THE Milborne Sports Mini Soccer Development Centre is continuing to go from strength to strength under the guidance of Bob Mowlem.

With 48 years of experience, the popular coach has a proven track record of developing young footballers at grassroots level, with many of them going on to represent senior clubs such Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, Weymouth, Dorchester Town, Bridport and Portland United.

And already within the first few months of its life, Mowlem has helped attract 45 budding players to the centre, which not only holds weekly fun training sessions under floodlights but also arranges the occasional mixed age group friendly against other local clubs.

The eventual aim of the centre is to organise all of the children into teams that will then play matches each week and Mowlem is excited about the prospect.

Looking back at how coaching juniors has developed over the years, Mowlem said: “When I first started forming clubs I was able to pay all the running costs out of my own pocket and initially did so when I was still on apprentice wages.

“It was just several one man bands running kids soccer to keep them off the streets. Today, besides the cost of pitches and equipment there is a host of other expenses, including qualification courses, CRB checks, insurance and so on.

“Another big difference is that for many years there was no strict age grouping for players. If they were physically strong enough and had the ability, they played at the highest possible level.

“That way the most talented lads improved their game and it was very rare to see a one-sided game as everyone was at their own ability level not just playing kids their own age.”

Things are clearly very different now but Mowlem has kept up to date by becoming an FA Level Two qualified coach, while the centre itself has managed to kit itself out with the basic equipment and training strip thanks to support from Service Appliances Blandford and DCM Tyres.

Any boy or girl, aged between five and 10, is welcome to attend the centre, irrespective of their ability level, and anyone wishing to sample some training sessions on Wednesday evenings at the ground are advised to contact Mowlem on 751930 or 07742139209.