BUDDING footballers got stuck in at the first session of a new youth football club set up by the Cherries.

The after-school Satellite Club, which runs on Mondays at the Bourne Academy, provides training by top coaches from the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust for boys and girls of all ages and abilities.

The Trust plans to forge connections with other local football clubs and help them boost their membership, while the most talented youngsters may even make it to the Cherries' own Academy.

"We were extremely pleased with the turnout in our new Satellite Club venture at The Bourne Academy," said the Trust's Andrew Battison.

"To have over 60 players in attendance was fantastic, and we look to continue the programme over the next five weeks and possibly beyond.

"This will be a way into the club for the best players, and others will be linked with local clubs around the area.

"The intention is for this to run for 33 weeks of the year in term-time with holiday activities.

"The academy has excellent facilities and it is good for us to be going into an area of Bournemouth we traditionally haven't gone to."

The club is the first part of the Trust's plans for further promoting youth football in the community, developed in partnership with Sport England and the County Sports Partnership.

Other plans in the works include holiday activities, coach education, work experience and visits to the stadium for selected groups.

"We are proud and delighted to be hosting AFC Bournemouth at the academy," said Caroline Gobell, the school's business director.

"Our young people are very excited about this new football club, and we hope that many students from surrounding schools will come and join in the fun.

"We have been involved with the club for a while and they have coached our girls team.

"It is fantastic what they are doing, they have a whole team out in the community. They can see this school was once in dire straits but is now rising up like a phoenix, just as they are."

Sessions run on Mondays from 5-6pm for under-12s and from 6-7pm for children aged 12 and over.

For more information contact Mr Battison on 07887384762 or email andrew.battison@afcb.co.uk.