OVER the past 12 months Cinderford Town FC has been working hard to get youth football back up and running in the locality.

"Having started with running coaching sessions on a Sunday morning for 4-7 year-olds we've quickly expanded to running three sessions on a Sunday morning and one session on a Thursday night," said a spokesman. 

"Slowly our age groups are expanding as well, now starting from 3 years-old going through to 9 year-olds.

"The summer of 2012 saw our coaching sessions move forward when we entered several Under 7 football tournaments in Abbeymead, Quedgley, Mitcheldean and Hereford.

"Although this was the first taste of competitive football for our players they performed superbly and got better the more games they played.

"With the success of the side in the summer it was decided that we should enter a team in the Mid Glos Mini Soccer Under-8 five-a-side friendly league, but with more players signing up and the quality of player improving it was decided that this wouldn't give enough opportunities to enough players. 

"Quickly this was changed to entering two sides, both of which have started the season extremely impressively.

"We have received huge support from Forest View School who allow us to play all our league home games on their school pitch as well as received backing from two local companies (RWW Property Maintenance and an anonymous donation) who have sponsored kits."

Training takes place every Sunday morning with a range of age groups and ability on Cinderford Town's pitch every week.  A new session has been added on a Thursday night for the league teams which takes place under the floodlights at the Causeway or on the STP at Heywood Leisure Centre.

"We're continuing to expand with a new Under-9 team being added this season meaning that next summer we'll be entering more tournaments in all age groups (Under-9, Under-8, Under-7 and possibly even Under-5) and giving even more opportunities for children to play football," the spokesman said. 

"We also expect to enter two Under-8 teams, an Under-9 team and an Under-10 team in the leagues next season.  As a result of this we are actively looking to recruit more Under-8 and Under-9 players this season as well as looking for local companies interested in sponsoring kits and coaches interested in taking charge of the teams.

"Our aim is simple, we want to coach children from a young age and take them through all the age groups at Cinderford Town and look to get as many local players as we can into the Cinderford Town senior side as well as giving everyone an opportunity to play football.

"All the information on our coaching sessions and details of how to register your child can be found at http://www.football-1st.co.uk/coaching-sessions/">http://www.football-1st.co.uk/coaching-sessions/

"You can also click the button below to be taken straight to the registration page."