FENLAND’S young football stars are celebrating after Wisbech Town Acorns were handed a �5,000 grant by the Football Foundation.

The Acorns run a host of youth teams, accepting players from the age of six right up to 16. The ‘Grow the Game’ grant will help the club continue to grow, with additional FA qualified coaches set to be appointed.

Rob Gifford, the club’s chairman, said: “Acorns are not a big club, but we do things as professionally as we can. We have held Charter Standard status for five years and are currently working on our Development Club status.

“It has been a long hard haul to get player numbers up and sustain them over the years. Getting qualified coaches to run the teams has also been a major problem with coaches leaving either because their child stops playing or because their circumstances change.

“In the current economic climate it can be really difficult to attract sponsors for kits, meaning club funds are being utilised to maximum capacity.

“This grant is therefore a real boost which will enable us to continue to grow and develop the future of Wisbech Town Acorns.”

Kelley Lewis, vice-chairman, said: “The dedication of volunteers at Wisbech Town Acorns is second to none, and we could not have grown and developed without it.

“Receiving this grant from the Football Foundation is a massive boost to assist us in our achieving our goals, and is recognition of everyone’s hard work and devotion to the game we all love.”

The Acorns thanked Liqui Moly for their sponsorship which has allowed them to provide training shirts for more than 100 players.

The club has also joined forces with Asda to offer youngsters free sports sessions as part of the Sporting Chance programme.

Children across Fenland will be able to attend a free coaching session with the Acorns if their parents pick up a special voucher from their nearest Asda store.

Level Two Coach Gifford said: “We are proud to have been approached by Asda to take part in the programme and both the club and I are 100% behind the idea of getting more kids involved in sporting activity.

“Football at grass roots level is for everyone, not just the talented, naturally gifted players and my club’s ethos is based around the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to engage in sport.”