The recent Tenby AFC Soccer School sessions, led by Angie Nichols, went down a treat with local youngsters.

The keen footballers topped up their skills using new Fairtrade stitched footballs, donated by the Fair Trade In Football Campaign, courtesy of a Hub Cymru Africa grant.

The Soccer Schools have been running for many years years, long enough to see some of their former participants now helping with coaching.

“I used to play for Tenby AFC girls and enjoyed going to the Soccer Schools. Now I want to support them by helping out,” said Tenby based 16-year-old Neive, who has represented Wales, plays for Newcastle Emlyn and trains with Swansea City ladies.

Sharron Hardwick, Fair Trade In Football Campaign founder, donated Fairtrade footballs, seeing some familiar faces from the campaign’s annual Fairtrade football tournaments played at Tavernspite CP. The three young players, formerly of Tenby School, were excited to remember the Fairtrade visits, playing in and winning, the Fairtrade football tournament, three times!

Young coaching assistants Lori, Kyle, Will and Dylan were asked why they were giving up their half term to help out.

They replied: “We just like football! People helped us here at the Soccer School, so we like to help them.”

Introducing Fairtrade footballs to the sessions means Tenby AFC Soccer Schools are not only supporting the local community by offering quality football training, developing skills, and encouraging young people to become future coaches; they are also supporting the Sialkot football stitching community.

Choosing Fairtrade certified footballs means workers get a fair wage, with safe working conditions with workers’ rights, and no forced or child labour. Workers’ families and communities benefit from additional funds from Fairtrade premiums, a sum paid to them when each Fairtrade football is sold. Premiums have already paid for: school equipment, an eye clinic, work transport, a community water filtration system and more.

“The Soccer School sessions are a great asset to our community, they give children fun activities to help them to develop skills and make friendships,” said Sharron. “Incorporating Fairtrade into sessions strengthens the links that I have built in local schools and helps give stitchers a fair deal - it’s like the boys said: ‘they help us, we help them’. I thank Angie Nichols and all involved for their continued support.”

Representatives from the FAW attended the second session, with a film crew, as part of the Eat Sleep Football Repeat programme. It is hoped that the film will feature local footballers, and perhaps the giant Fairtrade football might make an appearance too!

The next Tenby AFC Soccer School will be held on April 11 and 12 at Tenby Leisure Centre - 10 am - 3 pm, £10 per session.

• Fair Trade In Football And Rugby Campaign - www.fairtradeinfootball.com