POLICE in an area of York are giving antisocial behaviour the boot by offering football training sessions for youngsters.

Officers from the Hull Road safer neighbourhoods team have linked up with coaches from York City Football Club’s community team to launch a weekly community football event for young people, to give them something positive to do at night instead of loitering on the streets.

The sessions take place every Thursday between 6pm and 8pm and are open to all youngsters in the area. Police plan to get them involved in some local matches in the near future.

Sgt Andy Duffield, who works in the Hull Road ward, said: “We have started a weekly football session, involving the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, York City Football Club community team, and Derwent Junior School who have provided their pitch to play on.

“Sports Unlimited UK have provided the funding to run the sessions. We wanted to do something to get the local kids off the streets and to get them involved in sport and exercise.”

He said the sessions were open to any youngsters in the area. Initially all the younger and older children are playing together but as more children become interested there is funding to run two separate teams: one for ages seven to 12 and the other for older children.

Police officers hope the weekly football will cut antisocial behaviour by giving young people something to do. Local police officers will take part in training sessions alongside the youngsters For more information, phone the Hull Road policing team on 01904 421301.

The next session will be held at 6pm on Thursday, at Derwent Junior School.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police’s safer neighbourhoods teams have launched a series of successful football initiatives across the city.

Earlier this year officers from teams across the west of York came together to organise a day of football tournaments to help build a better relationship between young people and the police.

And police officers from Clifton teamed up with York City FC earlier this year to provide a five-week football initiative for people aged 16 to 25.