A NEW footy coach has been specially drafted in to put youngsters from Skerton through their paces in time for next season. Lancashire referee Mike Rawes has offered to drill a senior team of lads after the Citizen donated five footballs to the Skerton Community Association. Meanwhile work has begun to renovate the association's future home - the derelict St John Ambulance building, near Slyne Road.

The football team was launched after crowds of people turned out to watch youngsters from Skerton, Beaumont and the Vale challenge local bobbies to an end of season friendly to bolster community spirit north of the river last month.

Now, Mike hopes he'll get the lads fit enough to compete in the Lancashire Football Association Under 18s Knock-Out Cup.

He told the Citizen: "There's a lot of encouragement from the lads and they really want to give it a go. I'll try and get them a place in the Under-18s and then we'll see how it goes from there. They seem really keen."

Leo Rowett, a member of the Skerton Community Association, said the lads will be able to start training on King George's field in the next few weeks.

So far between 18 and 25 youngsters are interested in joining the senior team and another 16 children are interested in joining a junior team.

He said: "Everything's really taken off, miracles can happen."

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