WHEN she struggled to find a local football team for her youngest son, Gillian Bell took matters into her own hands and formed a new under-8s side.

Bell, one of the few female managers in the York area, assembled a squad for that age group at Huntington Junior Football Club and the team has gone from strength to strength.

The Hopgrove-based boys are coached by parent Darren Handley, while Bell is also currently taking an FA coaching course.

A National Lottery grant helped Bell and Handley buy goalposts and other equipment for the team, while York-based travel company Superbreak have stepped in to sponsor the youngsters’ kit.

Bell said: “My youngest boy, Finn, wanted to join a team but there was no team for that age group in our area.

“Starting in August, we managed to set up a new team for the community.

“We contacted all the local schools and now we have got 13 boys signed on and are looking to run a second team.

“Darren Handley has been great and it really is a team effort. My son Joel and Darren’s son Oliver help out with the team, Finn and Darren’s other son Edward play for the team, and Finn’s brother Sam, who is 16, referees the home matches.”

The players had a major say in choosing the team’s new kit, opting for York City colours having been inspired by the Minstermen’s Wembley double last season as Gary Mills’ men won the FA Trophy and Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final.

The Bootham Crescent club helped the team celebrate the arrival of their Superbreak-sponsored strip by sending striker Jamie Reed and winger Alex Rodman along to meet the players.

Bell said: “The players didn’t know what to do when Jamie and Alex turned up. It was great.

“We would like to say a big thank you to Superbreak for helping out by sponsoring the kit – and also a thank you to everyone else who has helped us.”

The team trains at Hopgrove sports ground on Tuesdays, from 6pm to 7pm, and plays matches in the York Mitchell Sports League on Sunday mornings. Anyone interested in joining the squad should phone Bell on 07549 825320.