which each player receives an award and certificate from the FA noting their achievements after 10 weeks.

In July, Ged is planning to run a course to train adults who want to become FA Junior Manager Team Coaches -- for details, call him on 07974 189626.