DORCHESTER Town Football Club is looking to build on its role as a community club by inspiring the next generation.

The club held its first ever Junior Magpies Soccer School during the October half term, with more than 50 children attending over the three days.

All participants were given the opportunity to develop their footballing skills and mental approach to the game, with the course led by qualified coach and club general manager Mark Robinson.

Across the three days the children were able to experience a number of football drills and enhance their skills before using them in small sided games.

Mr Robinson said that, as well as the children, there were a number of people he wanted to thank for helping to make the event a success, including reserve team coach Rich Robson and first team player Jason Brookes.

On the first afternoon the children got to meet some of the first team players, who chatted and signed autographs.

Parents were also invited to come along and spectate before they collected their youngster and the course ended with a presentation session of certificates, medals and gifts on the final afternoon.

Mr Robinson said: "The key to the event was to encourage the local youngsters to come and play football at the stadium and feel part of the club, learning new skills and developing the ones they already had.

"But most of all it allowed the young players the opportunity to come to a football specific coaching session away from their clubs and be allowed to express themselves and play with a smile on their faces and regardless of the session outcomes have fun.

"I see too often young players having pressure and criticism applied to them, this and future Junior Magpies Soccer Schools are about learning and enjoying having the ball at your feet."

Mr Robinson added that the hoped the experience and coaching the children enjoyed would also help to improve their attitude to school and help improve their play at their respective football clubs.

He said he hoped they had been inspired by the experience and opportunity to play at the Avenue Stadium.