A GROUP of Bolton youngsters are getting to grips with gridiron.

The town has a new junior American football team -- and it was playing its first match today.

The Bolton Braves were taking on the Chorley Buccaneers at Holy Cross School playing fields in Chorley for a game of "flag" football -- a junior non-contact version of American football.

Just a year ago, a group of young American Football fans from Lever Edge launched an appeal in the Bolton Evening News for coaches to come forward to teach them flag football.

Two coaches from the Chorley Buccaneers American Football Club offered their services and the youngsters joined the Buccaneers squad.

Then a few months ago, twelve of them formed their own team -- the Bolton Braves.

The Braves have both boys and girls in their squad and have a cadet side for eight to 11-year-olds and and junior side, for 11 to 15-year-olds. They practise every Monday night at Sunnyside Community Centre in Great Lever.

Assistant coach Ian Kay, aged 20, said: "Flag football is a slimmed down version of American football.

"You only need five players on a side and both boys and girls can play.

"They really enjoy it.

"The children are really too young at this age to be tackling each other."

In flag football players are not allowed to tackle each other but have to grab flags from each other's backs. Once players are 16 they can progress to playing American football.

While today's game is a "friendly", the team is hoping to start competing in the national British Youth American Football Association league next year, which will see them pit their skills against teams from across the country.

Local American Football Great Britain junior international Adam Biggs, from Lostock, is also helping the Braves out and giving them a few tips of how to get to the top of the game.

And it seems as if the Lever Edge community has already taken the Bolton Braves to heart before they have even played a game.

The Rosenheath Tenants and Residents Association have already applied for a grant to help buy the team its own kit.

Braves player Anthony Hulton, aged 12, a pupil at Harper Green School said: "When I first heard about flag football it was not one of the sports I would have chosen to do, but Once I gave it a try I realised it was fun. The coaches are brilliant.

"It is a bit funny playing against girls -- especially because one of them is better than me."

Fellow Braves player Chris Duggan, also aged12 and a Harper Green pupil, said: "You have to be really good at dodging out of the way to stop other players taking the flag off your back."