YOUNGSTERS at a Bolton academy have been joining in with a string of Wanderers run football sessions.

This comes as the club’s official charity, Bolton Wanderers in the Community, expands to reach a wider audience across the borough.

As a result Kearsley Academy has been hosting sessions with the charity for 11 to 17 year olds, from the academy and the wider community, offering footballing skills from Wanderers coaches and community workers, with first team players also attending in some cases.

Principal Kim McKee said: “I’m incredibly proud for Kearsley Academy to be hosting such a popular event within the Bolton community, with great use of our state-of-the-art facilities. The football sessions are a fantastic opportunity for the people within our local community, and they are heavily attended by our students.”

This has come at a fortunate time for Kearsley Academy, run by the Northern Education Trust, which installed a new 3G pitch in 2019 and which runs a football summer school, backed by Wanderers.

Staff at Kearsley says they now have some of the best footballing facilities in Bolton.

As a result, there has been a high uptake of participation from the community.

According to the academy, on average each football session sees 65 to 70 participants, one of the largest attended events currently running in the scheme.

Coaches say they have been impressed by the turnout and the attitude of the children and young adults attending the sessions.

As well as teaching football skills, the club charity's supporters also say the scheme aims to promote inclusivity and aims to be open and welcoming to different demographics.

Mrs McKee added: “Some of our previous students have also attended and it’s been wonderful to see familiar faces supporting the event and role-modelling for younger students.

"It provides new opportunities, and a chance to be a part of the national programme Premier League Kicks.”