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Blackpool youngsters given treat by football stars
SOUTH Shore youngsters will be ahead of the game thanks to expert coaching from their football icons.
Teenagers in care homes across the Fylde coast not only got to rub shoulders with England international Gavin McCann, Fleetwood FC captain Jamie Milligan and former Blackpool favourite John Hills, they are also going to be trained by them.
Some 22 youngsters from across the country, including 12 from the Fylde coast, will start the new year with one goal in mind – to score top marks in the FA Level 1 coaching course.
Bolton Wanderers midfielder McCann, who starred in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first England squad and hails from the Fylde, said: "It's all about how we can help the kids in care and what opportunities we can give them.
"They all love football but they've never been given the chance to do something like this before. It's putting them on the foot of the ladder and they can take it as far as they want.
"This gives the kids something to focus on. The local football clubs could employ them, it'll open up a lot of doors for them.
"Most young lads and girls are interested in football. We've had a game with them, they were really keen."
The course, which will run in the indoor sports centre at Stanley Park in January, will cover coaching skills, first aid, health and diet.
Paddy Row, 15, said: "I can't wait. We don't get chances like this often. It was great meeting the footballers.
"Hopefully, it'll be a good starting point for a career in coaching. I love football."
The three footballers, who also run a Fylde soccer school for children and young people, will spend a whole day with the budding coaches.
Jamie Milligan said: " It's half classroom based and half practical. They'll be shown how to work with and how to coach children. They'll take turns coaching a group, it'll be a great day. At the end of it they'll be qualified to come and help run our soccer school."
The course will be sponsored by Northern Care – which looks after children and young people aged five to 19 years old.
Terry Green, manager for Northern Care, said: "People are a bit sceptical about kids in care but we're with them 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. They want to do this course because they know it'll make them stand out from the crowd."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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