Footballing stars of the future enjoy holiday fun in Lowestoft

Football fun attracted dozens of children as they enjoyed the half term holidays.

Youngsters aged between seven and 13 took part in two football fun days at the home of Lowestoft Town FC last week.

Coaches from Lowestoft Town Sports Academy – including current first team players – passed on tips to aspiring youngsters at Crown Meadow.

Josh Miller, Academy Community Manager for the club, said: 'It has been a really successful two days. We have had lots of fun activities, including penalty shoot out and beat the keeper, and put the children into teams for an afternoon tournament. Everyone has enjoyed it.'

With the emphasis on fun during the two days, it was the chance for the youngsters to keep active during half term, pick up some footballing tips from the coaches – who included first team defender Travis Cole and Lowestoft Ladies' Abbie Everson – and learn more about the club, as Lowestoft continue to 'embrace more people in the community,' according to Mr Miller.

Representatives from sponsors Africa Alive! also attended last week's fun days. Mr Miller said: 'Having Travis and Abbie here as coaches, who play for the club, it has made the youngsters feel part of the set up. It is great to have the players getting involved in the community. We have had Reggie the Lion – the mascot from Africa Alive! – attend and take part in some of the matches as well as pose for individual pictures with those in attendance.'

With the Lowestoft Town Sports Academy running weekly evening coaching sessions for boys and girls at Barnards Meadow, training sessions for U7 and U8 players have recently been launched to 'give them a route into football and the club,' which will hopefully see the youngsters progress into joining the academy at U9.

Two months ago, The Trawlerboys launched a new scholarship programme for the 2017/2018 season, starting from September, for 16 to 18-year-olds. Two successful trials have been held and Mr Miller said: 'We had a very high standard of players attend, which has excited the first team management.'

The selected scholars will play in two teams, as they play weekly in the competitive SCL U19 league and gain a BTEC Level 3 extended diploma in sport and coaching experience within the Lowestoft Town Sports Academy.