A SCHEME to promote the image of football in the community took place yesterday when Middlesbrough star Gareth Southgate met secondary school youngsters.

Last year Conyers School, in Yarm, received a £304,000 donation from the Football Foundation to develop a floodlit, full-size synthetic turf pitch for the use of students, players with disabilities and the community.

The aim was to provide a structured community football programme, develop curriculum activities and increase after-school football coaching to more than 220 players aged from seven to 11.

Southgate visited the school to watch the children perform some of their footballing skills.

They have been helped by DS Craig Hobbs, who coaches the Yarm Town Juniors Club.

Dee Crater, goldsport administrator at the school, said: "Gareth not only watched demonstrations by the youngsters but also was here to promote the image of footballers in the community and to promote them as decent people."

The school now hopes to set up a local girls' league by September.

Disabled players will be encouraged to take part in local "soccability" festivals and there are plans to provide weekly coaching sessions for people with learning disabilities.