DURHAM City Football Club has launched coaching sessions for local schoolchildren who could be the supporters of the future.

Manager Brian Honour and coach Chris Emerson are visiting primary schools to pass on valuable playing and training skills to the youngsters.

The Albany Northern League club has teamed up with the city council to hold soccer camps during the summer holidays, and is promoting them through the school visits.

The club has ambitions of rising through the football pyramid to the Nationwide Conference.

It is also building a £3.5m "soccarena" complex next to its New Ferens Park ground, featuring 14 six-a-side pitches that will be used by schools, clubs and FA Schools of Excellence.

President and chairman Stuart Dawson said: "We have written to schools offering them an hour's free coaching by Brian and Chris, who are UEFA B qualified coaches.

"The response has been tremendous and they keep asking for us to go back. It looks like there is a real need for it.

"We give the girls and boys coaching and leave leaflets about the soccer camps.

"When the Soccarena is up and running we'll give schools use, during the off-peak times during the day."

Mr Honour said: "One of the main reasons for doing it is to lift the profile of the club.

"When you go into schools half are Newcastle fans and half are Sunderland. We'd like the children to become the future supporters of Durham City.

"The club has got big ambitions to progress and one of the ways we can do that is to increase the fan base."

The soccer camps will include a specialist goalkeeping course taken by ex-Sunderland keeper, Tony Norman. It will be aimed at youngsters aged seven to 14.

The first will be held at New Ferens Park from July 23 to 27, the second from July 30 to August 3 at Meadowfield Sports Centre.

The third will be at New Ferens Park, between August 13 and 17, the fourth at Coxhoe Sports Centre, from August 20 to 24, and the last will be at New Ferens Park, between August 28 and 31. The cost is £3 a day.

Youngsters will get free tickets to see Durham City's pre-season friendlies against Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Carlisle.