A NEW under-7s side at Haxby Town Junior Football Club get their first taste of action in the York Mitchell Sports League tomorrow.

Haxby play host to Wigginton Grasshoppers as the Fair Play League gets underway for U7s and U8s.

Junior secretary Neil Thorbinson, who coaches Haxby sides at U12s and over, said the club were pro-active in forming the U7s squad.

“I’ve been going round the schools trying to get children involved,” he said. “I think it’s important to give children the opportunity to play football.”

He added: “It saddens me that there aren’t as many teams around these days.”

Thorbinson said the philosophy of the club was to try to help children enjoy the sport.

“This is a community-run club, with a low signing-on fee.

“We don’t turn kids away on the basis of not being good enough; we just give them a chance to play.

“At the moment we have a manageable squad, but new players are always welcome. The club is going from strength to strength and we foresee a very bright future.”

The U7s will be sporting a new kit for their opener against Grasshoppers after securing sponsorship.

Backers D & M Builders are run by the parents of one of the players.

Thorbinson said the club has searched long and hard for assistance.

“It was very hard,” he said. “I’d been walking round all the shops looking for a sponsor.”

The U7s team trains at the Ethel Ward Playing Fields, in Haxby, every Saturday at 10.30am.

The team is managed by Ollie Maskell, a former Haxby Town player.

Maskell said: “We have a good group of children who train every Saturday in all types of weather, which goes to show their commitment.

“Everyone is looking forward to playing some league games now after previously playing a few friendlies.”

Andy Farrar, Rob Webb and Gordon Smith assist Maskell.

Meanwhile, Haxby Town already have plans to field an U9s team in the York Mitchell Sports League next season.