A 17-year-old football coach from Soham has set up a community programme to help get young people into football.

Alfie Tate, who is based in Ely and currently coaches at Mildenhall Town FC and within their youth set-up, has already had 78 children sign up for the Soccer Tots and Skills Centre initiative.

The programme, now in its seventh week, is aimed at three to six-year-olds (soccer tots) and seven to 13-year-olds.

He said: “The idea is to help engage local children into football through a fun and engaging environment but also to connect the club and the local community together. “It’s given the children a pathway to go and play for our academy side’s next season starting from U7 - U18.

“Next season, I will be becoming foundation phase lead which is overseeing the age groups between U7 - U12 as well as managing the community programme.

“Both will go hand in hand in creating and developing future footballers.”