Youth footballers at Cromer are celebrating today winning a �5,000 grant from the Football Foundation, which will help some of its youngest players.

It will enable the club - recently in the news as it re-energises itslong-running battle to find a home ground in the town - to boost the new under-7s team which feeds players up to the higher age groups as they progress through the club.

The award will go towards the recruitment and training of new volunteers to fulfil coaching and administrative roles.

Cromer Youth FC chairman Chris Lightfoot said: 'This grant will help us develop the next generation of footballers for the club.

'The award will help the children develop their skills and knowledge about the game, however most importantly provide the opportunity for them to enjoy themselves and have fun. Without the support of the Football Foundation things like this would not be attainable.'

Funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the government via Sport England, the Football Foundation is the nation's largest sports charity. Since the Foundation was set up in 2000 it has worked closely with the Norfolk FA to support 194 grass roots sports projects across the county with grants worth �5.7m. These grants have attracted further partnership funding of �5.9m into the area's grass roots.

Foundation chief executive Paul Thorogood said: 'Credit should go to Cromer Youth FC and the Norfolk FA for securing this Grow the Game funding, which is giving crucial financial support to grass roots clubs across the country, enabling them to provide new footballing opportunities for boys and girls of all ages, and significantly increases football participation.

'This new project in Cromer is but one example of thousands across the country that the Football Foundation is supporting with money provided by our funding partners.'